As cooler weather approaches many homeowners begin to look at getting a hot tub or spa for their home. Some people sell their older spas while others give their spa to family members or friends. Chances are these spas have not been used in 3-4 years and have not been taken care of during that time.  I am asked quite frequently about the pros and cons of these used spas.  Sometimes these spas do not have any problems at all, most of the time however you will spend more time and money into getting the spa up and running than you anticipated.  Here are some key points to consider if you are looking into a used or free spa.

CONDITION OF SPA -  Make sure you put your eyes on the spa while it is running!!  One of the most expensive parts to purchase for a used spa is what is called the "spa pack".  This is the component that runs the spa - it is the brain of the spa.  Today these packs have motherboards and computer components that prove to be very costly to replace.  You also want to look at the general condition of the shell and skirting.  Cracks in the shell cause water to leak in the spa and can ruin pumps, motors, heaters, and the spa pack.  The skirting (outside portion of the spa) protects all the components inside from weather, bugs and critters.  You cannot imagine the number of people who tell me about the nests of mice they have pulled out of a spa.  The older the spa the more likely it is to have holes in the bottom or the framework rotting.  All spas are built differently so make sure you take some of the skirting off to see what you are really getting.

COVER - What condition is the cover in?  Spa covers usually only last about 5-7 years depending on where your spa is.  Why?  There are weep holes in the underside of the cover.  These weep holes let water drain out of the foam, it also lets water wick into the foam.  This causes the cover to become very, very heavy and hard to put on and take off of the spa.  The skin of the cover can also become very brittle and crack.  To order a new one very specific measurements need to be taken and you may also need to know the manufacturer and model of the spa.

DOES THE SPA HEAT? - If someone tells you that the spa worked fine the last time they used the spa - make sure you see for yourself that it does in fact work and heat the water.  You never know when the last time the spa was up and running.  The heater on a spa is of course a major component, without it you have no hot water and your spa is not enjoyable.  Is a heater difficult to replace?  It can be.  Depending on the age of the spa you may have a VERY hard time finding the correct one for your spa.  Heaters have changed within the past 5-10 years.  Some heaters just need the element changed while others need the whole heater changed along with the pressure switch.

HOW THE HECK ARE YOU GETTING IT HOME? - A hot tub is not an easy thing to lift.  Some spas that we have moved have fallen apart as soon as we lifted them.  Most of the time you cannot just throw it into the back of your truck.  Be prepared to rent a trailer to take it home and do not forget to ask 4-5 of your best friends to help you move it.  That may mean taking it down steps, turning it on its side, or lifting it out of the deck that was built around it.  There will also be water in the plumbing so be prepared to get wet!

Now that you finally have your spa home - what do you do next?  Chances are the previous owner did not teach you how to use the spa, did not have any chemicals left and the filter cartridges are either missing or are to gross to even touch.  At this point I recommend hooking the spa up, filling it with water and cleaning all the pipes.  There are products such as Natural Chemistry's Spa Purge to help you.  I also ALWAYS recommend you purchased new filter cartridges.  Cartridges only last for about year and you do not know when the cartridge was last replaced let alone cleaned.  You will then want to drain your spa, refill it, add the new filter cartridges and let it heat up.

Does it sound like it might be more trouble than it is worth?  Nine out of ten times it usually is.  You should also remember that spa manufacturers do not transfer warranties once the original owner sells their spa.  I can assure you there are new spas in the marketplace in all different price ranges.  Ours for instance start right at $4000.00 and go up from there.

Purchasing a used spa or getting a free spa is a gamble.  You may spend the same or more money as you would have if you purchased a new spa with a warranty.