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Freeflow Spas


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Does anyone have any experience with the Freeflow? I'm looking at the RLX Model. I realize this is a plug and play but does have the option to be hardwired. This tub will be used all year and I want to be sure it will retain heat in the winter and also give a decent massage therapy.

Price of this tub quoted at 5k (CDN) including HST.

Specifications:

4 Seating Positions

81" x 69" W x 30" H

270 Gallon Water Capacity

335 lbs. Dry Weight

Digital LED Controls

12v Light with Mood Lenses

Convertible 110/220v

17 Total Jets

1 Ozone Jet

6 Directional Jets

2 Rotating Jets

8 Micro Injector Jets

Bottom Drain

1.5 hp, Two Speed Pump

1kw/4kw Heater

30 sq. ft. Filter

Full Foam Insulation

Safety Cover / Locking Clips

RokSolid™

Waterfall Feature

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We just (about two weeks ago) purchased a Freeflow TLX (the round/octagonal one). We've been very happy with it thus far. We weren't in the market for a fancy spa with a lot of bells and whistles - just wanted a sturdy hot tub with some jets that would let us unwind at night without breaking the bank. Our TLX ran us $3495 USD plus tax, and this included delivery/install (including rewiring a longer cable for the plug & play cord), cover lifter, and chems.

Its been 100+ degrees F every day here (S. Texas), so obviously the tub is staying plenty hot. We have the temp set to 103 and normally when we climb in at 9 pm the display reads 105, so its definitely keeping the heat in that it builds up during the day. We've also got it just plugged in to a GFCI outlet but in Texas you don't really need to worry about the heater running while also operating the pump - its just not cold enough to make much of a difference. In Canada, you may want to have it hard-wired so you can run the heater and pump simultaneously. Insulation is spray foam. I know some people don't like the spray foam because it makes it harder to work on leaks, but there are so few jets and features on these tubs that its probably not such a big deal.

I spoke rather candidly with the installer while we were waiting for it to fill who said he has less repair calls on the Freeflows than he does the Calderas his dealer also sells. I don't know if that means they break less or just that their warranty is shorter. :)

Overall, very happy with our choice. Its a good, solid, hot tub that suits all our needs at a very reasonable price point. We'll see how it holds up, only time will tell.

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I spoke rather candidly with the installer while we were waiting for it to fill who said he has less repair calls on the Freeflows than he does the Calderas his dealer also sells. I don't know if that means they break less or just that their warranty is shorter. :)

It also means the Freeflow is a very simplified spa (not that there is anything wrong with that, it meets its target).

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Or they sell 10 time the number of Calderas over Freeflows ? :D

I asked him this - they sell more of the Freeflow TLX than any other spa. And yes, I'm sure the simplicity of the design = less things to go wrong = fewer repairs. Either way, so far we are pleased.

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  • 11 months later...

<!--quoteo(post=84525:date=Jul 27 2009, 11:44 AM:name=Dr. Spa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dr. Spa @ Jul 27 2009, 11:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=84525"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Or they sell 10 time the number of Calderas over Freeflows ? <img src="http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I asked him this - they sell more of the Freeflow TLX than any other spa. And yes, I'm sure the simplicity of the design = less things to go wrong = fewer repairs. Either way, so far we are pleased.

Please be careful I have owned my passport (Freeflow Spa) for 2.5 years. Just after the two year mark right out of warranty the spas motor started grinding. Katherine Irving from Freeflow offered assistance and then denied it. I check the chemicals religiously and the tech said my spa was very clean and could not figure why my pump would go out. Despite that I was charge $95 to diagnose it was a bad pump then the local dealer took it upon themselves to order me a new pump without my permission and then installed it when I was gone and handed my wife a $500 bill without authorization. I tried to work with the owner but he refused and ripped out my pump when I would not pay the $500. After repeated calls to Katherine and Freeflow I got no assistance. The local dealer will not return my old pump and said he sent it to the factory. Why it wasent under warranty (as I was reminded many times by Freeflow staff)? Freeflow is denying they recieved it. You cant just order a pump from them either, Freeflow is horrible about returning calls. They will ignore you and say anything to get you off the phone. Be careful it doesnt seem like they even have a full time customer service staff. Dont believe me call their number you will find it on the contact page of their website and www.freeflowspas.com . I certainly hope you have better fortune than me with your spa. My spa was for my sick wife for hydrotherapy and now she is suffering from a manufacturer that does not stand behind their product. Beware!

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<!--quoteo(post=84525:date=Jul 27 2009, 11:44 AM:name=Dr. Spa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dr. Spa @ Jul 27 2009, 11:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=84525"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Or they sell 10 time the number of Calderas over Freeflows ? <img src="http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I asked him this - they sell more of the Freeflow TLX than any other spa. And yes, I'm sure the simplicity of the design = less things to go wrong = fewer repairs. Either way, so far we are pleased.

Please be careful I have owned my passport (Freeflow Spa) for 2.5 years. Just after the two year mark right out of warranty the spas motor started grinding. Katherine Irving from Freeflow offered assistance and then denied it. I check the chemicals religiously and the tech said my spa was very clean and could not figure why my pump would go out. Despite that I was charge $95 to diagnose it was a bad pump then the local dealer took it upon themselves to order me a new pump without my permission and then installed it when I was gone and handed my wife a $500 bill without authorization. I tried to work with the owner but he refused and ripped out my pump when I would not pay the $500. After repeated calls to Katherine and Freeflow I got no assistance. The local dealer will not return my old pump and said he sent it to the factory. Why it wasent under warranty (as I was reminded many times by Freeflow staff)? Freeflow is denying they recieved it. You cant just order a pump from them either, Freeflow is horrible about returning calls. They will ignore you and say anything to get you off the phone. Be careful it doesnt seem like they even have a full time customer service staff. Dont believe me call their number you will find it on the contact page of their website and www.freeflowspas.com . I certainly hope you have better fortune than me with your spa. My spa was for my sick wife for hydrotherapy and now she is suffering from a manufacturer that does not stand behind their product. Beware!

pump seals do ware out sometimes earlier that others. did you as a spa owner, protect your investment by checking the pump area once a month for leaks or water or the white crust that builds up under the wetend of the pump.
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I have sold Freeflow, they are a decent tub, did not have a lot of problems, but in the 5,000 dollar range , you might look at the D1 Journey, Serenade, or even the Dream, we sold several Freeflows and we sell a lot of South Pacific, roto molded spas, a great value for the price, for someone who has a cap on what they will spend they are good. Yes every manufacturer is prone to having problems, but it first starts with us the dealers to back up the product we sell, Netfern unfortunately has a issue with the dealer. also sound like miscommunication somewhere. It is funny that they sent in the pump, For Freeflow warranty on pumps we don't send in the pump we send the stickers of the pump. not the pump itself, You might call down there and talk with the general manager and see if he can help. Bob Gowlak i believe.

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  • 9 years later...

My husband and I are looking at hot tubs/spas for 2 good size people (my husband is more than 6 ft tall). Consumer reviews have been very ambiguous. We would like a spa no larger than for 4 people in the $5,000 range. I have looked at several sites for tips when buying hot tubs. Looking for:

Ease of use and installation

Low structural/pump maintenance

The least chemical requirements for water maintenance (ozenators, mineral additives to decrease chlorine requirements)

Longevity of product

Product support

We live in an area with hot summers and winter temps in the teens to 20's at times.

Additionally, I want to be able to use the hot tub water on my garden when it is time to change water.

Any advice?

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In the $5k and under price point, I would be looking at Freeflow, Nordic, and Viking.  They are all basic, but the quality is more than acceptable and at least with Nordic and Freeflow, you will have good manufacturer support (I have no personal experience with Viking as a company and as such cannot comment on their support).   Pretty much any hot tub will have the ability to add ozone and use minerals to decrease the dependency on chlorine.  I would be skeptical of using hot tub water on flowers, you cannot eliminate chlorine no matter what water care routine you follow.

I used to sell Nordic and currently sell Freeflow along with Hot Spring and Caldera.  Any questions you have on those brands I would be more than happy to assist with.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 5 months later...

I've been researching hot tubs it seems forever. 

I was looking at the Azure Premier. There doesn't seem to be many reviews on them.

1. Looking for decent jets for neck, lower back and feet.

2. Rodents. Are freeflow tubs prone to mice infestation?  I live in a wooded area. This could be a possibility. What do the bottoms look like?. Are there a lot of assess points for mice to get in to?

3. Customer service. Closest dealer would be 2 hrs away. 

4. Canadian winters. -20 - 30 Temps sometimes in the winter. Would they hold up?

There isn't a lot of information or reviews on these tubs. 

Thanks

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23 hours ago, Diane Reddick said:

I've been researching hot tubs it seems forever. 

I was looking at the Azure Premier. There doesn't seem to be many reviews on them.

1. Looking for decent jets for neck, lower back and feet.

2. Rodents. Are freeflow tubs prone to mice infestation?  I live in a wooded area. This could be a possibility. What do the bottoms look like?. Are there a lot of assess points for mice to get in to?

3. Customer service. Closest dealer would be 2 hrs away. 

4. Canadian winters. -20 - 30 Temps sometimes in the winter. Would they hold up?

There isn't a lot of information or reviews on these tubs. 

Thanks

I'd start a new thread to discuss further.  I have concerns about #3 and #4.  You want a dealer nearby for service if/when needed.  The last thing you want is a unresponsive dealer who takes a week to get back to you in the middle of cold winter day with a dead heater/spa.    Take your time to research dealers locally in your area, which ones provide the best service to their customers and offer the best warranty/call-out fees, often the dealer is just as important as the brand you buy so if you get a bad vibe from the dealer walk away and find another dealer or brand to buy from.

Also while those rotomolded spas are cost effective up front, they are not the best insulated and energy-efficient.  When converted to 220V the spa will be able to generate enough heat to keep the water hot in the winter, but it's going to cost you to maintain that water temperature.  You will spend a LOT of money on electricity keeping the water heated to 100F all winter long compared to a high-end spa which is fully insulated.   The better the spa is insulated, the more heat it can retain, and thus the less energy the heater consumes to keep the water heated to temp.

Lastly Freeflow spas are budget-friendly spas built to work on 110V.  They will get the water hot and jets will get water moving - but the jet pump does not produce more horsepower when wired to 220V.  The jets will work, but they won't offer the most therapeutic massage on the market (more so on the lower-power side of what spas can offer).   If you're mostly looking for a tub to soak in hot water without the jets running then sure it'll do the job.  But if you're hoping to use the jets to work out some sore muscles after exercising I'd probably look elsewhere.

Like I said however, I'd start a new thread with your budget and wants/needs.  I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction.

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  • 6 months later...

I have an older freeflow clx spa with a plastic heat exchanger that wraps around the motor (instead of an electric heater)  One of the hose barbs has broken off and i'm trying to find a replacement for it. Any ideas where i might be able to find one, possibly a specific name or part number or manufacturer? Hot spring bought freeflow and they dont have parts info for spas that they didnt manufacture. 

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On 2/28/2022 at 6:35 PM, Kennym said:

Any ideas where i might be able to find one, possibly a specific name or part number or manufacturer? Hot spring bought freeflow and they dont have parts info for spas that they didnt manufacture. 

I suggest starting a new thread with some photos of the issue.

Watkins acquired the Freeflow brand in 2012. It'll be really difficult to find any replacement parts for that item unless it is an industry standard part (in which case, photos will help greatly). 

 

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