10 Hot Tubs Brands To Avoid (Buy These Brands Instead)

You have your home, but you want to create a perfect little oasis that you can escape to when you want to relax. This usually includes a nice hot tub you can take a dip in to draw a close to the day or night. But, as with any big-ticket purchase, you need to make sure you’re making an informed purchase. That means you need to know what brands you should steer clear of.

Based on our findings and research, avoid hot tub brands like LifeSpas, Jacuzzi Hot Tubs, Futura Spas, Dimension One Spas, and Coleman Inflatable Hot Tubs. Furthermore, Aleko Inflatable Hot Tubs, Intex Inflatable Hot Tubs, Artesian Spas, Hot Spring Spas, and Caldera Spas are also poorly rated. These brands lack good customer service and have serious issues with their tubs.

This guide will take you through the ins and outs of the hot tub brands you should avoid. That way, you can focus your sights on other brands and not run into any technical issues or poor customer service.

LifeSpas is a California-based hot tub manufacturer, and it advertises itself as a premier spa brand. However, based on customer feedback, we’ve determined that LifeSpas is one of the least dependable hot tub brands.

Surprisingly, nearly 45 percent of customers complain about the water heater’s inefficiency and the little parts burning out prematurely. Not only that but how would you like to go for a dip in your hot tub only to be shocked by it? That happened to one customer, who was then denied a refund when electricians told her it was a spa manufacturing issue.

Furthermore, this brand is criticized for providing terrible customer service. When it comes to customer service, the top difficulties include long wait times, ignored complaints, and maintenance requests.

Another California-based hot tub company is Jacuzzi Hot Tubs. This brand’s hot tubs are high-quality and energy-efficient. They perform admirably, or at least that’s what the company claims.

Consumer affairs give Jacuzzi Hot Tubs a 3.5 rating. You might be asking why it is rated as one of the worst hot tub brands because it has a decent rating compared to LifeSpa. Even if it received 3.5 stars, those points are only for the hot tubs’ quality. This hot tub manufacturer, like LifeSpa, is known for its poor customer service.

Even the quality of the hot tub is sub-par, at best. There have been numerous complaints of the pumps dying out within a year. However, they seem to die out after the short-lived warranty expires. These repairs can cost over $1,000, so these Jacuzzi hot tubs are costly to own.

This brand has consistently received 2.5 and 3-star ratings from Google and Consumer Affairs for three years. Not to mention, 30% of customers also expressed dissatisfaction with their hot tubs. The majority of the issues are caused by damaged cabinets and blown fuses.

Additionally, several customers have complained of blown fuses and damaged cabinetry. Customer service at Futura Spas is abysmal. They claim to have a 25-year warranty but actually charge customers money to repair damaged parts even if the equipment is still under warranty.

Furthermore, replacement parts for these hot tubs are few and far between. And even if you can find a replacement, the technicians seem to be uneducated as they make many mistakes.

Dimension One Spa is the fourth company on our list of hot tub brands to avoid. If you visit their website, you will notice that there are no reviews. On the other hand, consumer affairs have given this brand a 3.2 rating.

Some people have also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of support provided by this manufacturer. They attempted to replace their heaters, but the Dimension One Spas did not respond. Furthermore, many consumers have stated that the tubs began to leak only a few weeks after they were first used.

Not only is their customer service horrible, but their spas are made out of cheap plastic-like materials. While they look phenomenal, the ‘wooden case’ is actually a cheap plastic that leads to warping, breaking, and leaking.

For a variety of reasons, Coleman Inflatable Hot Tubs are regarded as among the worst hot tubs available. A major reason is that heating water will take forever. While inflatable hot tubs typically take longer to heat up the water, this brand, in particular, takes up to three times as long as other brands.

People have also expressed dissatisfaction with the jets’ performance. Moreover, the materials are of such terrible quality that the hot tub itself doesn’t last very long. In fact, most people have had issues with this inflatable hot tub brand dying out or failing within less than 18 months.

While inflatable hot tubs are less than ideal, anyway, there are still some pretty good brands out there. And while the Coleman brand overall is excellent, it’s just not great for inflatable hot tubs.

Aleko is another inflatable hot tub brand to avoid. In comparison to other makers, this one has both positive and negative feedback. The majority of the reviews, however, are negative. One of the most prevalent complaints about this brand is that the tubs delivered to them were defective.

The hot tubs either take a long time to heat up, or the heat doesn’t last very long once they do. Aleko, like the other brands mentioned above, is known for having poor customer service. Not to mention, the warranty is very short at just 3-months which is a red flag.

Perhaps one of the most annoying issues of this hot tub is that it does not inflate evenly, and the heaters don’t quite work the way they should. So, what’s the point of even getting a hot tub?

The pump on the Intex inflatable hot tubs isn’t designed to run continuously, which is one of the biggest flaws. Any filter will quickly become clogged, and black flecks may appear in the spa. Not to mention, the heater and pump are both poor quality, and it can take over 24 hours for your water to heat up.

The warranty and customer care provided by Intex are not great. The warranty states that you have to tell customer support within 15 days of receiving your purchase if it contains a flaw. They will then inform you whether or not it is covered. This allows them to cherry-pick the cases they will cover, despite what their warranty states.

These issues make for a very shady brand. While it’s not entirely the quality of the hot tub as much as it is the customer service, it still makes for a brand you definitely want to avoid. Otherwise, you could find yourself paying hefty prices out of pocket for repairs that shouldn’t even need to take place quite yet.

Last but not least, we have Artesian Spas on the list of hot tub brands to avoid. For this one, the issue isn’t so much customer service as it is design flaws. However, that’s not to say the customer service is perfect, although they are a lot better than previous brands.

In particular, we wanted to highlight the Artesian Elite, which is their top-line hot tub. It has a touch screen and many other fancy amenities. While this concept is great, consumers have complained about the touch screen not working as well as the top controller.

Moreover, something else that’s frustrating is the water displacement. While a particular model may boast that it will fit six people, that amount of people will cause the hot tub to sorely overflow as it’s simply not created for that many bodies. The water displacement then makes it so you have to refill the hot tub and wait for it to warm, which can take some time.

What if you’ve chosen a brand with good features and a quality guarantee, but there’s no way to contact customer service? Unfortunately, the Hot Spring Spas brand does not have a positive track record in this area.

Despite having a strong reputation on the market, they are unable to resolve the issue of their buyer’s distress. Many people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the absence of service support. Hot Spring Spas is rated 2.5 out of 5 stars due to the poor customer service and lack of repairs.

Some buyers had to wait more than two months for a response. Furthermore, some buyers believe their service area is unskilled. Moreover, there are several parts that frequently break, such as the motor and the jets seem to clog frequently. And when customer service refuses to answer, this leaves consumers unable even to use the hot tub.

There is no particular model you need to keep an eye out for, as the main issue is the very poor customer service.

Although the Caldera Spas brand is well-known, many individuals loathe using it. The majority of consumers who have purchased from this brand are dissatisfied with the characteristics.

In fact, most consumers complain that the hot tub jets are difficult to use. You’ll also need to regularly maintain and repair your spa to keep it in good operating order. Furthermore, users of this brand complain about a lack of warranty coverage.

A large number of people have stated that they regret purchasing from this brand. Furthermore, they express the customer service as being inferior to that of other businesses.

Nordic Hot Tub is unquestionably one of the most well-known hot tub and spa manufacturers today. Their hot tubs are sold all over the world, and they have an outstanding reputation. Bill Gibson founded the company in 1995 when he built his first hot tub in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Nordic Spas is presently known as one of the most economical hot tub manufacturers on the market, but producing elegant and therapeutic designs on par with the more expensive tub brands.

Nordic hot tubs are designed to give users the finest possible experience. Nordic’s Dual Therapy System (DTS) combines circular whirlpool motion and the high-flow massage that comes standard in every Nordic hot tub. The Dual Therapy System is designed to relieve muscle pain while also increasing blood flow. Full-body massages are provided by the adjustable stainless steel jets.

The Nordic Retreat MS Hot Tub is the overwhelming victor in the Nordic series when it comes to popularity. When in the tub, users like the powerful and relaxing jet experience. The Retreat features fully adjustable Nordic Star stainless steel jets and luxurious bucket seats in terms of design.

The jets are designed to relax and relieve neck and back stress, which affects many adults. A high-end, two-speed pump, the DTS Dual Therapy System, a standard northern lights lighting package, and 28 Nordic Start jets for optimal water flow are all included in the Nordic Retreat Hot Tub.

M Series, Stil Spas, A Series, R Series, and X Series are Bullfrog’s five spa series, all of which are priced in the midrange to luxury level. Bullfrog is distinguished by its JetPak Therapy System, which offers 18 programmable jet options for various massage therapy methods.

Users choose to select the exact type of jets they want in each seat while building the tub. The brand also offers 16 different seat-back alternatives that can be mixed and matched to meet the demands and tastes of the buyer.

Buyers have the option of specifying whatever type of jets they want in each seat when creating the tub. Bullfrog Spas also has 16 seat-back choices that may be mixed and matched to meet the needs and tastes of the buyer.

Marquis Spas specializes in hydrotherapy and offers intermediate hot tubs to relieve aches and pains. Marquis Spas’ hydrotherapy hot tubs all have complex water massage systems, and each one specifies which High Output Therapy Zone it is intended to treat.

Modifications such as audio systems, LED welcome lights, and aromatherapy is just a few options. Every hot tub comes with a cover, which isn’t always the case in the industry. With a 4.6 out of 5-star rating, you are safe to allow this brand to speak for itself.

Since 1979, Sundance Spas has been selling high-quality hot tubs and has a lengthy track record of doing so. Their goods have robust outer shells, making them perfect for persons who live in harsher environments. Sundance offers five spa series, each with its own set of features and rates.

The 980 series has high-end design details, the 880 series has a lot of features, the 780 series in the center has excellent performance, the 680 series has conventional designs and well-rounded functionality, and the Splash series has affordable family solutions.

Sundance Spas are rated 3.9 stars out of 5. However, this is primarily due to the older models being seemingly outdated. However, the older models are still more durable and better than most models on the market today.

The Sundance 980 Series is the company’s top-of-the-line model. These tubs are adorned with some of Sundance’s most prestigious style and design aspects.

These tubs, which come in a number of sizes, are designed to help you connect with friends and family as well as with yourself. In the 980 Series, there are four tubs to pick from Kingston, Odessa, Claremont, and Lisbon. The tubs can accommodate 5-7 people, though lounge seats are only available in the Claremont and Lisbon.

While Master Spas might not have some of the higher-end companies’ possible customizations, they still have lots of improvements, such as individual jet control, complex lighting options, and stereo systems. Swim spas are also available, which are a fantastic choice for individuals who live in colder climates.

The four minor brands that make up Master Spas are Getaway Hot Tubs, Clarity Spas, Twilight Series, and Michael Phelps Legend. The advantages of each brand are different. Getaway Hot Tubs makes smaller, more affordable spas; Clarity Spas makes midrange spas for two to seven people; the Twilight series makes luxury options; the Michael Phelps Legend series makes high-end goods.

Master Spas is rated 3.7 out of 5 stars as people feel this brand lacks the innovation that other brands have. Regardless, these hot tubs are still very durable and reliable for years to come.

The Twilight Series TS 7.2, Master Spas’ most popular five-person hot tub, checks all of the boxes for future hot tub owners. Premium stainless-steel therapeutic jets — 36 in total — LED lighting and a water feature are all included in this spa.

The calming combination of water and massage jets helps to relieve pain, muscular aches, and tension. The easy-to-use touchscreen interface lets you control the intensity of your hydrotherapy massage.

You should always keep in mind that a top-selling hot tub doesn’t always mean that’s it the best. Just because a brand is considered ‘popular’ doesn’t mean they’re great. Look at Sundance Spas; they’re far more popular than Bullfrog Spas. However, this is because people purchase from them blindly without researching the reviews.

Do yourself a favor; Don’t purchase a hot tub just because it’s from a well-known company or because it’s part of a famous brand. Also, don’t just take our word for it! Do your research. Thoroughly look through the reviews like we did to come up with your own opinion about a particular brand. You’ll thank yourself when you realize how much this makes a difference. Good luck!

The Lifesmart hot tub brand is rated 2.5 stars out of 5 due to the lack of ability to fix units or find the parts. The hot tubs are created from flimsy materials, and the inner workings seem to burn out quicker than most brands.

While their ideas are innovative, the execution of said ideas more or less failed. You would be better off with find a better brand of hot tub than Lifesmart.

Fortunately, certain hot tub businesses, such as Evolution Spas, offer high-quality home spas at a reasonable price. They provide a variety of models, each tailored to meet the specific demands of its customers.

Customers are highly satisfied with the performance and the way that these hot tubs are built overall. This brand prides itself on the fact that it prioritizes customer satisfaction before anything. They also hold to their warranties.

Balboa has been mistaken as a hot tub brand that manufactures the entire hot tub. However, this is untrue. Balboa is a hot tub part and accessory brand.

Balboa is an excellent brand for high-quality hot tub parts and accessories. Their pieces are durable and affordable, which is hard to find. They also have warranties on their hot tub parts.