Midnite

Thanks for all the input. I'm still somewhat unsure of the best solution since my tub will be lower than the route out to the street. Any hose will have to go up a lttle ways before it goes down. I am also unsure if I use a pump in the tub how much water will be left in a Jacuzzi 480 to vacuum or towel out, I imagine quite a bit ? Since I am equally unsure about about which chemicals we will end up using I think my best bet will be to get a pump that can connect to the drain valve, that way I am pretty sure of a complete drain Then again my first tub...what do I know

Hi All, We are about to get our new tub a Jacuzzi 480. We have determined that the way it is installed there are 2 ways to drain it...one would be to put a small pump in it and drain most of the water out, not all would come out and then refill. Or, hook a hose to the drain valve, hook the hose to a pump and really get the tub fully empty...any recommendations, we are in canada and expect to drain the thing about 3 times a year April, July and late October. If thats not enough we have been wrestling with what Chemical to try first....Lithium or bromine...no ozonator ...yet Thanks for everyones help and comments

Always wet test, and make sure to sit in every seat.........even the cool down (beat seat). I was hung up on jets and pumps and what not. Just recently wet tested D1 (amore bay), Artesian Dove Canyon and Jacuzzi J-365 and can honestly say that the Jacuzzi felt the best. The amore just didn't fit, the artesian (with one pump per seat) almost blew me out of the seat and I'm a pretty big guy. The jet power felt like needles after about ten minutes. The Jacuzzi felt real nice..........not over powering with the jets and the tub was plenty deep. The price at around 8K was a few thousand cheaper than the amore and piper glen i thought i wanted. I liked the step into the jacuzzi as I didn't feel like i was going to bust my ass getting in and out of the tub. It also is one of the few tubs that you can actually get a grip on the top as you get in and out. You'll see what I mean when you wet test. A lot of the other members would probably agree with me when I say the only objectivity you should rely on is your own. Wet testing is key in my opinion. After all kinds of testings, sales visits etc we also finally decided on a Jacuzzi 480. Its very roomy and as one saleperson said most women like jacuzzi for its comfortable jets and pressure and most men at first try like the sundance becasue the jets are more vigerous. I felt like buying a hottub was like buying a car many salespeople are not that good and they can spread rumors very quickly. Also the companies are so protective of their dealers it is sometimes hard to get truth without sales pitches. Anyway can't wait, we are in the process of doing the landscaping and electrical prep. my wife is going a l;ittle crazy trying to decide which chemical sanitizer to use , thats a whole forum unto itself and I'm not a chemist I know that after a few months of use we'll know it all so turn it on and lets relllaaaxxx Thanks everyone

Tony thanks so much for responding, We now have come to an understanding and we'd love to go ahead with a purchase, we are looking at the Jacuzzi 480, large and most up to date ...everything. I may give in on the lower power/feel of hydrotherapy as compared to Sundance to appease the size /space advantage of my family since I need a lounge chair and the Sundance maxxus is just too large. Jacuzzi warranty is solid, recommendations are great, just waiting to see what prices are like in canada...can anyone comment ? Grateful....midnite

All buyers may be interested to note that I read the Coast spa warranty....small print, among other things some items of note 1. warranty on heater is only 2 years not 5 like sundance and jacuzzi 2. most 5 year items are really 3 and the last 2 at 50% 3. Seems that they can get out of covering most issues reading that small print leaves me with a very poor feeling about Coast

As recommended I have been wet testing for 2 days, learned a lot. tried the jacuzzi 375, nice, roomy but it seemed the massage was not very strong. The sundance cameo was nice too but felt smaller but the jets were certainly more vigorous...difficult to decide, then we tried a coast, a radiance, surprisingly it seemed as roomy as the jacuzzi and as strong in the jet massage as the sundance. With all of this my wife is getting freaked about the sanitary conditions of a spa, bacteria, chemicals, salt, ozone, UV, chlorine, lithium, bromine, ionization, PH, etc etc I have a friend who sells spas, Sunrise, and he mainly does pool and spa maintenance, he's not trying to sell me one he just said that 5 people in a hot spa is about a sanitary as 200 people in a pool What do the experienced...experts think ? Midnite

Great Topic, I also tried to find out the cost to run a new tub, electric heat, now I am in canada, quite cold in the winter but we also have relatively good electric utility rates. most sales people tell me that to run a new hot tub all year longf including through the winter will add 500 to my electric bill. Does this sound reasonable to anyone with experience and history ?

As a newbie buyer from canada I have seen that a lot depends on which brands are available in your area. Then you are told all the diffrent stories...Sundance owns jacuzzi...true ? then what is the difference between the two ? Is a salt system the way to go ? Lots of comments about Cal & Coast would you include those two in your list of quality brands above ?

From what I saw they are close but it seemed that Sundance was a little better, the salesman kept pushing that Coast was much better insulated ?? with a salt system included the coast is a little more $$ but I haven't done a wet test on either yet.

Hi everyone, new spa buyer...soon I'm looking at a Sundance cameo, Jacuzzi 375 and another dealer pushing Coast. Help I heard that Jacuzzi gives a stronger water massage 50/50 (water/air) compared to 70/30 with all others ? I'm in pretty cold...Montreal, is one better insulated ? seems that Sundance has a good warranty. I'm getting ready for the famous wet test, any help and recommendations would be appreciated, seems like its very hard to get objective reviews, comparisons etc on hot tubs. I am thrilled I found this forum, looking forward to reading lots of topics Thanks MJ