Good afternoon, Take it from a fan of dealer networks: you'll get the best support and service possible when technicians are in-house, as opposed to contracted. Unfortunately, they don't have a dealer network. This product may not be the fanciest nor the most hydrotherapeutic on the market, but it does offer a reasonable value depending on your specific needs. That's my opinion! Hope this helps!
What are your thoughts on the Jacuzzi J385? Does it have the self supporting shell that you speak of? I am supposed to buy it this weekend or next week.
Good morning, Jacuzzi hot tubs are a very well made product in my opinion. They’ve found a way to support their shell for longevity. However, it’s not a hand rolled fiber glass self supporting shell. Hope this helps!
@@MrCovain Good morning, the J385 is a great hot tub. This really comes down to why you're buying it. Your better brands offer different benefits. I think it's important to feel the jets, sit in the hot tub dry, or possibly even wet test if possible. Check out the motor compartment. Make sure your dealer has an in house service team and you're not going to be dealing with a bunch of sub contractors. Ask your dealer who you're going to call when you have chemicals questions etc. This is all very important in my opinion. Hope this helps!
@@MrCovain The J385 is 91"x91" so I would compare; Sundance Optima Sundance Chelsee Hotspring Vanguard Hotspring Grandee Master Spas Twilight TS 7.25 Master Spas Twilight TS 8.25 You may find these models are slightly more expensive but there's reasons for the fluctuations in price. You need to weight the pros and cons to make sure you're purchasing the right product for you and you're family. Again, this really goes back to why you're purchasing
Good morning, you’re right there! Is 9k a possibility? Reason being self supporting shells start off at that price. Better question is why are you buying it?
My biggest fear is buying a product is the reliability for servicing it. Are there certain brands to stay away from. I have concerns about Jacuzzi Hydropool, however they have been around for a long time. Who are some of the most reliable brands?
Good morning, my opinion will always to buy a self supporting product for longevity. Some of these brands are Hotspring, Bullfrog, Master Spas, Sundance, Caldera, etc. Stay away from gimmicks and get to know your dealer! Your dealer is just as important as the brand you buy. Make sure their service team is in house and ready to serve you when needed. Check your dealers reviews and see what their customers say. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter thank you. Well its so hard to tell. But Jacuzzi/ Hydropool as a company may have issues. I know the dealer/retailer has technicians but it doesn't matter if parts may be an issue.
@@dbunnym Good afternoon, I don’t see an issue with parts for those brands since we service all brands. However, there are some shortages on specific parts but that’s all manufacturers from I see. Hope this helps!
Duffy Dorner Thank you for your feedback. If you need some help or have any questions on a purchase in Illinois we would be more than happy to help. Thanks again!
Thanks for the video. I live in California, and I was looking at the Sundance hot tubs, but I think I may go with Caldera instead. the hot tub you were showing, what is the MSRP on that one? is that one of the 10k or so ones, or the super expensive ones? or are they all made that way?
Good afternoon, sorry for the delayed response. Caldera is a good brand. I would suggest the Utopia or Paradise series. The hot tub in the video is a Sundance Bristol and normally retails around 12k. When comparing the brands it’s best to visit your dealers and sit in each hot tub and make sure they’re comfortable. From there it’s all about what you value that should really drive your purchase. Hope this helps!
The idea of the video is just to make sure the manufacturer cares as much as you do about your purchase. I don’t normally see differences in series. Really, it’s brand to brand. Hope this helps!
Hi Brian, thanks for these videos. I am considering a hot tun for the first time and was listening to this one and thought that the tub should be on something perfectly level? You had said that the patio should be pitched so water doesn’t sit under the tub? Thanks for your help! Also is jacuzzi J 385 a good one?
Good afternoon, yes Jacuzzi makes a good product. You can level the area where the hot tub is going using numerous building materials. However, just make sure water isn't sitting around the base. Hope this helps!
great expination I live in Pittsburgh pa and we have pool with here for jacuzzi brand as well as Sundance they are great to deal with you can ope the tub up lok at it wet test it I think the are good people been in business for umpteen years
Hey Brian, loving your videos. We just purchased a Sundance 780 Chelsee. I am preparing a spot next to my deck. There is a 34" wide sidewalk right in the middle of where it will sit. I am on landing on bordering with 4x4s and filling with 3/4 minus gravel. My question is this... Do I need to remove the concrete sidewalk or can I fill in each side in bordered 4x4s or should I only set the 4x4s a couple inches in the ground, which would raise the gravel level at least an inch above the sidewalk leaving the sidewalk under the gravel? I hope I explained well enough for you to picture what I'm doing. Thanks much! By the way the concrete isn't cracked or damaged at all either.
Good morning, please call me at your convenience. You can call the main line and just ask for me. There are some additional questions I would like to ask. Hope this helps!
Good evening. what you’re seeing in the video is the motor compartment. If you don’t let the motors and electronics ventilate heat to cool down they’ll overheat or over amp creating catastrophic failure. The other three sides are full foam. Full foam hot tubs are amongst the most insulated hot tubs in the industry. Hope this helps!
Awesome video Brian! I would request to have 4 gate valves installed on this two pump system. I have had pump/motor issues in the past and having the ability to shut off the water supply to perform pump and/or motor maintenance is a life saver. Otherwise you will have to drain all the water to do any maintenance and refill to test and hope you don't have a leak. Rinse and Repeat if not correct.
Good morning, the reason your higher end hot tub manufacturers don’t use gate valves is because they consider them a fail point. We service all brands out there and I’ve personally replaced a lot of them. They’re great on cheaper tubs that are designed to last 5-10 years but for the 20-25 year hot tubs they’re really not because they leak. Now, you could put them on a 20-25 year hot tub and just replace them a couple times when you replace the pumps but that kind of defeats the purpose. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter well, I have to disagree. I’ve owned 3 high end tubs and 2 out of the 3 utilized at least 4 gate valves and an additional one for the circulating pump. I have never experienced them leaking. For me personally, I wouldn’t buy a tub without them, especially on a 2 motor tub but that’s just me. Thx for the follow up though Brian great stuff!! I do absolutely love the metal strap holder on the motors. Usually the two back bolts are almost impossible to remove from the motor base plate. Great design!!!
Brian--do you know anything about Catalina Nantucket hot tubs.? Anything to be aware of about the product/company? Thank you!
Good afternoon, Take it from a fan of dealer networks: you'll get the best support and service possible when technicians are in-house, as opposed to contracted. Unfortunately, they don't have a dealer network. This product may not be the fanciest nor the most hydrotherapeutic on the market, but it does offer a reasonable value depending on your specific needs. That's my opinion! Hope this helps!
Thanks Brian! Any thoughts on the Garden Leisure Spas? There’s a dealership near my home.
Thanks Brian loving your videos!
What are your thoughts on the Jacuzzi J385? Does it have the self supporting shell that you speak of? I am supposed to buy it this weekend or next week.
Good morning, Jacuzzi hot tubs are a very well made product in my opinion. They’ve found a way to support their shell for longevity. However, it’s not a hand rolled fiber glass self supporting shell. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter it does but doesn't. Lol. What do you recommend with specs similar to j385?
@@MrCovain Good morning, the J385 is a great hot tub. This really comes down to why you're buying it. Your better brands offer different benefits. I think it's important to feel the jets, sit in the hot tub dry, or possibly even wet test if possible. Check out the motor compartment. Make sure your dealer has an in house service team and you're not going to be dealing with a bunch of sub contractors. Ask your dealer who you're going to call when you have chemicals questions etc. This is all very important in my opinion. Hope this helps!
@@MrCovain The J385 is 91"x91" so I would compare;
Sundance Optima
Sundance Chelsee
Hotspring Vanguard
Hotspring Grandee
Master Spas Twilight TS 7.25
Master Spas Twilight TS 8.25
You may find these models are slightly more expensive but there's reasons for the fluctuations in price. You need to weight the pros and cons to make sure you're purchasing the right product for you and you're family. Again, this really goes back to why you're purchasing
Thanks Brian!I am in Southern CA, I have. a budget of $7/8K...what would you recommend
Good morning, you’re right there! Is 9k a possibility? Reason being self supporting shells start off at that price. Better question is why are you buying it?
My biggest fear is buying a product is the reliability for servicing it. Are there certain brands to stay away from. I have concerns about Jacuzzi Hydropool, however they have been around for a long time. Who are some of the most reliable brands?
Good morning, my opinion will always to buy a self supporting product for longevity. Some of these brands are Hotspring, Bullfrog, Master Spas, Sundance, Caldera, etc. Stay away from gimmicks and get to know your dealer! Your dealer is just as important as the brand you buy. Make sure their service team is in house and ready to serve you when needed. Check your dealers reviews and see what their customers say. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter thank you. Well its so hard to tell. But Jacuzzi/ Hydropool as a company may have issues. I know the dealer/retailer has technicians but it doesn't matter if parts may be an issue.
@@dbunnym Good afternoon, I don’t see an issue with parts for those brands since we service all brands. However, there are some shortages on specific parts but that’s all manufacturers from I see. Hope this helps!
Awesome information. I wish you guys delivered to Illinois.
Duffy Dorner Thank you for your feedback. If you need some help or have any questions on a purchase in Illinois we would be more than happy to help. Thanks again!
Yes. All your videos are very informative. Wish you were in Fort Lauderdale!
Hi Brian I've heard you talk about using chlorine for a sanitizer, is there anything wrong with using bromine instead
Scott Boyne Good afternoon, I will be launching a video bromine vs chlorine tomorrow. I will message you when I launch it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video. I live in California, and I was looking at the Sundance hot tubs, but I think I may go with Caldera instead. the hot tub you were showing, what is the MSRP on that one? is that one of the 10k or so ones, or the super expensive ones? or are they all made that way?
Good afternoon, sorry for the delayed response. Caldera is a good brand. I would suggest the Utopia or Paradise series. The hot tub in the video is a Sundance Bristol and normally retails around 12k. When comparing the brands it’s best to visit your dealers and sit in each hot tub and make sure they’re comfortable. From there it’s all about what you value that should really drive your purchase. Hope this helps!
The idea of the video is just to make sure the manufacturer cares as much as you do about your purchase. I don’t normally see differences in series. Really, it’s brand to brand. Hope this helps!
Hi Brian, thanks for these videos. I am considering a hot tun for the first time and was listening to this one and thought that the tub should be on something perfectly level? You had said that the patio should be pitched so water doesn’t sit under the tub? Thanks for your help! Also is jacuzzi J 385 a good one?
Good afternoon, yes Jacuzzi makes a good product. You can level the area where the hot tub is going using numerous building materials. However, just make sure water isn't sitting around the base. Hope this helps!
Can you explain what is meant by self-supporting?
Good evening, please see the video in the link below. Hope this helps!
th-cam.com/video/PbSElN2UQWI/w-d-xo.html
great expination I live in Pittsburgh pa and we have pool with here for jacuzzi brand as well as Sundance they are great to deal with you can ope the tub up lok at it wet test it I think the are good people been in business for umpteen years
Hey Brian, loving your videos. We just purchased a Sundance 780 Chelsee. I am preparing a spot next to my deck. There is a 34" wide sidewalk right in the middle of where it will sit. I am on landing on bordering with 4x4s and filling with 3/4 minus gravel. My question is this... Do I need to remove the concrete sidewalk or can I fill in each side in bordered 4x4s or should I only set the 4x4s a couple inches in the ground, which would raise the gravel level at least an inch above the sidewalk leaving the sidewalk under the gravel? I hope I explained well enough for you to picture what I'm doing. Thanks much! By the way the concrete isn't cracked or damaged at all either.
Good morning, please call me at your convenience. You can call the main line and just ask for me. There are some additional questions I would like to ask. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter I'll do that brother! Thx
I might also ask, "Why isn't there much insulation around the shell?"
Good evening. what you’re seeing in the video is the motor compartment. If you don’t let the motors and electronics ventilate heat to cool down they’ll overheat or over amp creating catastrophic failure. The other three sides are full foam. Full foam hot tubs are amongst the most insulated hot tubs in the industry. Hope this helps!
Sundance is building the best tub at this time. Had a Master for years and now just purchased a Sundance because of Brian......
brian. you have a dealer in the south charlotte area you recommend?
Super helpful video, thank you!
ZACH SEAN
Awesome video Brian! I would request to have 4 gate valves installed on this two pump system. I have had pump/motor issues in the past and having the ability to shut off the water supply to perform pump and/or motor maintenance is a life saver. Otherwise you will have to drain all the water to do any maintenance and refill to test and hope you don't have a leak. Rinse and Repeat if not correct.
Good morning, the reason your higher end hot tub manufacturers don’t use gate valves is because they consider them a fail point. We service all brands out there and I’ve personally replaced a lot of them. They’re great on cheaper tubs that are designed to last 5-10 years but for the 20-25 year hot tubs they’re really not because they leak. Now, you could put them on a 20-25 year hot tub and just replace them a couple times when you replace the pumps but that kind of defeats the purpose. Hope this helps!
@@atlantahottubcenter well, I have to disagree. I’ve owned 3 high end tubs and 2 out of the 3 utilized at least 4 gate valves and an additional one for the circulating pump. I have never experienced them leaking. For me personally, I wouldn’t buy a tub without them, especially on a 2 motor tub but that’s just me. Thx for the follow up though Brian great stuff!! I do absolutely love the metal strap holder on the motors. Usually the two back bolts are almost impossible to remove from the motor base plate. Great design!!!