Please Advise...

[momof3]

I've learned so much from reading all the posts here; I'm hoping someone can help me affirm that I'm making the right choice. After over a year of researching and debating my husband and I finally decided to invest in a hot tub. We were hoping to save a little $$$ by getting an '09 model, though. We only have one dealer in town, who sells Caldera. (Hot Springs dealer went out of business last yr, not sure why). The Calderas were very nice, but a little out of our price range, plus the only one available to wet test was a model we were not interested in at all. However, the dealer bought a used Envoy from a man who bought it new from the going-out-of-business HS place in Nov. '09. He later decided for whatever reason he did not want it. Caldera dealer will sell it to me for $5500 tax-free. This will include a new cover, lift (not sure which one), stairs, start-up chemicals, delivery, set-up- I'm pretty sure everything except the electician's fee. He assures me it works perfectly, and when I expressed concern about no warranty he said he'd give me a 1 yr warranty since Calderra and Hot Springs are "sister" companies. Is this a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but of course I'm buying used and there are no guarantees that it won't be a lemon. Because it's not a Caldera, I can not wet test it. I have though, used my in-laws HS Sovereign many times, and they seem quite similiar. ???

* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? (I don't have the seriel number, but I do believe it to be quite new. The control panal thing is on the top? which my father-in-law's HS dealer said was something HS started around 6 months or so ago. Is this true?)

* How should I decontaminate or in other words, REALLY clean this thing? I've got young kids that I want to protect for any germy stuff. Caldera man said he'd "clean it up" but how do I know it's really been cleaned?

* Is there anything I should look for that could be red flags that might cause me problems down the line?

* Any other advice on buying/owning a used tub?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me- thank heaven for places like this where real people can get real answers!

[ps558]

I've learned so much from reading all the posts here; I'm hoping someone can help me affirm that I'm making the right choice. After over a year of researching and debating my husband and I finally decided to invest in a hot tub. We were hoping to save a little $$$ by getting an '09 model, though. We only have one dealer in town, who sells Caldera. (Hot Springs dealer went out of business last yr, not sure why). The Calderas were very nice, but a little out of our price range, plus the only one available to wet test was a model we were not interested in at all. However, the dealer bought a used Envoy from a man who bought it new from the going-out-of-business HS place in Nov. '09. He later decided for whatever reason he did not want it. Caldera dealer will sell it to me for $5500 tax-free. This will include a new cover, lift (not sure which one), stairs, start-up chemicals, delivery, set-up- I'm pretty sure everything except the electician's fee. He assures me it works perfectly, and when I expressed concern about no warranty he said he'd give me a 1 yr warranty since Calderra and Hot Springs are "sister" companies. Is this a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but of course I'm buying used and there are no guarantees that it won't be a lemon. Because it's not a Caldera, I can not wet test it. I have though, used my in-laws HS Sovereign many times, and they seem quite similiar. ???

* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? (I don't have the seriel number, but I do believe it to be quite new. The control panal thing is on the top? which my father-in-law's HS dealer said was something HS started around 6 months or so ago. Is this true?)

* How should I decontaminate or in other words, REALLY clean this thing? I've got young kids that I want to protect for any germy stuff. Caldera man said he'd "clean it up" but how do I know it's really been cleaned?

* Is there anything I should look for that could be red flags that might cause me problems down the line?

* Any other advice on buying/owning a used tub?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me- thank heaven for places like this where real people can get real answers!

That is a good price and yes with control panel on top it is a new Hotspring model. What does his 1 year warranty cover? Can you get him to fill and run it for you?

for a good cleaning I like Natural Chemisrty's Spa Purge. You do need warm water to use but it is a natural product and in my opinion works really well. Even if there is something wrong with the spa and needs service you are still way under cost of a new one. Only you can make a decsion to buy or not. I say go for it

[hottubdan]

I've learned so much from reading all the posts here; I'm hoping someone can help me affirm that I'm making the right choice. After over a year of researching and debating my husband and I finally decided to invest in a hot tub. We were hoping to save a little $$$ by getting an '09 model, though. We only have one dealer in town, who sells Caldera. (Hot Springs dealer went out of business last yr, not sure why). The Calderas were very nice, but a little out of our price range, plus the only one available to wet test was a model we were not interested in at all. However, the dealer bought a used Envoy from a man who bought it new from the going-out-of-business HS place in Nov. '09. He later decided for whatever reason he did not want it. Caldera dealer will sell it to me for $5500 tax-free. This will include a new cover, lift (not sure which one), stairs, start-up chemicals, delivery, set-up- I'm pretty sure everything except the electician's fee. He assures me it works perfectly, and when I expressed concern about no warranty he said he'd give me a 1 yr warranty since Calderra and Hot Springs are "sister" companies. Is this a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but of course I'm buying used and there are no guarantees that it won't be a lemon. Because it's not a Caldera, I can not wet test it. I have though, used my in-laws HS Sovereign many times, and they seem quite similiar. ???

* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? (I don't have the seriel number, but I do believe it to be quite new. The control panal thing is on the top? which my father-in-law's HS dealer said was something HS started around 6 months or so ago. Is this true?)

* How should I decontaminate or in other words, REALLY clean this thing? I've got young kids that I want to protect for any germy stuff. Caldera man said he'd "clean it up" but how do I know it's really been cleaned?

* Is there anything I should look for that could be red flags that might cause me problems down the line?

* Any other advice on buying/owning a used tub?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me- thank heaven for places like this where real people can get real answers!

That is a good price and yes with control panel on top it is a new Hotspring model. What does his 1 year warranty cover? Can you get him to fill and run it for you?

for a good cleaning I like Natural Chemisrty's Spa Purge. You do need warm water to use but it is a natural product and in my opinion works really well. Even if there is something wrong with the spa and needs service you are still way under cost of a new one. Only you can make a decsion to buy or not. I say go for it

Get the serial #. Have father-in-law's dealer call the factory and see if spa has ever been registered or had warranty service. You may be able to get warranty.

All in all, great deal. I say go for it.

To kill the germs, you will want to superchlorinate. Spa Purge does not address germs.

[ps558]

I've learned so much from reading all the posts here; I'm hoping someone can help me affirm that I'm making the right choice. After over a year of researching and debating my husband and I finally decided to invest in a hot tub. We were hoping to save a little $$$ by getting an '09 model, though. We only have one dealer in town, who sells Caldera. (Hot Springs dealer went out of business last yr, not sure why). The Calderas were very nice, but a little out of our price range, plus the only one available to wet test was a model we were not interested in at all. However, the dealer bought a used Envoy from a man who bought it new from the going-out-of-business HS place in Nov. '09. He later decided for whatever reason he did not want it. Caldera dealer will sell it to me for $5500 tax-free. This will include a new cover, lift (not sure which one), stairs, start-up chemicals, delivery, set-up- I'm pretty sure everything except the electician's fee. He assures me it works perfectly, and when I expressed concern about no warranty he said he'd give me a 1 yr warranty since Calderra and Hot Springs are "sister" companies. Is this a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but of course I'm buying used and there are no guarantees that it won't be a lemon. Because it's not a Caldera, I can not wet test it. I have though, used my in-laws HS Sovereign many times, and they seem quite similiar. ???

* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? (I don't have the seriel number, but I do believe it to be quite new. The control panal thing is on the top? which my father-in-law's HS dealer said was something HS started around 6 months or so ago. Is this true?)

* How should I decontaminate or in other words, REALLY clean this thing? I've got young kids that I want to protect for any germy stuff. Caldera man said he'd "clean it up" but how do I know it's really been cleaned?

* Is there anything I should look for that could be red flags that might cause me problems down the line?

* Any other advice on buying/owning a used tub?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me- thank heaven for places like this where real people can get real answers!

That is a good price and yes with control panel on top it is a new Hotspring model. What does his 1 year warranty cover? Can you get him to fill and run it for you?

for a good cleaning I like Natural Chemisrty's Spa Purge. You do need warm water to use but it is a natural product and in my opinion works really well. Even if there is something wrong with the spa and needs service you are still way under cost of a new one. Only you can make a decsion to buy or not. I say go for it

Get the serial #. Have father-in-law's dealer call the factory and see if spa has ever been registered or had warranty service. You may be able to get warranty.

All in all, great deal. I say go for it.

To kill the germs, you will want to superchlorinate. Spa Purge does not address germs.

To kill the germs, you will want to superchlorinate. Spa Purge does not address germs.

Your right I was thinking of a spa being used with a sanitizer and being prepped for water change.

[r5ran]

I've learned so much from reading all the posts here; I'm hoping someone can help me affirm that I'm making the right choice. After over a year of researching and debating my husband and I finally decided to invest in a hot tub. We were hoping to save a little $$$ by getting an '09 model, though. We only have one dealer in town, who sells Caldera. (Hot Springs dealer went out of business last yr, not sure why). The Calderas were very nice, but a little out of our price range, plus the only one available to wet test was a model we were not interested in at all. However, the dealer bought a used Envoy from a man who bought it new from the going-out-of-business HS place in Nov. '09. He later decided for whatever reason he did not want it. Caldera dealer will sell it to me for $5500 tax-free. This will include a new cover, lift (not sure which one), stairs, start-up chemicals, delivery, set-up- I'm pretty sure everything except the electician's fee. He assures me it works perfectly, and when I expressed concern about no warranty he said he'd give me a 1 yr warranty since Calderra and Hot Springs are "sister" companies. Is this a good deal? I'm thinking it is, but of course I'm buying used and there are no guarantees that it won't be a lemon. Because it's not a Caldera, I can not wet test it. I have though, used my in-laws HS Sovereign many times, and they seem quite similiar. ???

* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? (I don't have the seriel number, but I do believe it to be quite new. The control panal thing is on the top? which my father-in-law's HS dealer said was something HS started around 6 months or so ago. Is this true?)

* How should I decontaminate or in other words, REALLY clean this thing? I've got young kids that I want to protect for any germy stuff. Caldera man said he'd "clean it up" but how do I know it's really been cleaned?

* Is there anything I should look for that could be red flags that might cause me problems down the line?

* Any other advice on buying/owning a used tub?

Thanks so much for any information you can give me- thank heaven for places like this where real people can get real answers!

"* In your opinion, is this a grab-it-before-it's gone kind of deal? "

YES, wow, $5500 for an almost new Envoy with a warranty? Great deal, I'd jump at it before it's gone, (or I go buy it!) ..Randy

[momof3]

UPDATE:

Electician is at the house now wiring through the attic, and the tub is supposed to be delivered later this morning. Yesterday they told me the driveway is too much of a slope to enter through the back gate, so now the new plan is to lift the whole thing over the privacy fence. Oh my!

I gave the serial number to father-in-law's HS dealer and he is going to check out the waranty information for me. Hopefully everything will be in working order once it gets set up.

Thanks so much for all the advice- one other question, how do I "superchlorinate" and how long does that take to do? My kids are SO excited about getting the hot tub (me too), but I told them they may have to wait until the weekend to actuallly get in.

[polyvue]

Thanks so much for all the advice- one other question, how do I "superchlorinate" and how long does that take to do? My kids are SO excited about getting the hot tub (me too), but I told them they may have to wait until the weekend to actuallly get in.

Is this a "previously owned" spa? If so, check out this thread:

Decontamination, How to Super Shock your Tub

http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=19115

For continued maintenance, here's a good reference:

Nitro's Approach To Water Maintaince, A guide to water balance and sanitation using chlorine

http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13634