Buy a hot tub in safety?

The hot tub industry is very much a powder keg of dealers and distributors, knowing who to ask for advice and who to buy from without experiencing problems or worse post sale is hard at best.

For a start I would recommend reading an earlier post of mine Hot Tub Buying - Other Considerations? if you haven't already, this is a great starting point in weighing up dealers.

Moving forward from this there appears to be confusion around safety and what questions should people be asking when looking into a purchase.

Whats CE and why should I care?

CE approval is a legal requirement for any product that wishes to be sold in the EU these days and you will find it on products from any industry be it toys to spas to televisions. What this mark means is that it has been tested as safe to be used in the EU and safe to be used on 240v mains if the product requires it, for true CE approval the fully assembled product should be tested as this then covers all workings not just a few components.

This means that the dealer has a leg to stand on should something go a miss but more importantly the consumer has the confidence the product meets EU standards and is safe to be used in our country. CE ratings are expensive to obtain for manufacturers and need to be done on each product they make so don't feel that CE doesn't mean a lot as manufacturers can spend many thousands of £$Y on having an approved product.

Bishta, who are they and why should I care?

Bishta membership does not mean a dealer is financially sound or they sell a good, bad or ugly product, what it does mean is that you as a consumer will receive correct information on looking after your spa to prevent illness from contaminated water post sale. Added to this should you receive bad service or after sales care and the dealer in question is a Bishta dealer and still in business you have a direct mediation service that will resolve the dispute for you and get the best service possible, so in a way it is after sales piece of mind.

Electrical who cares who wires a spa up?

Any electrical connection these days to your home should be undertaken by a registered electrical installer who can issue you with a certificate that you would need if you were to sell the house at a later date or to prove under insurance that the installation was competent. All spas requiring over 13amps should be run directly from the fuse board on its own RCD/MCB breaker for a clean supply to avoid brown outs.

In summary always ask these three questions when viewing spas.....

1. Are your spas CE approved (ask for proof!)

2. Are you a Bishta member (FYI there are dealers out there who are solid and not bishta approved but do your homework first)

3. Do you offer electrical installation, are they NIC registered and what paperwork will I receive on installation.

Simple but effective to weed out fly by night dealers!

Tidal Fit Swim Spas Review

http://www.tidalfit.co.uk/index.html

TidalFit Features

No other exercise pool can match the standard features of the TidalFit. Waterfall, special micron filters, exercise equipment and more all come standard in this amazing pool.Want more? Hydrotherapy options soothe sore muscles after your workout and LED lighting and sound systems provide entertainment and relaxation. Keep your spa clean with green options such as ProPure ozone and Nature2.

Standard Features
•20" Cascade waterfall
•2 Micron filters
•Cover
•Superswim Pro training system
•Row bars
•Resistance cords, clips, and handles
•Adjustable circulation system
•Grab bars
•Floor sweeper jets

Upgrades
•Hydrotherapy (with Helix Jets and VFC controls)
•LED lighting
•Sound system
•Nature2
•Pro Pure Ozone
•Steps

Find a Tidal Fit Swimspa Dealer

Vita Spas - Information

http://www.vitaspa.com/hot_tubs.htm http://www.aquawarehouse.co.uk/default.aspx

Vita Spa is a 20 year old division of DM Industries, a 30 year old company dedicated to the advancement of hot water therapy. Vita Spa - distributed in over 40 countries is the worlds most innovative and technologically advance manufacturer. Take a close look and you will see for yourself that Vita's unique features and benefits far exceed what the competitors have to offer. But it is not just about our competitive advantages, the length of our warranty or even high economical efficiency of our hot tubs that make a difference; most reputable spa manufacturers have excellent products and their own unique set of features. Just as important is the company behind the product. Our goal is to lead the way - not just in creativity and engineering excellence but also in terms of customer satisfaction. We are a company that cares.

Find a UK Vita Dealer

Spa Scenes

An interesting concept that may find it's way to the UK sooner or later, the spa scenes website writes.....

Customize your hot tub cover with SpaScenes hot tub cover murals and create the ultimate hot tub environment.

Perfect for New or Existing Hot Tub Covers: Say "Good-Bye" to your ugly spa cover and create the unique "backyard Vacation Escape" you've always pictured. Whether re-freshing an existing hot tub or customizing a new purchase, you can now affordably create a perfect vacation get-a-way in your own backyard. Easy to install on any hot tub cover, you'll never have to look at an ugly spa cover again, you will enjoy your hot tub experience like never before possible.
Turn Your Cover Into A Unique Privacy Screen: Most people like the privacy that the open spa cover provides, but hate the fact that it looks so bad when it's open. Ugly and stained, it really detracts from the hot tub experience. Now you can convert your ugly hot tub cover it into a unique privacy screen for the ultimate hot tub environment in any deck or backyard.

Spatex 2010 - The Pool & Spa Show

For anyone who's interested and lives near Brighton Spatex 2010 is on Sunday and Monday 7th-8th Feb, useful for anyone looking at a spa, pool or accessories for this year, either trade or retail.

Bit of background on the show...

SPATEX, the exhibition and convention owned and organised by the industry [pool builders, retailers and suppliers, etc.], was launched in Brighton in 1997. SPATEX 2010 will be the fourteenth event in the annual sequence.With sustained growth in all its major facets including the variety of exhibits, numbers of exhibitors, attendance, choice of technical programmes and featured attractions, the show has focused on providing the best possible environment for exhibitors and their visitors.Whilst retaining its essential trade show nature, SPATEX has added elements over the years to cater for the needs of commercial pool and wet facility operators and the interests of private pool owners and would-be owners.

Master Spas - Information

http://www.tubstore.com/index.php http://www.masterspas.com/index.php

At Master Spas, we worked for nearly 30 years to perfect your spa experience. Each design is master crafted to achieve enhanced, innovative therapy and high tech advancements in construction, performance, insulation, filtration and heating systems.

Master Spas invented and installs our patented Eco Pur® Water Filtration System on every hot tub. Doing so allows us to assure you that the quality of the water is beyond all industry standards. And we do it by using the same multi-stage filtration techniques as Mother Nature. The advantages of EcoPur filtration are many, and you can count on this process to help keep your water clean and clear.

Every drop of water is circulated through the system 10 times per hour while using a lot less power than a standard system. That means your Master Spas portable hot tub conserves both water and energy without skipping a beat of providing pure hydrothermal therapy and relaxation enjoyment.

Relax in the clean, clear water of a Master Spa.Master Spas offers built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection to inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause odors and stains on the surface of the spa shell. Lucite Acrylic with Microban protection is available in select colors.

Innovation At WorkMicroban® protection is engineered for the life of the hot tub/spa. It works with your water treatment program to inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause odor and stains on the surface of the spa shell.