Welcome to Madison city resource!
 

Welcome to our Madison Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

Article #222: Things to Consider when buying a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi Tub

(Browse for more articles)
 
We recently purchased a new Hot Tub and Preparation and Additional Costs
Gazebo from Cal Spas in Minnesota. The Here are a few things to consider in your
purchase was not something we planned, decision they either provided additional
just something that caught our eye when cost or hard work on my part.
visiting the Minnesota State Fair. As a Electrical: You'll most likely need a
result we learned a few things that would dedicated 50 amp circuit with a breaker
have made our purchase smarter. In the box in plain view of the tub. In our
end we're pleased with the decision but case this meant digging a 36 inch deep
its easy to say now that all the work is trench from the garage to the gazebo (50
done. In this article I'll outline the feet) so the electrician could run the
information I wish I had considered when conduit. The cost of the electrical work
making this purchase. I hope it helps was about $1000.00 and I had to dig the
you in your decision. trench myself. My buddy did his own
The Tub electrical and still spent $500.00 in
This isn't going to be a detailed rundown parts so keep that in mind.
on what to look for in a good tub or who Cement: I also needed a new cement slab
to buy it from. I'll leave that to the to accommodate my tub and gazebo. We put
other articles out on the internet. in a 14x15 slab to accomplish this. What
There are two points I'll make of things I did not consider was that cement has
I may have changed. We purchased the top gone way up in price since my last 10x10
of the line system, the only thing it slab. We spent almost $2000.00 for the
lacked was an LCD monitor and DVD player. labor and materials to have this poured.
So what would I change? Well after What I also did not consider was the work
using it for a season I find that the of removing the grass from that area.
multitude of jets is irrelevant for me. This took three days of exhausting work
I am more of a soaker and actually prefer cutting strips of sod and hauling them to
that the jets aren't all blasting. Its the disposal site.
too much noise and I don't like the Gazebo: What I did not consider and was
splashing. So I would look for something not told by the sales rep was that
at a better price point and give up some immediately upon erecting the gazebo,
of the fancy jets in favor of more common we'd need to stain it to seal the wood
ones. A friend of mine paid 1/2 of my from the weather. This is a 12x12
cost for a more basic unit and he structure I hadn't considered staining.
couldn't be happier. So where would I Let me just say it was a day of hard work
put this money? I would ALWAYS splurge which will need to be done at least every
and get the stereo and speakers built other year.
into the tub. My wife insisted on this Additional Items to Consider
and it added quite a bit to the price but A few additional items you may want to
I wouldn't want it any other way. The consider purchasing.
tub uses a marine radio/CD player with Cover Helper: The covers of these hot
water proof speakers and a remote tubs are not easy to move around by
controller on the top side of the tub. yourself. This is especially true in a
You can easily hear the music and I even Gazebo. They sell cover helpers which
ran a TV in through the Auxiliary so we are lever type devices that life the
can hear the TV through the tub speakers. cover mechanically and put it behind the
My friend who didn't buy this feature is tub. Unfortunately for me my wife wants
left with setting up elaborate wiring and the tub against the wall so we're stuck
remote control extenders to get his either using 1/2 the tub or man handling
stereo to play outside. Another feature the heavy cover. This is my pet peeve
I'd suggest is fiber optic lighting. about tubs. So if you have the room or
There are a bunch of small lights around consider making the room, this will make
the top of the tub that change color. At your spa much more enjoyable.
first glance it looks like this would Portable Utility Pump: Tubs have a
just be to make it fancy. Try the tub at gravity drain at the bottom but these can
night and you'll find they provide a take all day to drain a tub. My neighbor
great deal of light which makes the tub was smart and purchased a utility pump or
much easier to use. It also helps when sump pump at the local Home Depot or
messing around outside the tub with CD's Menards. This drained the tub in about
Drinks Towels, Chemicals etc. My friend an hour and let us get to work cleaning
again, is stringing rope lighting. So in and refilling fairly quick. After
a nutshell on the tub, consider the borrowing his I went right out and picked
stereo and fiber optics and if necessary one up for about $70.00 For those of you
go with less jets to cover the cost. who've drained a waterbed without a pump
Gazebo Information you'll know why this is a good
My wife insisted on a Gazebo surrounding investment.
the tub and for years I put off the Hose for adding water: Just like with my
purchase because I didn't want to spend waterbeds, I prefer to purchase a special
another $7000.00 on a Gazebo. Once we hose for adding water to the tub. I keep
took the plunge I'd say that for the it inside so it stays clean and not
Minnesota winters I'd have it no other frozen. Tubs evaporate water at a
way. I have neighbors that freeze surprisingly fast rate so plan on adding
climbing in and out and maintaining their water once a month or so.
spa. Ours is like another room in the In Home Jacuzzi Tubs
house and is quite warm in the winter due When we built our house we splurged and
to the heat from the tub. Now a word of added one of those large two person
advice. My buddy purchased an 8x8 Gazebo Jacuzzi tubs with six jets. I thought
that basically encloses the tub with no we'd be in heaven and was reminiscing of
extra space. They climb up stairs and go nights spent in the Jacuzzi suites in a
through the windows of the gazebo to get hotel. What I didn't consider is the
in the tub. On a showroom this looks following and because it these things, it
like a fine arrangement. Well this functions more as an ornament to make the
winter his wife climbs in, closes the bathroom look grand.
windows to keep the cold out and finds Filling: These things take time to fill,
herself trapped in the gazebo. They had by the time its filled do you still need
to damage the windows getting it open due or want that bath?
to the condensation that froze the window Hot Water: Filling these will drain your
shut. My smart wife insisted we purchase water heater down unless you've planned
a larger gazebo. We went with a 12x12 for extra capacity. I find that the
that had racks and storage for chemicals water for my pre bath shower isn't very
and towels. It also has built in lights warm once I've filled the tub.
which are a bonus. The important thing Cleaning: Ok so I'm lazy but just like a
to note about this decision is that I hot tub, you have to clean the tub and
enter the gazebo through a sliding door, jets and the larger the tub the more work
not the window. If anything freezes it it is just to keep the dust out.
will be the windows by the tub not the I hope my thoughts have given you
ones opposite the room and the sliding something to consider and plan when
door. Additionally its just nice to have making a large purchase such as a spa or
a new room on the house and the cost gazebo. All things considered I'd do it
relative to the benefits isn't bad at again if I moved but I'd be a little
all. Plus we have room for a bar and smarter and save money and effort.
stools in there.






1 - A - B - C - D - E - F - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 -