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Spa-Guy

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    Pennsauken, New Jersey
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    My Wife and Kids. Making Home Made Wine. Antiques. Growing Fruits and Vegetables. Resting and Relaxing in Calabria Italy. Family History. Bike Riding. Sports.

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  1. Hi Ed, Two other companies to consider when looking at round tubs, would be Freeflow Spas and Artesian Spas. The Freeflow Spa comes standard 110/220 voltage covertibility. I would recommend 220 Volts for your cold climate, otherwise you will only have a 20 minute soak in a 110 Volt Spa. Artesian makes a nice high end round spa, that only comes in 220 volts, due to the larger pump. If you are looking for a traditional wood hot tub, then check at Doc at Roberts Hot Tubs. Many different types of wood availbale, custom made for you. Goodluck. Dave.
  2. Leisure Concepts makes the style designed specifically for spas, with the flat plate, that the hot tub sits on. So, no need for cinder blocks or attaching to the spa cabinet, just set the spa right on the flat plate. Their web site is www.leisureconcepts.com Also, the company that makes the cover valet cover lifters, makes a spa umbrella with a similar design. The umbrellas will cost more than Warehouse Stores, but they are made for spas, as the others are not. Goodluck. Dave.
  3. The Covermate I Lifter by Leisure Concepts is a top quality trouble free lifter. I think they have a model designed specifically for the Maxus, still a Covermate I. But, designed to work with the radius of the Maxus. We have been selling the CovermateI for years, with no returns. Goodluck and Enjoy. Dave.
  4. Tyler, Thanks, for the compliment. I sell Artesian Spas and could not be more pleased with the company and the products they manufacture. Sitting on your side of the fence, I quess it can be very difficult for a consumer,to shop for a spa. Not all brands or dealers are created equal. We have always taken a low key, low pressure approach, with no fake sales or gimmicks, just the same low price everyday. We don't bash the competition and we recommend wet testing, to be sure which spa is best. Maybe it is the right way, maybe not, but it works for us. After my 20 years in the spa biz, I agree with you, that the spa industry still has a lot of room for improvement, to break away from the used car sales mentality. Maybe, if the top manufacturers starting working together, instead of against each other and spent more time training spa salespeople and techs to be spa professionals and promote the positive benefits of spa ownership, maybe then more people will have a desire to shop for a spa. Otherwise, we will continue to lose sales to Boats, Jet Skis, RV's and Big Screen TV's. I also, think our regional Industry Pool and Spa Shows, should be open 2 additional days, for the public to view all of the new spas each year, without the pressure of pricing or sales. Goodluck and Enjoy the Hot Water! Dave.
  5. For some reason, when talking about spas, people always seem to compare them to cars when speaking about pricing issues. I do not think they are same type of purchase and therefore, should not be assumed it is haggling type of purchase. In this day and age, a car is a must have item, it is difficult to survive without them. While some cars are basic forms of transportation and others are luxury class, it still does not compare to a Hot Tub, which is an enjoyment/relaxation item. It is true some spa dealers will increase their price, then allow the consumer to negotiate down, to what would be the regular selling price. Most spa dealers including myself, set the lowest price available, giving every person the same honest value, 365 days a year. If your brother or neighbor walks into our store, 2 months after you, they will be quoted the same price you were. And we include everything except the kitchen sink. Every spa comes with a deluxe cover, leisure concepts cover lifter, chemicals, steps, led light, delivery, setup and indoctrination. So, no need to haggle over extras, because everything is included. Most people appreciate the no nonsense approach and the value that they recieve, backed by service that is second to none. Yes, there will be just a few folks that will walk away, because they wanted to haggle. But, in the long run, even those folks,when they go out and shop,they make the comparison of what you are offering to the competition and probably will return later to purchase. Dave.
  6. Your electronic controls are manufactured by Gecko. Three blinking lights is a error code, for a flow problem. That is why the manual, stated to check the filters to see if they are clean, check all slice gate valves, to be sure they are open and turn off power and turn back on, to reset the system. Try removing your filter and pump so water down into the filter hole opening, to bleed or prime the circ pump on your Maax Spa. The little pump could be air bound, causing the "Flow Issue" three flashing dots. Three dots can also be a defective pressure switch, which is quite common, adefective circ pump or worse case scenerio, a bad board. If you are still experiencing three flashing dots after removing the filter and priming the circ pump, then call your dealer for service. Goodluck. Dave.
  7. Spa Rookie, It's good to hear you will have access and are only dropping it in halfway. Like Spa Tech said, get the bathing suits on and wet test all three brands. They are all equally great spas. So go for the plunge and let your neck, shoulders, back and legs decide which feels best for you and your finance. Being comfortable with your dealer and his ability to serivce you for the length of the 5 Year Warranty, is very important also. Dave.
  8. Spa Rookie, With your 6'4" height and your fiancee at only 5'3", again, you will need to wet test or atleast sit in dry tubs to be sure you fit well, especially acrossed the shoulders, leg room and neck jets. For your fiancee, she does not want to be under water, so there has to be some seats for her too. Another model to wet test from Artesian is the Gold Series Emerald, a lot of petite women say they can lock their feet on the center foot dome, which prevents them from floating away from the seat and jets. And tall guys are happy too, with large wide comfortable seating and plenty of openess to stretch out. To answer your question about acces, the Piper Glenn model will require access to three sides, the front and 2 sides. The Gold Series line will require access to 2 sides. As a service tech, I am never a huge fan of dropping a spa in a deck or floor, but when people insist on doing it, we try to guide them in the right direction, and instruct their builder on providing access or removable panels for the tech to properly service the spa. If the access is not there, the spa can not be repaired. In some of our woodsy areas, dropping a spa in a deck or underground does in many cases present problems with all of the critters like chipmunks, squirrels and others eating control wires and nesting for the winter. Bugs and ants are always a problem. Snakes love to sneak into a warm place too. In general, moisture can be a problem too. If dropping the spa in, be sure to order a resin cabinet and not wood. Goodluck. Dave.
  9. Hi Spa Rookie, Some sales people will say just about anything to get a sale. The guy you spoke to, obviously knows absolutely nothing about ozone or Artesian Spas. Roger is correct, ozone in general can be damaging. Artesian's standard ozone installation is done just as Roger stated, it flows through a 3/8" tube, through a check valve and finally through a mazzei injector, which breaks down the ozone molecules to smaller safer levels, before it enters your spas water through a small ozone jet in the footwell. This standard method is used by most manufacturers. Now, Artesian like other great companies like Sundance and other companies have made strides at developing better ozone. Your can order optional the Artesian Air mixing Chamber, with a CD Ozonator. Because, CD (Corona Discharge) Ozonator is more powerful, they developed a triple loop air mixing chamber, that reduces the size of the ozone moecules, to make them more effective for cleaning your water and making it safer on humans and spa components. So, salesguy statement about Artesian is just false. Next he stated that the ozone can only run 24 hours a day, on a Artesian Spa. Like Roger stated, ozone is most effective when it operaters 24 hours a day. But again, your salesguy not knowing his facts, was wrong when he said it can only run 24 hours a day. The duration of ozone cycles on a Artesian spa can be changed, at the touch of the programming button on the topside control. So, you may can program the cycles to your liking. The factory setting is 24 hours a day, which is where we reccomend our customers to keep it, for best results. Sometimes with indoor installations, customers may choose to reduce the length of the cycle. The three brands you are looking at Hot Springs, Sundance and Artesian, are all top choices, wet testing will really help you decide which spa is really best for you and your family. The Piper Glen is a awesome spa. The quality and performance is fabulous. It is an exciting spa, with a individual pump for each major seat. Five Pumps and a sixth pump is the 24 hour circulation pump. With each person having their own pump and a patented direct flo controller, you can adjust the water and air flow in your own individual seat, without ever affecting the flow in someone else's seat. You can adjust the flow from 125 down to 65 gallons per minute in your seat. The price tag is a little higher for this model over other brands. Every person has different reasons for a buying a spa and has different therapy needs, so it may not be for everyone. Wet test all of the 3 companies you mentioned and decide. Goodluck and enjoy the hot water. Dave.
  10. The description I gave you, was for more recent Leisure Bays Spas. Your cabinet may be tung and groove wood sides. It may be a removable panel, but very likely not. To access the leak area, you will have to remove some of the wood cabinet, one piece at a time. You could tip the spa on its side, but that can be difficult tipping the spa up and removing the plywood floor. In most cases we cut out a section of cabinet. Dave.
  11. Hi, All four of your cabinet panels are removable, to provide access to that leaking center intake. With the Leisure Bay cabinet, the top of the panel is secured by the lip of the acrylic shell, so no screws to romove at the top. Next you will have to remove one or both of the corner panels, which help to secure the sides of the removable panels. Then, you will find screws along the bottom edge of the cabinet panel, they will be black screws, found along the bottom black edge, of the removable pane. Finally, remove any screws along the side of the panel. Then slide, the panel down and out from under the acrylic shell lip, which may still be holding the panel in place. This is truly one of the more difficult and unfriendly cabinet panel, for any consumer or service tech to remove. But, once removed, it is wide open and eay to acces all plumbing. Goodluck. Dave.
  12. HT Chris and Jim are both giving excellent advice. Your tub is set at 104 degrees for a reason. Believe me, 104 is quite hot. Set at 99 or 100 degrees, I can sit in the tub 2 hours and feel great. Set at 104 and I can only stand about 12 minutes and I'm feeling like mush. If someone drinks alcohol prior to entering the tub, then it magnifies the situation, at 104 degrees. Doctoring your spa to overide 104 standards, is a dangerous hazard to you and anyone that sits in your tub. Besides, your Freeflow Spa is equipped with a Balboa Control head, utilizing the M-7 Technology, which will not allow you to overide safety standards. As for waivers, they have been proven worthless, in the eyes of the court, when the loved ones of a accident victim sue,as it proves guilt by the manufacturer or service company, that provides a overide or wrongfully tells a consumer how to overide, based on signing a waiver, when they themselves know the hazards. Enjoy the hot water, just not too hot. Dave.
  13. All of the these manufacturers use Full Foam. Hot Springs, Artesian, Sundance, Marquis,Jacuzzi, Caldera,Dimension One, Saratoga, LA Spas. Hmmmm. How do they compare to these companies, which do not full foam their spas. GulfCoast, Master, Thermo Spas, Hydro Spas, Leisure Bay, Gatsby, PDC, Costco and most of the internet and ebay sellers. If you live in a cold climate, do yourself a favor, call local spa service techs, ask them what type of insulated spa will last longer when the spa is dead on arrival. Ask him which one would have frozen pipes in 8 hours and which one could last 3 days. Ask him which type of insulated spa has more leaks. The type that has insulation supporting the plumbing or the type with dangling plumbing lines, with little or no insualtion supporting them. Ask him which type of insulated spa has a 5 Year Plumbing warranty and which type does not. TP or Tapped Air Insulated Spas are priced lower than Fully Insulated Spas, maybe there is a reason for it.
  14. They are all one and the same. Just depends on who you are speaking with and what they call it. But, technically, a hot tub is how it all began, in California in the 60's people would fill a large wood tank with hot water and sit back enjoy the Hot tub. They were made of many types of wood, such as redwood, cedar and teak to name a few. Later jets, pumps and heaters were added to provide therapy. A Spa is the modern day term for portable spas, with the shell made from acrylic and resting in a wood or resin cabinet. Many manufacturers are going back to the old term Hot Tub, due to many people thinking of a spa, as a place to go to get a massage or facial. Jacuzzi is a name brand, of a spa manufacturer. Just like Kleenex, Zerox etc. Roy Jacuzzi and his brothers were some of the early pioneeers in our industry and certainly did the best job early, to promote their product and getting their name recognized. So, call it what you will and enjoy the hot water. Dave.
  15. Michael, Spa Man was right on. The Jacuzzi of 5 years ago vs. todays Jacuzzi, from an appearance standpoint is like night and day. Since the parent company that owns Jacuzzi, purchased Sundance Spas, the features and overall appearance has changed dramatically. This is not to be confused with quality. Like myself, I have worked on Jacuzzi for 20 years and some old time Jacuzzi dealers and service techs will tell you, they were more simple then, with less frills, but they were reliable and built to last. So, while your spa does lack some of the sizzle, it will last a long time. This is not anything against todays Jacuzzi, but anytime more options and features are added to a spa, the chance for any type of failure naturally increases. Enjoy your hot tub. Dave.
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