THE SPA GUY

Its amazing the things you find about companies, and how the market themselves....whats even amazing is how the companies figure out ways to hang around....

bdubya, Congrats on finding the one, I cannot answer as i am not A sundance dealer, but from looking back on spas priced in this forum on my one in Northeast for 7900. not sure all included , and in Arizona 7300. again not sure what included this were posted in June on this forum.....If you are comfortable with the dealer and like the tub, what are you waiting for......enjoy the tub

swozadio, A couple of places you can find it, Poolandspa.com. In their brochure, , Soory not agreeing on the Cal thing we have experience with them......And if i remember Hot Springs and D1 both started in 1977, Sundance in 80, Cal in 79, And Jacuzzi with one of the first modern day tubs with the lowboy line in the 70's, Clearwater even in 76, And in 1981 the first fully insulated above ground hot tub and inground in the industry was D1. Just a few things. like i said you gotta love it....

O.k Junior member, I think if you look back at my posts i inluded several brands not just one ...O.k on the Consumer Digest Best BUy....would you say that it has merit when Thermospas , Cal Spas there also, I can't answer back in the 70s and 80s i wasan't there, But i will find oout , I am curious....and as for this forum not. Kids.......

I am a d1 dealer and it does not bug me what you write on the forum, we all have opinions to what we like and don't,But some of the claims we disagree with , yes you have 5 filters but why would you have to rotate filters in a spa, personally to me that doesn't make any sense....example in our area, it roughly 25 degrees and snow outside , at night it even colder, you get home from work, it is dark and now you have to go out and rotate your filters in the middle of the winter. I do not want to tell a customer as part of the routine maintenance you have to rotate filters. when it below freezing....but thats me . and this issue is not all over the U.S,,,,My service tech worked with Hot Springs for 8 years, he said there usually good for 2-3 years on average... So in no way are you hurting my feelings i kinda of enjoy this, This is one way we learn about competitors can learn each others products and not slam each other....You gotta love what we do.....I do

did you know that Consumer Digest is a buy in to get to use the insignia, Sundance, Jacuzzi,D1, Hot Srings, Master,Marquis, Cal Spas, Columbia ,Caldera, Artesian,Thermos Spas, to name just a few....The manufacturer buys into it....I have sold many brands as well, Its funny how you attack the D1 line here on the older ones...Whats even funnier with this i have a 1992 Dimension One . and let it is foamed, and ozone,they did also have circ pumps in them like Sundance, Marquis, And as for features Most have spas in the lower range that are comparable and fit and function and comfort are there....And are you sure as to when D1 used or did not use foam? It does n't matter to me but to be still making tubs since close to the beginning as Sundance and Hot springs started making....Its also funny How all the manufacturers spin on words. Largest Manufacturer, The best , The Biggest , The number brand, The number seller of spas....how does one really know who sells more than anyone else..To me i could really care less. but the use of these words drives me crazy.....

swozadio Here we go again " The Best" thing again,,, no can be wether you are biased for D1, Hot Springs, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Etc. these are all tops, If any one of these companies we not cutting it they would be gone, since they have all been around the block, it would be safe to say they arethe leaders in the industry. On the 100% no bypass filtration, You must have gone thru Hot Springs sales 101, It is a good System, But when it is time to replace filters ,,,,,,,ouch,,,, On the gurantee....on any manufacturer, if the dollar amount goes over what do you do. Most dealers who use this put safety nets in them for the dealer, If you think it is costing more than the gurantee It is at the owners expense to get a meter from the local power company,,, thats an expense to the consumer than the run the test for a month and the differance is say 5- 6 bucks, is it really worth their time to say hey i just spent 30.00 on a meter to see how much it is costing to say hey it cost more money, they are still in the hole, right??? I will tell customers when they are looking at spas that most spas are testing in the same paramters, and they give an average with different killowatt rates...I like the exclusive things, every manufacturer uses that junk, example Its a waterway jet that a lot of companies use, but on brands A it is a widget exclusive to this brands, but brand B uses a whatchamacallit exclusively , both made by the same manufacturer, the color is different or looks different but really the same, it goes on and on,,, i hate using the word exclusive,,, i choose not to use them don't like wish that would change, but not gonna happen, to many consumers actually believe what they hear.....without researching it ...IMO

D1 Dennis your on fire, that was good,,,,lol Spawn well put i would agree, how can one company be the best,,,would their be any competitors....But i would also agree these companies are very good, all have different ideas to move the water, Also The purchaser needs to check into the dealers they buy from, Even though they may like the product, but the dealer is marginal you may not get the best service you want...So you need to be comfortable with the dealer but also like the brand and spa you purchase...

masonori You should be fine, yes they do wet test their spas before shipment, We do not worry about that for the spas we get from them right now and keep outside in our cold climate up here were it freezes... no problems

In regards to the adjustable neck jet, should not be an issue i haven't had anyone come back and say they have a problem with them or the flex line,,,,I guess if it did have problems they would not still be putting them on the spas all these years,

I would agree the tops of the list D1, Sundance, Hot Springs, all great brands, I think it is important to find a dealer that is trustworthy and that your are comfortable working with,,,But you will find biased and unbiased info here,The Nautique model is a great model that has become one of our better sellers..alot of features in that tub....

I sell against them every day up here in Spokane, were they originally they were built till purchased by Blue Falls,,, I think they have come a long way i think they are a much better spa then previus builds, But i think for the dollar you are spending i think you get a better value out of D1 at home series or the Clearwater XS series, the J300 series, or the Sundance 680 series, even the Marquis Everyday, I think the comfort is not there,especially at the lower back , pretty squared at the seat back... But it has improved, also warranty not as strong.....

I would agree they most likely put in rv antifreeze...you should be fine....

DebbieM, Congrats on the tub purchase, you will like the Sundance,,,it was great to see part of your buying process on here thanks for sharing with us.....again enjoy the tub....

NewbieInAustin both brands a very good, represent the industry very well. Yes on the Hpt Springs you can go with the ACE salt system, I would Take the Ultrapure Plus ozone system first, I have a friend that sells the Hot Springs, I will say they probably have done the best job on the SAlt style system, I have put out several salt systems, I personally do not like them, they can be problematic, . and with the D1 system draining once every 6 months is easy,....I would definately go talk to Chris down there.The Lotus Bay will run a liitle more, So keep that in mind the more comparable model in the D1 line would be the Californian, or Chairman II.

I would agree with Dennis. I wonder if your screen on the black cone under the filter is plugged,, Give the factory a call they will help.....

Both brands are very good, They have some similiar features... On the comment about not getting the electrical panel from the Sundance. One difference they have is the Sundance uses a standard 50/60 amp 4 wire system, HotSprings uses a 30 amp/ and a 20 amp system,, Sundance the filter is horizontal, I don't think a horizontal filter is the best for a hot tub, let alone any hydraulic system, But Hot Springs has all those filters...trade off??? But you cannot go wrong with either brand

Both are very good spas, But with regards to the "lifetime shell warranty" on the Arctic, in their warranty i believe it states that it has a lifetime warranty on the shell for" Water Loss" not cracking, splitting, blistering ,delaminating....And as SpaTech mentioned you have to watch out for the lifetime warranty, D1 has a lifetime warranty on there Ultralife shell, It does cover splitting, cracking, peeling delaminating, and water loss,for the first 7 years, after that for , They will cover the tubto repair or replace, if the tub is being sent to the factory to be repaired or replaced they will cover the labor for repair or replacement, but the shipping cost is up to the homeowner,,,, bdubya200 On your comment about the Ozone as a bell and a whistle, I do not believe this to be true, Ozone gas produced kills bacteria, With the use of a 24 hour low circ pump it will reduce the amount of chemicals you will use . And i believe the Sundance you are looking at has that feature, With the 24/7 circ keeps the spa circulating, heat on demand without the main pump kicking on,which the Arctic does not have....Over here in Eastern Washington, i believe the circ pump is the way to go.....

I would check for an air lock,,,,,,,,

I would agree you need an exhaust fan, That would work the best....

I think that sitting in a hot tub in Eastern Washington when it snows is the best......

DebbieM Both are good brands, You might also check out the H20 SPas up there also they are out of Surrey Veru good line as well. On the styles the Jacuzzi is a Semi lounger and the Acrtic Summit has a no lounger to it, so that would be one difference, the other big difference i see is the Jacuzzi uses a low amp 24/7 circ pump Which means the main pump does not kick on for filter ccyles every 12 hours for 2 like the Arctic. with the 24/7 circ pump ozone will injected 24/7 again instead of only 4 hours, Both insulate tubs a little difference both will do a good job, the problem i have with a thermal chamber spa without a 24 hour circ pump is the main pump will have to run more ofte. to maintain the heat. I do not sell either of these brands but am familiar.I sell competing brands one fully insulated and one thermal chamber.I am not a fan of cedar skirting i like the maintenance free stuff. The Arctic make a good spa but i noticed that the Summit seats are very narrow . not open seating concept.... But try both of them out you will know when you find the right spa. Also you have to be comfortable with the dealer you purchase the spa from......Hope this helps

I would change the temp sensor, possibly the hi limit as well, see if that works. you can unplug your existing sensor, plug in new ones throw over the side of the tub into the main body of water, see how it reacts, if it reacts the right way then replace, if not you may be looking at the board, but start with the sensor

Most likely your shaft seal is bad, you will need to remove the end plate on your wetend , remove the impeller, then inspect your seal, it is replaceable....replace and you should be in good shape.....

I have heard of them , but no local places even remotely close to us, but the water capacity , that seems high, When you have a D1 Amore Bay that is 40" deep and 8 x9 is 415 gallons,,, I would check around the different dealers and talk with each to get there info,Find a dealer that is great to work with,, But as for pricing each dealer is going to be different, some give you everything you need the with the spa, some will tell you you have to buy the lifter and extras, some will give you bonus bucks toward getting accessories, which they have already built into there spa price so your really not getting anything,, But depending on wwere you go and what they have they may deal with you to move a spa.....It does not hurt to ask for a better price, I hear it all the time....