The company file
Cal Spas
A big Pomona factory that packs more jets, horsepower and options into a tub for the money, builds fast, and can sell you the grill island and fire pit too.
The long read: how the tubs are built, the complaint record, the warranty part by part, and the company’s history.
How it started
California Acrylic Industries showed miniature pools at a Pomona county fair in 1978. Interest in hot tubs led it to switch fully to spa production.
What Cal Spas is known for, and the catch
How it’s built
Eight things that decide whether it lasts. Tap any for the detail.
Self-supporting shellFoam is an upgrade, so the shell holds up unfoamedPartly
Standard tubs get recycled denim batting in the cabinet walls, and full foam costs extra. The shell is a laminate backed with steel and wood, and the warranty covers it against collapse. Cal Spas has never shown how the seats and footwell are braced underneath.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗
Clamped plumbingBarbed and glued joints confirmed. Clamps are the unknown partPartly
Jets connect with barbed fittings and flexible hose, and the rigid runs are solvent-glued PVC. The factory store sells no hose clamps, which settles little either way since clamps are a bulk shop item. Nothing published says how the barb joints are secured.
What this means, and how to check it →quickspaparts.com ↗quickspaparts.com ↗
Manifold-fed jetsManifold plumbing, listed as standard on all six hot tub seriesYes
Cal Spas prints manifold plumbing in its own series comparison table, which most makers never disclose. The factory catalog stocks manifolds up to ten ports, so jets get their own feed lines instead of sitting in a chain. Barbed tees are stocked too, so some runs are branched.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗quickspaparts.com ↗
Standard partsBalboa or Gecko controls and Waterway jets, but fitting your own voids…Partly
Control packs come from Balboa or Gecko depending on the series, and the wet end is Waterway, listed under Waterway's own part numbers. The factory parts store sells to the public, and outside distributors stock the same components. The warranty is void if aftermarket parts that aren't genuine Cal Spas parts cause a failure, so buy from Cal Spas while coverage lasts.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗
Compression-fitted jetsJet bodies bolt in with a nut and gasket, per the factory parts storeYes
Cal Spas' factory parts store sells body nuts and gaskets for every Waterway jet family it uses, at about $4 to $5. A cracked body can be unscrewed instead of cut out. One push-in grommet body is also listed, so a few tubs may differ.
What this means, and how to check it →quickspaparts.com ↗quickspaparts.com ↗
Adjustable jetsAlmost every jet turns to raise or lower its pressureYes
Turn a jet face clockwise for more pressure and counter-clockwise for less, with the neck jets working in reverse. Air knobs and diverter valves control whole groups, and the ATS seat adds its own pump and panel. Cal Spas does not say which jets are fixed.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗
Service networkDealers handle service, but the warranty terms are unusually strictPartly
Warranty work runs through your dealer, who may still bill a travel fee and a diagnostic fee. Coverage ends if anyone but a designated rep works on the tub, if non-genuine parts go in, or if you sell or move the spa. Cal Spas publishes no dealer count.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗
American made?Built in Pomona, CaliforniaYes
Pomona, California: Current 40-acre headquarters at 1462 E. 9th Street. Pomona, California: A UK trade report describes a 1-million sq ft manufacturing facility.
What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗htrnews.co.uk ↗
What Cal Spas says, part by part8
Cal Spas names its jet lines (Velocity, Vector X) but publishes no jet-fitting or pipe-connection method.
Cal Spas says high-density 'Hydro Steel Foam' is added to support the plumbing underneath; pipe type not published.
Pressure-treated wood cabinet frame with 1-inch galvanized steel fasteners, corner gussets and vertical angle bracing, per Cal Spas.
Thermo-Shield recyclable cabinet-wall insulation and a Thermo-Layer floor pan are standard; full foam is an option.
'Fiber Steel' shell: Cal Spas describes a patented 7-layer laminate reinforced with steel and wood; no patent number published.
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 star2
- 5 Resolvedthe customer accepted the company's answer
- 11 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 16 of 16. BBB counts 20 in three years but publishes 16; the rest aren't shown. A complaint count means more next to how big the company is.
What owners complain about4
Owners describe being passed between dealer and factory, unreturned calls for months, and warranty claims disputed or voided.
Several 2025-2026 owners report pumps and control boards failing in the first year, sometimes repeatedly on the same tub.
What owners praise3
Ratings on other sites & BBB details3
The warranty, part by part
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 1978 in Pomona, California. Never sold. Owner today: Made by Lloyd's Material Supply Company, Inc.; no parent or outside owner disclosed.
Who has owned it
Full timeline6
- 1978FoundedCal Spas begins after California Acrylic Industries' miniature pools draw hot tub interest at a Pomona fair.
- Mid-1990sBrandExpands beyond spas into gazebos, barbecue islands, fireplaces and saunas, the company says.
- 1997BrandAdopts the tagline "Changing The Way You Feel."
- 2009BrandParent LMS agrees to design and build Coleman Spas; the 2010 Coleman line launches November 2009.
- 2016BrandCal Spas stops building Coleman Spas, which it made from 2010 to 2016, according to Hot Tub Insider.
- 2025BrandChill Spa cold plunge series appears, with 2025 owner's manuals for Genesis, Patio, Escape and Platinum models.
Where it's built2
Charity and sponsorships3
Recent news1
Good to know6
- Some company press releases give 1979 as the founding year; the website says 1978.
- Casey Loyd was quoted as president of LMS, Cal Spas' parent, in 2009.
- Cal Spas trademarks are held by Lloyds IP Holdings, LLC.
- Sister brands include Cal Flame outdoor kitchens, Cal Sauna, and Quick Spa Parts and Quick BBQ Parts.
- Company advertises lead times of "5 Days or Less." This is its own claim.
- The company's press page lists no releases after January 2020.
Same owner
None. It's one of the independents.
Ownership last checked September 2026. Who owns every hot tub brand.
Owners: Cal Spas error codes, explained from the manuals.
What’s a good deal on a Cal Spas hot tub?
We send you the price range, then introduce you to one Cal Spas dealer near you.