lordmars

Ya it kinda freaked me out the other day I was getting out of the spa and suddenly every jet and pump went on full blast and I couldnt get them to turn off! I went to the instructions and they said this is a feature to prevent water from stagnating in less used pumps and pipes.

Remember one of the top rules of sales. "If you leave a good impression the customer will tell 3 people. If you leave a bad impression they will tell 10." I looked at the available spas in my area and chose Vita because they had the most jets and HP. Reviews on blogs aree often writen by Irate customers. Make sure that they service what they sell and they have service techs on the payroll. Many dealers will sell you the spa but will refer you to the factory for service.

I ordered my latest hot tub (a Vita Cabaret) in October of this year and it gives me about 1.5 degrees per hour. The dealership promised 10 degrees per hour. The tech came out and told me that the factory downgraded the heater in my model from 4.5kw to 3kw. I am currently fighting with them to give me a 4.5 or take it back. In temps as high as 40F I loose temp in the tub. From what I have researched 4.5 is about the max most manufactures will install because of the electrical draw.

With the current economy crisis most of your luxury items will be as discounted as possible. Over the next few months you may see some hot tub manufactures vanish. As to the radio when I ordered my latest hot tub (a Vita Cabaret) in October it was an $800.00 option. I can run a few speakers outside and get better sound for less money. That $800.00 could mean a better model if you want one.

Believe it or not a generator that has 30amp service is more than enough to run everything you have in your house including the hot tub and the AC. When the heater kicks in it has an initial draw that requires the 50 amps. I have seen peoples generators melt as a result of the startup of hot tubs and AC units. Safety first and if your hot tub gets damaged by a storm make sure your homeowners or renters insurance covers it. Also you can buy a plans from warranty companies like American Home Shield that will give your spa service for a 50$ co-pay. If they cant fix it they will replace it at no charge in most cases.

You know how some people say size doesn’t matter? Well with generators and hot tubs size matters big time. If your generator is rated to put out 220v 60a you may freeze in your house while your hot tub stays warm and toasty! Also make sure that the line from your generator to your house or tub can support all your generator can put out. If your line is too small you may have a nice warm fire in your house from the melted wires! <<<Pete>>>

Good questions to ask when buying a spa. “If I take the floor model how much of a discount do I get?” Many dealers will take off hundreds or even thousands of dollars to take a floor model. Just make sure it has all the features you need. “How much will this add to my electric bill?” Some spas cost more to operate than others do. “Do I need an electrician or will this spa plug in to a regular outlet?” Many people don’t know that they may need an additional thousand dollars to have their house wired for the new spa. If you spend all your money on the spa and can’t use it because you cant afford the electrician they do make wonderful ornaments for the yard. “What is the warranty for the spa’s motors and electronics?” Many dealers will sport a “LIFETIME WARRANTY!” This is usually for the case and frame. The motor and electronic warranty may surprise you at many companies. “Will my homeowners association allow you to have a spa?” Don’t laugh there are places that forbid them. “Is your yard big enough for your chosen spa?” Not all yards were created equal! A little time with a tape measure can save you a ton of money. (This also applies to electrical code. Some codes require that the spa’s electrical box be a certain distance from the water.) Using a few markers and a tape measure will tell you how much real-estate your tub will cover. Also make sure that they can get the spa to your spot a low overhang or narrow alley can stop a delivery man in his tracks. “Do you service what you sell?” There are dealerships that will send you to the manufacturer to get service. This can mean that if your spa is broken you may wait weeks to get it fixed. “At this price what comes with it?” You could be getting a ten-thousand dollar spa and nothing else. Many spas need stairs and I highly recommend a cover. If you have elderly people or people with special needs will they supply the bar allowing them easier access. Ask if they will wire your house or do you need to call a seprate electrician. If they don’t supply a free rubber duck this could be grounds for finding a better store! “How much will this cost me in chemicals per month?” Most home improvement stores sell spa chemicals at a much lower price than the spa dealer but remember that some spas require spa chemicals only no pool chemicals. “How fast will this model heat in this area?” In Miami spas heat faster in December than do spas in Anchorage. Personally I just leave mine at my favorite temperature all the time. If you keep the cover on it you will find that it maintains pretty good year round. “Can I do a wet test?” That means go home get on your swimsuit come back and sit in it while it is running. It is your money and it really sucks if you don’t like it when you get in it. Most spa dealers will do this for you. Undoubtedly there are lots of other questions you want to ask but these will give you a start. Remember in most cases you are getting what you pay for. Don’t expect that you will get the same comfort from a two thousand dollar spa that you will get from a fifteen thousand dollar spa. Make sure that when they install the cover that they install the child safety locks on the spa and use them even if you don’t have kids. Small children die in spas every year.

My first spa was like that with the heater.is it that much of a problem in Florida?? here you can be in the spa when its zero out. that will cool a spa down fast lolol When you have a 3kw heater trying to keep 420 gallons of water hot while exposed to cold air it just isint strong enough. The 4.5kw should be able to keep it hot in much colder tempatures. Here in Cocoa Beach we only have about 4 cold weeks so it is not such a big deal.

See if they will or can put the 4.5 in it. As of yesterday they are trying to find a 4.5 that will fit the unit. Another drawback is that with the upgrades I currently have If I run the 2 main pumps (4hp each) and the Bubble seat (1hp) and the Symphonic Wave Seat (3hp) it turns the current heater off due to lack of power.

It doesn’t matter even if they refuse I can sue them for misrepresenting the product. They will take it back and give me a refund or I will take them to court. Florida law has several provisions for consumer protection.

My Vita Cabaret arrived November 3rd 2008. The store said “10 degrees per hour heating!” Most other companies only claim 4 to 7 so I knew I had found the unit for me. The spa holds 420 gallons with 84 jets! On the down side it takes 220volt 60amp service but I got all the options save the $800.00 AM/FM radio. It is comfortable and had only minor problems to be fixed after delivery. 2 of the jets were installed backwards and one needed replacing. I live in Florida so heat should not be an issue but it is. Heating the spa only delivers 1.5 to 2 degrees per hour. When the outside temperature is less than 45F the spa may actually loose temperature with the heater and motors running. I called service to have them fix what I thought was a defective heater. The service tech arrived and told me that recently built Vita Cabarets only have a 3kw heater down from the older models 4.5kw. Do not expect to get 10 degrees per hour even with a 4.5kw heater. I can not yet say what it will do to my electric bill. Vita needs to return to the 4.5kw heater if they want to sell this unit. I am considering returning the spa if they can’t get it to perform closer than 20% of what I was promised. <<<Pete>>>