Buying a Second Hand Hot Tub - Is It A Good Idea?

By: John Lewis Click author's name for more of his/her articles

If you are thinking of buying a second hand Spa many of the points still equally apply as if you were going to buy a new one.

So it is very important to look for a quality product.

Buying second hand can be a good opportunity for some people but on the other hand it can be fraught with difficulty and much grief for others.

The only advantage in buying second hand is that the price will be lower.

Similar in many ways to a brand new car that once it is driven out of the showroom it will no longer command the brand new price.

The main disadvantage will undoubtedly be the lack of a meaning full manufactures guarantee. Even if it is so young to still be with in the original owners warranty invariably it will only apply to the first owner. Perhaps if it comes with the house that you are buying you may well find then that the dealer may be able to extend the warranty to the new owner.

However if you are buying from a dealer in second hand Hot Tubs then you should obviously be entitled to and indeed insist on some sort of guarantee.

One of the key points to look out for is a well known brand that has been around for many years.

These products from a well known manufacturer are generally well made and provide many years service if looked after and maintained.

They usually have American pumps and components and for example Balboa controls which are recognised as being one of the best in the field.

Obviously it is best to avoid hot tubs that are made in the east as they generally lack the basic electronic components and getting spare parts for them can prove to be a nightmare.

Also my own experience of them is that their build quality is ,to say the least, very variable and not a patch on a properly made American or European product.

If you buy a second hand Hot Tub that has come from a well known manufacturer then you will probably find that it will have a good well made shell.

Look out for Lucite Acrylic shells or Aristech Shells both acknowledged as being high quality acrylic suppliers.

One big disadvantage in buying second hand is that your model will be older in efficiency and design than a new one.

In the last few years designs have improved at quite a pace as has the heat retention so whilst there may be some initial savings on the cost price the running cost may be somewhat higher.

Another is that Jet design has also improved as has the variety of features such as wave massage systems and that kind of thing so you will be buying an outdated model.

If you do buy a second hand hot tub you should make sure that the cover is serviceable and also that it can be locked for safety reasons.

One other point is to find out if the Spa is fully foamed. Just remove a side panel off and you can soon find out.

If the shell is foamed but you can still trace the piping that is not a fully foamed spa and for many reasons that would be my choice.

For one reason if by chance there should be a leak you can find it and fix it easily but if the cabinet is full of foam you can't see where the pipes go you have a mighty task on your hands. First to remove the wet foam and then to trace the leak.

For another I believe that a fully foamed spa is an outdated mode of construction possibly because the shell is made from a cheaper plastic and having less inherent strength so that it needs the additional support of the foam.

This article is not meant to be exhaustive but to touch on a few points to take into account if you are considering to buy a second hand hot tub.

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About The Author: The author JJ supplies premium quality American & European Hot Tubs from Estepona on the Costa Del Sol in Spain and his web site is at Best Hot Tubs Spain