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How to judge build quality

What actually decides whether a hot tub lasts

Showrooms sell on seats, jets and lighting. None of that decides whether it lasts. These eight do, and you can check every one before you buy.

Updated By the HotTubFinder research desk

New to hot tubs?Start with the buyer's course

A hot tub taken apart in layers: cover, acrylic shell backed with fiberglass and sprayed foam, wood frame with the pumps, heater and control box, cabinet and base pan
A hot tub taken apart: the eight checks are about these layers and the parts behind them.
  1. 01Self-supporting shellA shell strong enough to hold the water and the people by itselfLearn →
  2. 02Barbed, glued and clamped plumbingThe best hot tub plumbing is barbed, glued and clampedLearn →
  3. 03Manifold plumbing vs daisy-chained jetsA manifold feeds every jet its own hoseLearn →
  4. 04Standard vs proprietary partsStandard parts are sold by many suppliersLearn →
  5. 05Compression-fitted jetsJet bodies should be held by a gasket and a back nut, so a leaking one is resealed, not cut outLearn →
  6. 06Individually adjustable jetsEach person should be able to turn their own jets up or downLearn →
  7. 07Service networkEvery hot tub repair is a house callLearn →
  8. 08Is the tub American made?The name on the cabinet isn't always the company that built the tub, or the countryLearn →

The buying checklist

Eight things to settle before you sign, beyond the build. Each links to the page that explains it.

  • Budget: the tub, the install and roughly what it costs each month to keep hot. More
  • The spot: measured, with a delivery path at least as wide as the tub is tall. More
  • The base: a level concrete pad, or a deck rated for the load. More
  • Power: a 240V circuit from an electrician, or a 120V plug-in tub. More
  • Seats: how many people on a normal night, and a lounger or not. More
  • In person: sit in your seats, lie back in the lounger and feel the jets with the back of your hand. More
  • The warranty card: labor, trip charges and who does repairs near you, for the series you buy. More
  • The quote: in writing, listing delivery, crane, cover, lifter, steps, start-up chemicals, circuit and pad. More

Next in your research

The shellCheck 1 of 8: what holds the shell up.

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