How Old Is It? (um, wrong focus)
The current condition, overall health and longevity of a hot tub largely depend on three things: How Well It’s Made This has to do with engineering, workmanship and quality of materials. There can be big differences between brands and models. You’ll likely be better off with a 25-year-old Calspa than a 5-year-old Canadian Spa […]
Hot Tub Skirting
There’s cheap and high end versions of skirting that at first glance may look almost identical. Some skirts last much longer, maintain their look and can be treated easier and more effectively than others, depending on materials, workmanship and engineering. Tips: -Lower quality plastic skirting tends to warp and buckle as it ages, becomes more […]
Broken Or Missing Hot Tub Jets
Sometimes broken jets don’t look broken at a glance, so there needs to be some investigative work to find out. Tips: -Check every jet body (holes where jets go) to make sure none are missing. -Most jets can be turned on and off on a gradient fade by turning them like a dial. See if […]
Broken And Missing Hot Tub Bits And Accoutrements
Bits and parts are often damaged or missing on used hot tubs. Things like dials, cushions, valves, jets, drink tray caps, skimmer weirs, drain/intake strainers, leaf catcher baskets, filters, covers, clips, etc. You might not notice it or give it a second thought, but these “little things” might actually be important and can add up, […]
Compromised Hot Tub Structural Integrity
Once a hot tub is delivered to the original buyer, it’s intended to sit there for the rest of its life. Once the packaging has been removed mother nature and wear and tear begin to work away at weakening the frame and cabinet, and sometimes moist insulation (often from leaks) and residual water in the […]
Hot Tub Parts: Proprietary And Obsolete Hot Tub Parts
There ARE thousands of hot tub parts in our distributor catalogue, and there are ALSO thousands of parts that are NOT in the catalogue because they are no longer available. Some items are proprietary dealer-only, year-specific parts that can only be obtained by an official dealer of that particular brand by giving them the hot […]
Hot Tub Cost And Ease Of Repairs
Some hot tub models are a “quick fix”, while others are a royal pain to work on. Last year I went to replace a circ pump for a friend who had a very high end model. There were no gate valves so we had to empty the hot tub before I could do the job. […]
Hot Tub Insulation Problems
Some hot tubs are very poorly insulated. Sometimes a hot tub has a slow (undetected) leak which soaks the insulation, causing it to use its R-value. Sometimes the foam insulation is missing in spots (usually due to sloppy application or being scraped off for repair access). Tips: -Check behind the panels to see what’s insulating […]
Hot Tub Mould Mildew And Algae Problems
Sometimes one or more of the inside walls of a hot tub are covered with stubborn mould. Not only can mould be bad for one’s health, but it retains moisture and accelerates decomposition. Tips: -Check around the pump/spa pack area and behind the panels for mold/mildew. -Pop a few jets out and check the jet […]
Hot Tub Wasp Ant And Maggot Infestation
Creepy crawlies that are part of the organic decomposition system help accelerate rot. Nuisance insects such as bees, ants and wasps are sometimes hard to remove once they’ve made a tub their home. Tips: -check for the obvious signs of insects around the hot tub -check the gap between the shell skirt and […]
Hot Tub Warp Problems And Solutions
Over time a hot tub can slowly bend out of shape if it doesn’t sit on a perfectly level solid pad. Warp is often unnoticeable if you aren’t specifically looking for it, until it is relocated onto a flat surface, where it can be rocked corner to corner. When the tub is filled, it will […]
Hot Tub Pest Invasion Rats, Mice, Squirrels, Raccoons And More
It is not unusual to discover an intricate maze of mouse or rat tunnels in the foam insulation. Squirrels and even skunks and racoons are known to find a way into the hot tub cabinet. Sometimes these critters shred the insulation off of the shell and pipes. They like to gnaw on pipes, hoses and […]
Hot Tub Shell Blisters Crazing And Fading
Almost all hot tubs have a colored acrylic skin heat-vacuumed over the fiberglass shell. Small Blisters and superficial fissures on the skin are more of an aesthetic issue than a real problem. Usually the blisters are in the corners on the floor, so you can’t see them unless a hot tub is empty. They don’t […]
Hot Tub Rust Problems
You might not think of rust when it comes to hot tubs, but there are plenty of metal parts in a typical unit. Chlorinated spa water is especially corrosive and water from a plumbing leak will aggressively eat away any metal that gets wet. This is another one of those situations where something can be […]
Hot Tub Wood Rot
We used to frequently buy tubs with decaying wood skirts in order to rebuild them, but now we don’t usually bother with rotting hot tubs – they are too much work and often have other moisture-related problems such as rust, mould and stench. Even a healthy-looking skirt may buckle and fall apart when it is […]
Hot Tub Computer Issues
Langley Hot Tubs Galore back with another of our Used Hot Tub Tutorial & Tips. Hot tub repair can become very costly as hot tub parts and hot tub service become part of a hot tubs life. That’s why we always suggest when buying a used hot tub you buy from a reputable used hot […]
Hot Tub Plumbing Problems
Leaks are a big deal. Some hot tubs are much less likely to leak than others, and some leaks are much harder to locate and/or fix than others. Some cracks don’t leak under static pressure, but only lose water when the pumps are on high speed. Sometimes a leak is not immediately evident, as the […]
Hot Tub Mechanical Failure
There are lots of moving parts on a hot tub. We make sure it’s all in working order for you. Tips: -test the motors for high/low/off settings -feel them for heat after they’ve been running a while. -Listen for noisy bearings. -Check the pump shafts while the pumps are under load to see if water […]
Hot Tub Electronic Malfunction
Hot tubs have heating elements, thermostats, breakers, submersible lights, secondary pumps, computer circuit boards and all kinds of other things that run off a combination of 220v, 110v and 12v current. Since electronics and wiring can be complicated and temperamental, they sometimes go wacky after a spa is moved and revived. That’s why it’s good […]
Hot Tub Sanitation Issues
Sometimes clients tell us they have heard that buying a used hot tub can be dangerously unsanitary. Although we suspect the danger is greatly exaggerated by spa retailers, we have to admit it’s gross to end up with a grungy tub. Sometimes we are surprised at the yucky stuff that comes out when we flush […]
