north_of_boston

Oh yeah nothing tops a good hot tub apres-ski.

Two or three times a year, ne_skier, but I should probably do it five-six times a year. The Sno-brum is available at some stores - hardware stores, etc. I bought mine at Kittery Trading Post. Clears the snow off non-abrasively. Depending on where you buy it it's $20-25 US. 303 Aerospace Protectant is readily available.

Arctic Spas - one of their big selling points is their cover. Mine has not "gained weight" in four years.

Dizzypc, I am late to the game here in the thread but I will tell you that I've had an Arctic Spa for around four years now. We love it. Yes, we had trouble with the Onzen but our dealer (and the manufacturer) stood by us, and replaced it after a year... the onzen cells are warranted for a year and I've learned they don't last a year -- so -- we buy one, if it goes before one year, we're covered. We have a GREAT dealer. GREAT dealer. We went with the Arctic because we liked the insulated cabinet rather than foam packed; we had confidence in the dealer; also, our winters CAN be as harsh as yours.... they aren't always but they sure CAN be....the cover for the Arctic is fabulous as well. 3 1/2-four years, no waterlogging...

http://www.hotspring.com/find-dealers-by-state/maryland http://www.arcticspas.com/contact-us/dealer-locator/dealer/baltimore-hot-tubs/ http://www.sundancespas.com/hot-tub-dealer-locator/maryland-md/hot-tubs-baltimore/ http://www.jacuzzi.com/hot-tubs/dealer-locator/maryland-md/kingsville-hot-tubs/

Yeah but even every hot tub is a little different. Again 303 Aerospace Protectant -- and, if you live in a snow area, use the SNO-BRUM.

sc5.4 - make sure that if you buy a cover - custom fit it -- measure it, all hot tubs are slightly different. Made that mistake on my last hot tub , had a cover that was essentially worthless. Not with my Arctic, though...

MarylandCrabbing I assume you're in the Batlimore area -- but -- Let me give you SOME brand names - Caldera - Hot Springs - Arctic - Jacuzzi - Marquis - Beachcomber - Catalina those are the only ones I'll spin off the top of my head. How to buy a spa? - LOOK AT THEM. If you can wet test one, do so. - Compare features - Weigh pros and cons. Example - what's better, foam vs. insulated cabinet? Using chlorine vs. bromide vs. a self-cleaning salt water system? 220 v or 110 v? - Cost - but know that the cost of the tub itself is not the final cost. You may have site prep, electrical service build-outs, and privacy/security fencing that has to be done as well. - how many seats? Yeah it's fun to imagine parties but realistically there will only be one, or perhaps two people in it around 99 percent of the time. - Lounger or straight seating? - Jets - how many? - Indoors or outdoors? Will you use it year round? You want it on your deck? OK, how much to reinforce the deck to hold it? Finally - DEALER SUPPORT. You're going to need service -- but more importantly - GUIDANCE after the sale. Last but not least - how much are you able - or, WILLING to spend? Go to this page http://hottubandpooldirectory.com/manufacturers/hot-tub-manufacturer-list.html - this is not an endorsement but a reference listing - if you contact any of those, they should be able to identify local dealers.

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I use 303. The best. Available at West Marine. If you call the company, they would prefer that you buy from a dealer than from them directly.

I once had a little frog making his home in the lid's skirt... it was warm and wet, he was very happy there in the winter.

1) Remember, you get what you pay for. 2) What should be paramount - in your spa search - is dealer support after the sale. 3) Look at a hot tub purchase as a long-term, and not a short-term investment. $9000 over 10 years vs. $6000 over 10 years. Not very much difference now, is there? The only reason I'd "go cheap" is if I thought - "this is going to be a fad, I'll get it out of my system." But if you are going to use it daily - as we do, as we have since putting in our last spa in 1996, well - it's an investment like a car.

Hi Angelie I am not familiar with Bullfrog, so I will defer to others on that brand. I am the proud owner of an Arctic Yukon, and have had it since early 2010. Other than a problem with the onzen salt system - which, the company replaced with a newer generation at no cost to me, it's been fine. My only complaint is that the ozonating cells tend to last 6 months (they're warranted for a year) so you have to replace them twice a year (but only pay once). They go for around $75/U.S. It's outdoors. It's tremendous. One thing to remember on ANY hot tub purchase -- what is critical - dealer support. I have a GREAT dealer - R&R Pool and Spa - great support from him and his staff. Wonderful people. As said in previous posts - my wife and I looked at several tubs, it came down to a choice between Arctic and Jacuzzi. Both were good. I agonized over the decision for a week. Both had advanced tech, both had great reputable local dealers and neither dealer knocked the other guy's product. Both very professional. We went with the Arctic - more money but advanced technology. I might also add - the Arctic is a very well-insulated cabinet that does NOT employ packed foam. If something were to go wrong with the foam-packed spa, you have to strip out the foam to find the problem, and have it poured back in after you locate your problem (if you ever get a leak). We had that happen on our last spa. So - we went Arctic. No regrets.

Maybe I'm lucky. Maybe I'm just LUCKY. We've had an Arctic for three years. Other than the Onzen (which they stood by and replaced, and it works well now) we have had no problems. We have the best dealer you could ever ask for - I'll name him - R&R Pool and Spa in Littleton, MA (USA) and also have spoken with the folks up in Thorsby AL for Q&A when he was closed. I've never had a problem that couldn't be resolved. As drfe99 said - they stood by it. The quality of our Arctic Yukon is superb. I have the best dealer, and I like to think I purchased a great product. So far, in three+ years, it's been good.

I too am in Massachusetts - going to get a small deck box, segment it for chemicals on one side, towels on the other. Last December we had a party - the night of the storm (Saturday preceding New Years) -- and my guests could not use their towels because of the snow -- they got soaked. Warm towels are one thing -- dry ones, even more critical...

I too am in Massachusetts - going to get a small deck box, segment it for chemicals on one side, towels on the other. Last December we had a party - the night of the storm (Saturday preceding New Years) -- and my guests could not use their towels because of the snow -- they got soaked. Warm towels are one thing -- dry ones, even more critical...

Sorry you had that experience. I have a three-year old Arctic Yukon - essentially the same tub as the Cub, only the Yukon has no lounger. I have had NO problem - zero problems with fittings, "forever floor", mechanics, and filters. The ONLY problem I had was with the Onzen - but the dealer and the company stood by it. And I have a GREAT dealer. He and his crew have been remarkable.

I used 303 last summer -- again, two coats this summer - I will likely do it again one weekend day before winter hits. The "Sno Brum" is not a brush - but a foam pad, hard enough to move the snow. It's great for a car... but even better for a hot tub cover.

I have **NO** financial interest in either of these two products -- but find them useful for maintaining the cover of my Arctic in our sometimes-harsh winter climate. The first = the "Snobrum". You can find it online. I bought mine at the Kittery Trading Post, gave 'em to family, friends, for car snow removal but it's also friendly to a vinyl cover, so we have one for that. It goes for $15-25 depending on where you buy it, shipping if you buy it online, etc. You can clear a foot of snow off your hot tub cover - easily, safely, quickly. The other - for vinyl cover UV protectant - I use 303 Aerospace Protectant. It ain't cheap. BUT - it is the best. www.303products.com is their website -- if you call them, they are likely to refer you to a dealer. When I called "yes we can ship it to you but we like to protect our dealers." West Marine carries it. I have a $12,000+ investment in my tub. The cover is an expensive part of that. These two items help to protect and extend its life.

4-5 times per week (when we have the time). Usually just ourselves. It's in our private area. We enjoy it - glass of wine, or moonshine, or limoncello. I also have outdoor stereo speakers (Cambridge Soundworks, not fancy, but impervious to weather) with the stereo system in the house. I also have an iPad - so we hook it to the stereo - TuneIn radio, we listen to anything we like. Neighbors? No. Friends? Occasionally. It's a 7' tub. Most of the time it's just the two of us. ONE STRICT RULE - NO BATHING SUITS PERMITTED AT ANY TIME. This keeps the water clean and sanitation issues at a minimum.

4-5 times per week (when we have the time). Usually just ourselves. It's in our private area. We enjoy it - glass of wine, or moonshine, or limoncello. I also have outdoor stereo speakers (Cambridge Soundworks, not fancy, but impervious to weather) with the stereo system in the house. I also have an iPad - so we hook it to the stereo - TuneIn radio, we listen to anything we like. Neighbors? No. Friends? Occasionally. It's a 7' tub. Most of the time it's just the two of us. ONE STRICT RULE - NO BATHING SUITS PERMITTED AT ANY TIME. This keeps the water clean and sanitation issues at a minimum.

Hmmm, I have the original cover on my Arctic Yukon (7') that came with it --- an Arctic Spa --- it's held up here in coastal New England. Did you get a warranty on the cover? Is it an Arctic cover, or another one? If purchasing a replacement - MAKE SURE IT FITS. This is where dealer support is critical....

Temperature is personal - the right temperature is what you feel comfortable with. mrs north and I prefer 103F / 38.4C. Agreed, in the summer months, those temperatures can be "too hot"... this time of year they're delightful. In the winter - with the snow all 'round - NIRVANA.

We love our Arctic - it withstands the snow -- and -- I'd prefer an insulated cabinet WITHOUT the foam. My last tub - two leaks - had to strip foam down.

I would also check on electrical ... have a pro come in and look at the whole she-bang. And if you know the person who owned the home -- why not call him? My daughter was in the same situation -she bought a home that had a hot tub in the basement -- a REALLY old one. She called the previous owner - but was out of luck "oh, WE never used it, either!" Since it was "that" old, they junked it. But I'd call the previous owner, and ask.