PCA Forums

hot tub repairs they suck the big one !


i bought this unit 5 years ago, maybe a bit longer for 5 grand new.
in the last 4 -5 months i have sunk $1500 -$2000 grand into it.

replaced all 54 jets since they started to crack and leak (one did). $600 plus in jet parts-i installed replacements.
got them and found i didn't seat one just right so had to recaulk (silicone)in place.
then go and start unit up and find one of the 5 hp pump motors has blown a bearing ($435.00) to buy new unit. go and get it installed and a major spark on other side of unit. and no power to the units Circulation Pump, Ozonator, or heater. this means a $90.00 service repairman call to let me know i blow out the Circulation Pump. and the price of a new unit will be like $175 plus labor. i find it on line today $125 shipped to the door. order. now when it arrive i have to call the guy back out for a service call again. $$$ AGAIN but i also need him to set all the controls and teach me and the wife the proper chemical use in the tub so we dont kill the plastic jets again in FIVE years or so. ALL i can hope for is nothing else is broke.
build the spa into my house in its own room. so no way to remove it without taking out a wall or sledge hammer to the spa.

that does suck. I think I am going to have to replace my pump on my swimming pool. The bearing in it is so loud it's hard to be outside when it's running.

Sorry to hear that.

My last two tubs have been Sundance Spas. The original was 12 years old when I sold the house in Miami 7 years ago and is still working fine. Lightning took out the computer when it was 2 years old and it was covered under warranty. That was my only expense.

The new one is 6 years old, and never had a problem until 6 months ago when the primary pump failed (there's 3 pumps in it - 2 large ones and a small one for the heater/ozone generator). That was $500 out of pocket because it was 6 months out of warranty.

These are very robust tubs. The entire unit is sealed in foam which prevents the pipes from moving when you turn on the pump, and moving pipes is what eventually kills a spa when it gets older - brittle PVC pipes crack.

The foam is also makes it extremely energy efficient. My spa is on 24/7 and is always set to 104 degrees. It barely adds $10 to my electric bill every month (easy to tell because the well and the spa are on their own meter).

This is what I own except it's the 2000 version:

http://www.sundancespas.com/800Series/Cameo.php

Not cheap though - around $7K but I can't say enough about it.

I used to laugh at my neighbors back in Miami who all bought cheap inefficient tubs and they couldn't affford to keep them warm all the time - they had to pre-heat them a couple of hours before using them. Mine was always ready to go.

I would also be screwed if I had to replace mine. It's above ground but the gazebo it's in was built around it. No way to remove it now without destroying it, and I wouldn't be able to get one the same size in through the doors.

wish I had one that sucked


Sorry about all the troubles, grief and costs this is causing you Mike. I know that really does suck.

I'm wondering why you didn't just buy a boat and hand over your ATM info...