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New to buying used hot tubs - what's important?

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slo:
Hi all. My wife and I bought our first house two years ago now, and we're toying around with the idea of getting a hot tub. I've been watching Craigslist and FB Marketplace for them, and I've talked to a couple of people with them for sale. I'm finding that I don't know how to evaluate these listings. When a used car says "new tires, new alternator, new muffler" I know that's a good thing. But if a hot tub listing says "new seals," is that good or bad?

I'll give an example. Here's a listing and some replies from the seller I was looking at recently:

--- Quote ---8 man deep hot tub pumps heater panels all good . Runs heats up 120 no problem it has 2 pumps very strong we got a new one ..
I replaced all the wood on the bottom and has new impellers.
(Needs 3 or 4 jets re sealed. And sides put back on. ) we got a new one need this gone . Will be open to trades asking 1500 cash bo.. it was winterized and flipped on side to drain alllll water out of it ..
--- End quote ---


--- Quote ---It was used when I got it I replaced   lines , all the wood  on the bottom,  p.t. frame  new pump new impellers.      New heater  so it's all new it needs a few  jets   re sealed  and my wife wanted  a bigger  one ? Why idk lol  we got a 12 ft x 9 ft new. Lol  happy  if happy  life.    It only slow leak happen  at the end of the year.  And wood  only go down  6 in but I was go to just re seale them all  the tub is great   I'm 6ft tall and sitting  its at my neck. Goes  to 120 no problem.
--- End quote ---

Aside from his unfortunate writing, I'm not sure how to interpret this. It sounds like he's replacing a pump or two, the wooden casing, all impellers, and the heater. It needs some jets resealed and sounds like it may have a slow leak.

This leads me to these general questions:
1. Are new impellers a good thing, or sign of a problem?
2. Are replaced pumps a good thing, or sign of a problem?
3. Is a new heater a good thing, or sign of a problem?
4. Are resealing jets a normal maintenance operation (e.g. replacing tires on a used car), or the sign of a major point of failure developing?
5. How serious are unidentified leaks?
6. Would you buy a used tub without knowing the exact age? Is it even possible to figure that out, even with a serial or model number?
7. What's the oldest you'd go on a used tub?

I'm hoping you guys can help me evaluate this listing specifically, but also used tub listings in general. I've been doing some research but haven't found any significant sources of info. I'd love any insight you all can provide, or reading material/videos you've found helpful. Thanks!

cranbiz:
You really want to see this with water in it and running. You want to sit in it to see if it's comfortable for you and yours, you want to test all it's functions.

There are a lot of red flags here for me. Heating to 120 is unsafe, it may need new sensors or a control board. Leaks are a PITA to trace and troubleshoot. If it's a control board, you are looking at a new spa pack more likely than not.

An older tub will require maintenance so the new stuff if nice but in it's current state, you don't know if the new parts were installed right.

If it was free, maybe. For $1500 I would pass.

A.O.:
I too, am in the TAKE A PASS boat!!  I'm thinking RUN dont WALK away from this one...

Spatech_tuo:
LOL:

1) Heats to 120º? Are they making soup?
2) "Needs 3 or 4 jets re sealed." OK MR. DIYer, go ahead and replace them so it no longer works and then we'll talk because $1500 for a leaky tub isn't happening?
3) "I replaced all the wood on the bottom". Yeah because it leaked for who knows how long soaking the wood and rotting it. Why not fix the leaks first and then the wood afterward? If you have an electrical fire in your house due to a wiring issue do you fix the fire damage before you fix the wiring issue?
4) "my wife wanted  a bigger  one ?" I think she really wanted a non-leaker and that project out of her yard!

They replaced a few things which is good but I get the feeling he took care of the low lying fruit but begged off the leaks for a reason. You don't need his headache let alone pay him to take his problem out of his yard.

slo:
Hey guys. Thanks for all the informative responses! He has already bargained himself down to $850. I presume I could get it for $500, but I figured even free it might be a real chore, so I had already written it off. It serves as a good learning case though.

If I'm buying a used tub, should I expect to need to reseal jets? Is that a normal maintenance thing, or is that a "only in case of specific failures" type of job?

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