Loopcity

That's an insane price on the antigua. They sell for over $10k most places. It's also an awesome hot tub.

Island Spas are made by Artesian who has a solid reputation for quality, reliability and energy efficiency. Personally, they are my favorite line of spas bang for buck and all things considered.

The brands with the best reputation for quality include Bullfrog, Marquis, Hot Spring, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Arctic, Artesian, Dimension One. I would imagine that most of those brands are in your area.

All of the brands that you mention are reputable and high quality. You can't go wrong with any of them. Personally, I think the sealed bottom is nice and would not be concerned about it being a problem if the spa leaks. Keeping rodents and moisture out is important, imo. As for Bullfrog's jetpacks, I think they are a really cool design. The ability to pick out your jets when you order it is a pretty neat thing if you ask me. They have been really gaining in popularity over the last few years. The reduced amount of plumbing and shell holes is also something that I think makes sense. As for floor models, I personally would rather order one. A floor model may be fine, but you really have no way of knowing what it has been through. I figure for such a large purchase, the little bit you save for a floor model is just not worth it. I'd rather know I was getting a brand new one and I get to pick to colors and features I want. Good luck!

There isn't really a way to do that with that spa. The "bad design" is really the only cover lifter that will work with that spa due to it's unusual shape.

They are lying to you if they say there is no difference between Divine and Clearwater. Either way, both are lower quality. There are about 10 different brands I would buy before considering either.

Putting bromine in the filter compartment or the main body of water won't make a difference as to it's effectiveness. The reason they tell you to put it in the filter area is because that is where the water is moving and the granules won't settle on the bottom and possibly discolor or damage the shell.

The D-1 should definitely be a better build quality. 220v shouldn't cost much more, assuming you can fit the larger breaker in your main box. 110v works fine in mild temperatures. Generally, the difference is that on 110v the heater is 1kw and on 220v the heater is 4kw (or more). Additionally, on 110v the heater cannot operate while the jets are on high speed. I find the above to be generally true, though am not 100% familiar with your situation.

Cal spas is not a company that I would do business with. They have a terrible reputation

You got a really good deal. Enjoy!

That is a damn good deal. It would still be a good deal at $10k. I would jump on it. In what part of the country are you located?

The electrical wiring can indeed come in from any side. There are chaseways built into the abs base pan. The wiring will ultimately terminate on the same side as the control panel. Also, they discontinued the tanzanite (blue) shell color. They replaced it with a darker blue called Sapphire, I think. Bring 3 of the 2" ratchet straps if you go to pick it up. Put one over the hot tub. The cover on top of the spa, then 2 straps over the cover. I like to straps on the cover for long distance hauls.

All of the spas that you listed are excellent choices from reputable manufacturers. Go with the one that feels best to you.

South Seas is made by Artesian who is a great manufacturer with a longstanding reputation for quality. That is an awesome hot tub that can feel comfortable purchasing. The original Caldera is also a fantastic hot tub, but I totally understand not wanting to spend that much. If you like the South Seas, I say go for it. Artesian builds a quality hot tub and they have been around for a very long time. My personal recommendation would be to remove Master Spas from your list of potential spas. They have a reputation for dishonest and shady business practices and are middle of the road quality, at best. It will also use quite a bit more energy to operate. As far as foam insulation, I think that it's important not just for insulation purposes, but also because it supports the plumbing and shell. Keeping a hot tub at 104 degrees, even in Houston, will cost less with better insulation. Ozone is installed on the majority of hot tubs sold. There are pros and cons to it, but by no means is it necessary. Good luck!

Hot spring makes a great, reliable hot tub. That seems like a decent price as well.

I can't tell you if that is a good price, but you make a very valid point. I would question the ethics of a company that did not disclose these things earlier.

They just wear out and need replaced. How old is the spa? Usually this happens from poor water chemistry, though if the spa is really old I wouldn't worry about it.

How are you cleaning them? How old are they? Why are you yelling? Filters require more than just a rinse. A deep clean with hot tub filter cleaner will do much better.

You can just add a tsp or 2 of dichlor and small dose of MPS during the day of heavy usage. In my experience, the MPS oxidizes the chloramines that cause irritation and smell before they can do that. Chem Geek is certainly more qualified to answer this.

FYI, MSRP is anything they want it to be and a pretty useless number.

As stated above, most companies only warrant things like pillows and LED's for a year or so. The important things are the pump, heater, control pack, shell, etc. The top of the line companies all tend to have a 5 year warranty on that stuff and longer on the shell. And, as mentioned, more important is the company's track record for handling that stuff. Cal Spa, for instance, has a track record of using exclusions to avoid having to cover things. Hot Spring on the other hand, has a reputation for going above and beyond to take care of their customers. Their only black-eye is on the ACE system, as far as I know. If you ask most people in the industry to choose between a maxx and a hot spring, I'm willing to bet that hot spring wins hands down.

Maxx hot tubs do not have a separate equipment bay, as far as I know. Any leak will likely get the bluejean insulation wet. Honestly, if you are in a cold climate you would be better off getting a full foam spa. It will be significantly more efficient and will have a separate equipment compartment. The maxx sales guys talk a great game, but you will never convince me that less insulation is somehow more efficient. They scare you with leak talk, but as stated above, leaks in the foam are not very common. I agree with Roger. There are at least 5 to 7 manufacturers that I would choose before Maxx. I'm not saying that they are garbage, but you can do a lot better for the same money.

A second jet pump will not increase the running cost of a hot tub. As far as jet pressure, it depends on how many jets and how efficiently the spa is plumbed. The only way to answer the question is to feel the jets, like you did.

You still need to balance your PH, Alk, and CH. Additionally, you need to monitor the bromine level to ensure that it is sufficient and make the necessary adjustments to the system. Salt systems do not just "take care of themselves". The electrodes need to be replaced periodically. Also, you will likely experience much higher failure rates for your heater element. Salt is very corrosive. I've seen countless corroded heater elements from these spas. Sometimes even after just one or two years. Personally, I would never use the isis system. It's not hard to take care of a hot tub. Pretty much any program will allow you to leave for 3-4 day trips without worrying about your water chemistry. A bromine floater and a mineral stick are arguably just as easy and they are not nearly as corrosive as a salt system. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

I probably wouldn't pay that much for a 10 year old spa unless it was from a dealer with a warranty. Though I will agree that there are plenty of 20 year old hot spring spas that are still running fine. With all the stuff that has been replaced I wouldn't totally write it off. Can you get them to throw in the breaker and wiring? That may be enough to make it a better deal.