Original > Hot Tub Forum
Best 110vAC spa money can buy?
d00nut:
--- Quote from: ratchett on October 31, 2019, 06:17:39 pm ---
--- Quote from: d00nut on October 31, 2019, 05:29:14 pm ---When we sold Bullfrog, we brought in a couple R5L's in on a 110V. Keep in mind, that they just put a smaller pump in the spa, as they don't actually change anything else.
Also, their 110V is 15A, so a true plug n play versus the Hot Spring 110V 20A.
We thought it would sell really well but you really do need to turn off 2 jet packs in the A5L or 1 in the R5L in order to get pressure even somewhat close to the 220V version.
As with everything, wet test if you can.
I agree, HSS doesn't have the most powerful jets compared to other spas I've sat in, but they are consistent. A Jetsetter feels exactly like a Jetsetter LX... minus the calf jets and hip jets in certain positions
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Awesome! Thanks for your feedback! I noticed that most every other tub is a true 110V/15amp AC. The Jetsetter is the only one I noticed which is rated for 115/20amp which luckily my house seems wired for - they had a box with a blank plate about 18 inches off the ground using proper conduit and everything. My dealer said they are supplying/installing the outlet which the Jetsetter will plug into, so I don't even need to worry about installing a GFCI outlet or anything which is awesome.
Since it's just myself 99% of the time, I plan on turning off all the jets aside from the one I'm sitting in to maximize pressure if necessary. But like I said, I'm looking for more of a soak as opposed to a deep tissue massage so I'm not all that worried about that aspect (although wrist/palm massagers would be nice since carpal tunnel seems to run in the family)
Good to know the Jetsetter and the LX have the same pressure from the jets which are common on both, I was hopeful that would be the case.
In reality this is a starter spa for me to ensure I really like them before I splurge on a fully loaded top of the line model once I know exactly what I do and don't like in a spa.
That said, I'm still a bit concerned about the lounger. Seems like it's a love it or hate it..... Would wet testing a different hotspring lounger one time tell me if I'll like it or not enough to use it all the time? The Prodigy seems quite appealing, if I can get over losing the lounger! haha
Do you find many service calls on the Jetsetter NXT models? My dealer would be about 50 miles away so they cannot guarantee next-day warranty service and that does have me a bit concerned (although they are really an excellent company which I have a good feeling about - small family run business, dealing/servicing exclusively with HotSpring and nothing else)
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Out of all the Spas you are talking about, Bullfrog A5L, Hot Spring Jetsetter, and the Marquis Spirit... I don't think I would call those starter spas ;) . They are a bit more than that!
Loungers are pretty much 100% found in spas of that size. I don't mind the lounger at all, but I like bigger spas personally, so I generally avoid them... again, it's a personal thing. If you like to just soak, I'd just recommend getting a hot tub with a circulation pump. Both the Bullfrog and the Hot Spring can have those (optional on BF, standard on HSS)
I am like you. Ground beef style 20/80. 20% of the time I use the jets, 80% of the time I'm a soaker... I just want absolute quiet.
Highlife spas, in general, have low service returns but in all fairness... so does everything else you are looking at. If they are upfront with how fast they can get to you, and what co-pays if any are there... I would be happy with that. I would just want to make sure that if there is an issue, you would not be abandoned
ratchett:
Nice! Thanks guys for the answers! I really appreciate the feedback from everyone!
--- Quote from: bud16415 on November 01, 2019, 08:21:18 am ---Well you have waited 20 years I won’t suggest you wait 5 more years until the addition is built just to have the benefits of a 240V tub. On the other hand a five year old 120V tub doesn’t have much resale value and a quality tub regardless of voltage should last 20 plus years if taken care of.
We bought our first tub about 5 years ago and when shopping for it I was the cheep one and suggesting a starter tub maybe even a 120V to keep things simple and she wanted to go with what we both knew we wanted and enjoy it for as many years as we can.
So my suggestion might be bite the bullet and get the 5 year tub now and just move it when the addition is on.
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Funny you mention that. So I really did a lot of consideration on what 240v tubs I could install, and how the wiring would be done etc. Another thing I forgot to mention is that this tub is being installed literally on the other side of a (cinderblock) bedroom wall. The tub will be about six feet from our heads when we sleep at night, so sound was a major consideration.
I also realize the resale price will be lower, so I might just end up keeping this tub in addition to upgrading to a second tub. This Jetsetter is small enough to fit through doorways, so I could eventually relocate it to either another location on the property or the eventual planned vacation house in the future.
--- Quote from: The Wizard of Spas on November 01, 2019, 10:38:41 am ---In my years of being in this industry, I do caution that a lot of plug & play units tend to be the least of the quality in terms of what a brand offers. This is indeed a broad, generalized statement so I understand the self-apparent issues in noting that. Regardless, I'd be sure to continue to research the build, quality of components, build techniques, etc. that are available in that line and ask how it may differ from the more standard lines that are offered by the brand. As an engineer, I am sure you're already on top of that!
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Thanks for that! I totally know where you are coming from. I often find these 2/3 person spa's excluded from the top-tier line from many spa dealers. The Jetsetter seems to be one of the few spa's I've discovered which uses the same build quality and components as other highlife series models, they simply skimped on jet count to compensate. Bullfrog and Marquis are the only two other brands which seem to offer a premier-trim package 110AC spa (Jacuzzi for example does have a 110AC J315, but the J415 is 220 only, and they don't even make a 500-series 3-person spa).
For sure I have learned so much about construction quality of tubs reading a lot of the old posts on this forum, and other places around the internet. Just because I plan on upgrading in 5 years doesn't mean I fully intend to sell this tub, if I can get 15+ years of use out of it somewhere somehow, that would be awesome (and knowing me, there's a distinct possibility I would keep the spa since I'm going all out on the investment).
ratchett:
(continuing reply because of character limit lol - I like to type)
--- Quote from: BullFrogSpasMN on November 01, 2019, 11:38:57 am ---it basically comes down to the size of the pump and heater and how the manufacturer decides to allocate the power....it appears the Jetsetter uses a 1.65HP Pump so they need all of that 20 amps, even the Nordic line I sell uses a 1.5HP pump and needs 20 amps as well...don't quote me on this but I believe the only way to get a 15 amp 110v tub is to use a pump size smaller than 1.3HP which is what the 110v A5L uses at 15 amps...anything larger will require 20 amps which makes sense for the Jetsetter, they wanna get the biggest pump they can on 110v to move that moto-massage jet which is a high GPM jet.
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Thank you for breaking it down for me. I really didn't bother to look at pump ratings since I had no clue how reliable they would be (especially for a 110AC spa) - I figured that would be one of those overrated specs which really varies from brand to brand. Although I did surmise the MotoMassager might have been the reason why they needed that extra power in a 110AC unit.
Because honestly - I bet 99% of the market for a 110AC unit is a first-time buyer, trying to plug it into a spare outlet without hiring an electrician. They're also usually on a tight budget looking to get the cheapest/bestest tub they can get. I admit I did have to double my budget from my original expectations, but I also wanted to get the highest quality filtration and cleaning possible (which for my needs/preference seems to be a continuous circ pump and a CD ozonator), and I wanted to spend more so I could get a quiet spa which wouldn't disturb us during our sleep.
(Note - I have already listened to a hotspring spa's running the continuous circ pump and have confirmed with my wife they are quiet enough we won't be disturbed at night by the quiet hum of the circ pump)
Thanks again for all the help ya'll. I'm feeling very comfortable in my research and purchase. I'm very likely going to move forward with my jetsetter purchase (which like I said, is conveniently already in stock - all they had to do was swap out the 4 access panels with panels they had on another jetsetter in the warehouse). I'll be heading up to the spa this week to perform a final inspection of the spa and take one final wet-test (in another Highlife series spa to test out the lounger) and schedule a delivery. If I'm lucky, we'll have the Jetsetter installed and running next weekend!
I went into this purchase thinking I would be lucky if I had the tub built, shipped, and delivered after Thanksgiving
Still have a lot to learn about care/maintenance of spa's, but I'm excited to learn. I'm certain you'll be seeing more of me around this forum haha
--- Quote from: d00nut on November 01, 2019, 12:02:00 pm ---Highlife spas, in general, have low service returns but in all fairness... so does everything else you are looking at. If they are upfront with how fast they can get to you, and what co-pays if any are there... I would be happy with that. I would just want to make sure that if there is an issue, you would not be abandoned
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Yep, I figure full-foam is the way to go if I want to give my spa the best chance of some plumbing not rattling loose from vibrations and wear. And I didn't want the frame to rust/rot away as fast as other cheaper 110AC spa's
After reading this forum, I learned a lot about the value of the purchasing from a reputable dealer with a good service department. That really helped when I started my search for a spa, not only was I looking at the spas themselves, but I was also interviewing the store asking them questions about their service departments, maintenance costs, etc.
My local "big backyard" type store which sold Jacuzzi and HotSpring Spas (practically at MSRP prices, hardly any discount!) seemed extremely overpriced and inexperienced with specific brands of products. They were more interested in wealthy loaded customers looking to purchase a complete dream backyard from one store, and I didn't appreciate that - a jack of all is a master of none.
Luckily I found another HotSpring dealer north of me who is just awesome - family run business selling HotSpring exclusively for decades. Hundreds of positive customer reviews online to research, and they have their own in-house service technicians with a high employee retention rate. My sales rep knew the HotSprings Highlife series inside and out. Not once has she given me an inaccurate statement (or trash-talked any other brand), and their prices were much better than the other dealer. Honestly out of all the spa dealers in my region which I have encountered, they are the one dealer I like the most because it seems like they genuinely care about the satisfaction of their customers before and after their investment.
d00nut:
--- Quote from: ratchett on November 01, 2019, 12:28:27 pm ---(continuing reply because of character limit lol - I like to type)uckily I found another HotSpring dealer north of me who is just awesome - family run business selling HotSpring exclusively for decades. Hundreds of positive customer reviews online to research, and they have their own in-house service technicians with a high employee retention rate. My sales rep knew the HotSprings Highlife series inside and out. Not once has she given me an inaccurate statement (or trash-talked any other brand), and their prices were much better than the other dealer. Honestly out of all the spa dealers in my region which I have encountered, they are the one dealer I like the most because it seems like they genuinely care about the satisfaction of their customers before and after their investment.
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That's a rare find. I think that's the best way to get business though. Not trashing others, being honest, being knowledgable... but just caring. We do our best to follow that model... which is probably why I have a hard time finding employees that fit our mold :)
ratchett:
--- Quote from: d00nut on November 01, 2019, 03:17:44 pm ---That's a rare find. I think that's the best way to get business though. Not trashing others, being honest, being knowledgable... but just caring. We do our best to follow that model... which is probably why I have a hard time finding employees that fit our mold :)
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Absolutely. And their google/yelp reviews (literally hundreds of them) reflect that constant dedication to customer service over the decades. That's why they were literally the first place I started shopping (coincidentally the first spa I looked at is the one I'm buying).
In this modern era of social media, I truly believe satisfied customers can do enough talking to generate business for a company to survive without spending much on "traditional" advertising.
As a small business owner myself, I can appreciate a company which specializes in one product/brand exclusively. I often go out of my way to seek out these sorts of businesses naturally so it felt like just a perfect fit - I like their business model and appreciate their competitive pricing. No other spa dealer I visited since then held a candle to my (soon to be) Hotspring dealer.
Naturally, if I were buying a "budget priced" spa at less than half the price, I wouldn't expect much in terms of post-sale service. But given the investment, I'm happy to know I have a direct contact to my dealer and sales rep to answer any question or problems I have with my first spa. Which felt important to me since I really don't know how hard it will be to maintain the water balance on my first tub.
For now, I think it sounds like I'm sticking with the Jetsetter unless my lounger wet-test goes extremely bad, at which point I'll be upgrading to the Highlife Prodigy which would also fit the space and is 115AC compatible.
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