The company file
American Whirlpool
Therapy seats laid out by medical specialists, on a steel frame warranted for life, wrapped in patented insulation a technician can open up and service in your backyard, all built in Arizona.
The long read: how the tubs are built, the complaint record, the warranty part by part, and the company’s history.
How it started
MAAX Spas created American Whirlpool in 2017 by merging the best of four brands, including L.A. Spas and MAAX Spas. It cut the lineup from 105 models to 24.
What American Whirlpool is known for, and the catch
How it’s built
Eight things that decide whether it lasts. Tap any for the detail.
Self-supporting shellNot foam-filled, but the frame and base carry the loadPartly
American Whirlpool skips the poured-foam build, so the fiberglass-backed shell is not held up by set foam. The company credits the perimeter frame (steel on most series, treated wood on the 100) and the sealed ABS base as the support structure. It never claims the shell stands on its own.
What this means, and how to check it →americanwhirlpool.com ↗americanwhirlpool.com ↗
Clamped plumbingAmerican Whirlpool doesn't publish this. Ask the dealerNot published
The factory parts list shows standard 2-inch glued PVC on the main lines with barbed take-offs for jets and air. Whether flexible hose is secured with stainless clamps at those barbs is the part that matters, and nobody has photographed it. Ask a dealer to open a cabinet.
What this means, and how to check it →partsforvitaspa.com ↗americanwhirlpool.com ↗
Manifold-fed jetsAmerican Whirlpool doesn't publish this. Ask the dealerNot published
There is no cutaway, plumbing diagram or manifold claim from the company. The only drawing in the owner's manual is a generic equipment bay that leaves the jet plumbing out entirely. The way to settle it is to open a cabinet at a dealer and look.
What this means, and how to check it →americanwhirlpool.com ↗partsforvitaspa.com ↗
Standard partsGecko controls and Waterway jets, parts anyone can stockYes
Current tubs run a Gecko control pack sold under the POWERWORKS name, and older builds used Balboa. Jets come from Waterway and Pentair with published part numbers. Several independent suppliers in the US and UK carry the boards, pumps and jets, so any competent tech can work on it.
What this means, and how to check it →americanwhirlpool.com ↗americanwhirlpool.com ↗
Compression-fitted jetsSome jet bodies bolt in with a nut; newer ones may press into a grommetPartly
Parts sold for American Whirlpool include body nuts and gaskets for its Storm and 200 Series jets. Newer bodies shared with Vita press into a rubber grommet with no nut. The maker doesn't say which current tubs use, and nothing shows glued bodies.
What this means, and how to check it →partsforvitaspa.com ↗partsforvitaspa.com ↗
Adjustable jetsYes, most jets adjust. The small Euro jets are fixedYes
Directional and rotating jets turn down or off, and the nozzles aim wherever you want them. Air controls on the lip and diverter valves shift water between zones. The footwell and shoulder Euro jets stay open because ozone feeds in there. The manual says never close every full-size jet at once.
What this means, and how to check it →americanwhirlpool.com ↗americanwhirlpool.com ↗
Service networkDealer-only service, 350-plus dealers, parts easy to findYes
Warranty work goes through the dealer who sold you the tub, and the factory wants pre-approval for service where there is no authorized dealer nearby. Coverage is thinner than the giant brands in some regions. Parts are the easy part: at least six independent suppliers stock them.
What this means, and how to check it →americanwhirlpool.com ↗americanwhirlpool.com ↗
American made?Built in Chandler, Arizona and Ottumwa, IowaYes
Chandler, Arizona: Headquarters and main hot tub plant, about 100,000 sq ft (2016 report). Ottumwa, Iowa: 90,000 sq ft swim spa plant, former Universal Rundle site, opened 2021.
What this means, and how to check it →manufacturing-today.com ↗kyoutv.com ↗
What American Whirlpool says, part by part6
American Whirlpool doesn't describe jet or plumbing connections; its 2026 manual only mentions pump unions and slice valves.
Steel frame marketed as 'Appliance Grade'. The maker says the 200 Series mixes treated wood with steel corners; entry lines use treated wood.
Not published by the maker: plumbing, shell.
Barbed, clamped or glued? What it means3
Hose slides over a ridged fitting and a clamp holds it. Easy to service, but clamps are one more thing that can loosen.
Pipe is solvent-welded into the fitting and becomes one piece. A strong seal, but a leak repair means cutting and re-gluing.
Which method this model uses, whether the joints are reachable for repair, and what the plumbing warranty covers.
What owners and watchdogs say
A BBB letter grade rates how a company handles complaints, not how happy owners are. Read it next to the complaint count and the reviews.
How complaints ended, and the reviews by star1
- 0 Resolvedthe customer accepted the company's answer
- 2 Answeredthe company replied; the customer didn't confirm it was fixed
- 0 Unresolvedthe company replied; the customer said it wasn't fixed
- 0 Unansweredthe company never replied
The company replied to 2 of 2. A complaint count means more next to how big the company is.
Recalls3
- Mar 13, 2018MAAX Spas recalled about 550 US hot tubs and swim spas sold 2012 to 2015; the Delta UV generator could ignite.
- Mar 13, 2018Health Canada companion recall of about 630 MAAX spas with the same Delta UV generator fire hazard.
- Dec 9, 2003MAAX Spas recalled 13,000 Infinity and Lifestyle spas; pump motor capacitors could overheat, with 12 fires reported. Predates today's lineup.
The warranty, part by part
| Steel frame | Lifetime of your ownership |
|---|---|
| Shell, equipment and plumbing | Covered, but terms not published; the manual points to the warranty card |
| Transferability | First retail purchaser only; ends on transfer |
Read the warranty card before you sign: what labor is covered after year one, and whether the coverage moves to a second owner.
History and ownership
Founded in 2017 in Chandler, Arizona. Changed hands 4 times. Owner today: Centerbridge Partners (private equity), through American Bath Group.
Who has owned it
- 2017Founded by MAAX Spas Industries Corp. in Chandler, Arizona.
- 1987Partial changeCompany renamed MAAX Inc. and listed on the Montreal Stock Exchange, becoming publicly traded.
- 2004Founder Placide Poulin sold MAAX to an investor group led by Boston's J.W. Childs Associates.
- 2008After the housing crash forced MAAX to seek creditor protection, Brookfield Asset Management acquired the company.
- 2017Brookfield sold MAAX to Tennessee-based American Bath Group, announced January 2017.
- 2020Centerbridge Partners agreed in October 2020 to buy parent American Bath Group from Lone Star Funds.
- TodayCenterbridge Partners (private equity), through American Bath Group
Full timeline15
- 1969FoundedPlacide Poulin founded Modern Fiberglass and Metal in Beauce, Quebec, making snowmobile cabs and molded pools. It later became MAAX.
- Mid-1980sFactoryColeman Spas began operating the Chandler, Arizona plant that MAAX Spas still uses.
- 1987Changed handsCompany renamed MAAX Inc. and listed on the Montreal Stock Exchange, becoming publicly traded.
- 1998Bought a brandThe Coleman Company sold its spa group, including the Chandler plant, to MAAX.
- 2004Changed handsFounder Placide Poulin sold MAAX to an investor group led by Boston's J.W. Childs Associates.
- 2005FactoryMAAX spa plants in British Columbia and Ontario were consolidated into Chandler, Arizona.
- 2008Changed handsAfter the housing crash forced MAAX to seek creditor protection, Brookfield Asset Management acquired the company.
- 2009Bought a brandMAAX Spas bought Vita Spa and moved its manufacturing from Florida to Arizona.
- 2014Bought a brandMAAX Spas bought L.A. Spas in December 2014 and moved its production from Anaheim to Chandler.
- 2017Changed handsBrookfield sold MAAX to Tennessee-based American Bath Group, announced January 2017.
- 2017BrandAmerican Whirlpool brand created; MAAX Spas later said it cut seven brands to two, American Whirlpool and Vita Spa.
- 2018BrandAmerican Whirlpool launched to UK dealers at the SPATEX 2018 trade show in Coventry.
- 2019LeadershipSteve O'Shea, a 30-year industry veteran, joined MAAX Spas as vice president of sales and marketing.
- 2020Changed handsCenterbridge Partners agreed in October 2020 to buy parent American Bath Group from Lone Star Funds.
- 2021FactoryMAAX opened a swim-spa-only factory in a former bathtub plant in Ottumwa, Iowa; hot tubs stayed in Chandler.
Where it's built2
Builds here today
Charity and sponsorships0
We couldn’t find any public record of charity work or sponsorships. That doesn’t mean there isn’t any. Tell us if we missed it.
Recent news2
Good to know9
- American Whirlpool's legal maker is MAAX Spas Industries Corp., 25605 South Arizona Avenue, Chandler, Arizona.
- Brookfield split MAAX's spa and bath divisions into separate companies after its 2008 purchase.
- Lone Star Funds had bought American Bath Group in 2016 from The Sterling Group, Bloomberg Law reported.
- American Whirlpool's site says MAAX Spas 'merged with' American Bath Group in 2017; trade press says it was acquired.
- A UK trade outlet dated the Coleman Spas purchase to 1997, alongside California Cooperage; Business View says 1998.
- 2018 recall: about 550 US MAAX Spas hot tubs and swim spas had UV generators that could ignite; no injuries.
- 2003 recall: 13,000 MAAX Infinity and Lifestyle spas had pump capacitors that could overheat; twelve fires reported.
- The site footer says 'AMERICAN WHIRLPOOL is a registered trademark of Praxis'; the Praxis entity is not identified.
- The 2026 owner's manual still tells readers to consult an 'L.A. Spas dealer' in its water-care section.
Ownership last checked September 2026. Who owns every hot tub brand.
What’s a good deal on an American Whirlpool hot tub?
We send you the price range, then introduce you to one American Whirlpool dealer near you.