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Experience with Essential Arbor 20?

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emt1581:
I have no experience with hot tubs other than using them at hotels and friend's house.  However, I work around 60+ hours a week at 3 different jobs and I want a hot tub I can come home to and just relax in.  I'd also like to be able to use it in the cooler/colder months.  When it comes to cars/house I turn my own wrench and usually do my own work.  So I'd like something I can work on if a gasket, pump, heater, etc. breaks.  At the same time I don't want to spend a ton of money so someone suggested a rotomold hot tub.

After some searching around, a few of the Essential models, this one caught my eye.  While it's not pretty, it's looks perfect for my/our needs. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4ZR732/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

What has your experience been with this tub?  Even if you don't own one, but maybe know hot tubs....thoughts?  Seems like they use Balboa parts which I read are of good quality. 

But here are my concerns....

1)  Maintaining and repairs.  How easy is it to get to the tubing/piping, jets, etc. and to repair or replace them?  I see the heater and pump are right behind the panel but what about everything else?

2) Function over time.  How long do these function and last for?  The shell is lifetime but parts is only a year.  Do these start breaking part-wise after a few years? 

3)  Winter.  I'm in eastern PA where we get 20-40 degree Winters.  Now I'm able to enclose my lower patio pretty easily if need be but if not it'll be exposed to the elements on three sides (will have a roof and be up against my walkout basement wall).  Will this function fine year round? 

What else should I know about this specific brand and/or model?

Thanks!!  :)

emt1581:
Is it that no one knows anything about this particular model or does know anything about rotomold tubs in general?

Thanks

Marco P:
rotomold tubs are a mixed bag IMO. you can either get one that will outlast some of the major manufacturers, or you can get one that leaks worse than a seive.

emt1581:

--- Quote from: Marco P on July 09, 2018, 02:05:49 am ---rotomold tubs are a mixed bag IMO. you can either get one that will outlast some of the major manufacturers, or you can get one that leaks worse than a seive.

--- End quote ---

Thanks for sharing.  Even complaints I haven't been able to find on any of the forums/google/etc.  It's like these tubs are an anomaly that no one uses or knows anything concrete about. 

As for leaks, I received an answer from a "manufacturer" today on Amazon saying the electrical and pump components are easy to access behind the panel.  But any issues with the plumbing/jets needs to be addressed from the "base".  I took that to mean it would need to be drained, jacked/propped up, and then parts addressed that way...which I could do.  But I'm not buying a tub that will constantly need work done to it.

And after some calling around today, I couldn't find any local hot tub dealers that sell roto molds.  No clue if that's due to the decrease in profit or because they are of poor quality. 

Sure wish there was more (recent) experience I could find on them! 

Thanks again for sharing!

emt1581:
Just got off the phone with a local dealer that DOES carry Dream Maker and Strong Spas.  Got a LOT of info!! I just hope it was accurate/true...

My primary concern was with parts and repairs.  He said that he hasn't seen jets break on these (which I have a hard time believing).  However, to replace internal parts they drain them and then flip them over to access everything.  He said as long as I keep the water at the right Ph level that is what keeps the parts working right.  I guess when it becomes too acidic it starts to do damage. 

He said the water would need to be tested to make sure my city's water is okay.  But that most likely I'd need 2-3 bromide tabs every 10 days, spray the filter off once a month and just test the water weekly to make sure it's alright. 

In terms of maintaining temps, he said that these can easily handle our PA winter temps and are meant to be used year round even on 110.  He said they are more efficient and heat faster on 220. 

I know he's a dealer and his job is to sell, but based on experience, can anyone call BS on anything he shared?

EDIT:  Also forgot to add that I have access to 2 220 lines currently not being used.  So if I ran one out to my patio and put and outlet on the end of the line I'd be running at that power instead of the 110.  Not sure if I'd need to swap out parts to handle that though.

Thanks!

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