What to Know Before You Buy a Hot Tub
You’re thinking about buying a hot tub. Maybe it’s for sore muscles after a long day. Maybe it’s the promise of better sleep or a few quiet minutes before the house wakes up. Whatever brought you here, the same questions come up for everyone: What should I look for? What should I avoid? How do I know I’m getting something that’ll last?
Bob Dapper, co-founder of Royal Spa and Purdue engineering graduate, has spent over 40 years designing and manufacturing hot tubs right here in Indiana. He’s built thousands of spas and heard every question buyers ask. Here are the five things Bob says matter most when choosing a hot tub.
Five Things to Look for When Buying a Hot Tub
1. Choose a Non-Computer Control System
There’s nothing on a hot tub that requires a computer to operate. Temperature, jets, lights: simple analog or digital controls handle all of it reliably and affordably. Computer control panels add cost to the purchase price, cost more to repair, and create failure points that didn’t need to exist.
The only one who benefits from spa computers is the repairman. Your hot tub should be simple to operate and inexpensive to fix if anything ever needs attention.
2. Avoid 2-Speed Pumps
Two-speed pumps are noisy on low speed when you’re trying to relax, and the sound carries inside the house. They also overheat the water during summer months, costing you more in electricity. Worse, they’re more expensive to operate year-round.
Look for a hot tub with a dedicated circulation pump that runs quietly and efficiently, separate from your jet pumps. Your electric bill and your neighbors will thank you.
3. Insist on 24/7 Water Circulation
Stagnant water is unhealthy water. A hot tub that shuts off circulation between uses requires more chemicals, more maintenance time, and more attention from you. Turning a pump on and off repeatedly also shortens pump life.
The best systems circulate water continuously, keeping it clean, filtered, and ready to use whenever you are. Less work for you. Cleaner water. Longer equipment life.
4. Make Sure Water Pushes Through the Filter
There are two ways hot tubs handle filtration: pressure (pushing water through the filter) and suction (pulling water through). Pressure filtration is more effective, more efficient, and requires less maintenance. No correctly engineered water filtration system sucks water through the filter.
Suction-type filters clog faster, need more frequent cleaning, and add ongoing expense. Ask how the filtration works before you buy.
5. Look for Epsom Salt Compatibility
Most hot tub manufacturers explicitly prohibit Epsom salt in their spas because salt corrodes standard components over time. Royal Spa engineered every hot tub in the line to be Epsom Salt Compatible, so you can add Epsom salt to your soak without voiding your warranty.
Why does that matter? Soaking in warm water with Epsom salt is a time-tested wellness routine. The magnesium in Epsom salt promotes relaxation, and combined with the warmth and hydrotherapy of a hot tub, it supports a better nightly wind-down. Your body will notice the difference.
Common Hot Tub Buying Questions
Bob recorded short videos answering the questions buyers ask most often. No scripts, no sales pitch. Just straightforward answers from someone who’s been building spas since 1981.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hot Tub?
Pumps and heaters are the primary source of energy consumption on a spa. The difference between an efficient design and an inefficient one adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. Royal Spa’s Hybrid build runs on as little as 64 watts, less than a standard light bulb. See how our three builds compare.
How Many Jets Should a Hot Tub Have?
If someone tries to sell you a hot tub based solely on the number of jets, that’s a red flag. Jet count doesn’t determine therapy quality. Placement, water volume, and pump power matter far more than a high number on a spec sheet. A well-designed jet layout with fewer jets will outperform a poorly designed tub with twice as many.
How Long Should a Hot Tub Last?
Some manufacturers design hot tubs to last seven years. Royal Spa backs every hot tub with a 40-year structural warranty, compared to the industry standard of 5 to 10 years. The second hot tub Royal Spa ever built is still running. When you’re comparing prices, factor in how many times you’d replace a competitor’s tub over four decades.
What Type of Insulation Is Best?
Hot tub insulation comes in two types: blown-in foam and removable panels. Blown-in foam is harder to work with if you ever need to access components for service. Removable insulation gives technicians easy access, which means faster repairs and lower service costs over the life of the tub.
Why Are Expensive Computer Controls a Bad Idea?
Complex, costly computer controls are completely unnecessary on a hot tub. They add to the purchase price, they’re expensive to replace, and they don’t improve your soak. Simple, reliable controls do everything you need and cost a fraction to maintain.
What’s the Best Water Circulation System?
Water should be circulating all the time, 24/7. Continuous circulation keeps water cleaner, reduces chemical use, and means your hot tub is always ready when you are. Systems that cycle on and off create windows where water quality drops and bacteria can grow.
How Much Maintenance Will This Take?
If a hot tub takes 15 minutes a day to maintain, that’s too much. A well-engineered spa with continuous circulation, pressure filtration, and a mineral water system like IonPure should take minutes per week, not minutes per day. Ask the dealer exactly how much time you’ll spend on upkeep.
What Size Pump Is Best?
Bigger isn’t always better. An oversized pump wastes electricity and can create more turbulence than therapy. The right pump is sized to match your tub’s jet layout and plumbing. That’s an engineering decision, not a marketing one.
What’s the Best Filter for a Hot Tub?
The best filter doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. It needs to be effective, easy to clean, and paired with a pressure filtration system that keeps water moving through it continuously. Standard, widely available filter cartridges mean you’re never locked into proprietary replacements.
Why Buyers Choose Royal Spa
Royal Spa has been building hot tubs, swim spas, float tanks, cold plunges, and portable baptistries in Indiana since 1981. Every tub is custom built to order. Three builds are available (Industry Standard, Hybrid, and Medical) so you choose the configuration that fits your life and your budget. Same 40-year warranty across the line.
Every Royal Spa hot tub is Epsom Salt Compatible, uses standard, widely available components that any qualified technician can service, and is backed by a team that’s been doing this for over four decades. No proprietary parts trapping you into expensive repairs. No hidden costs.
We’ll show you your specific operating costs before you buy. No averages. Your numbers, based on your electric rate and your usage.
See One in Person
The best way to choose a hot tub is to sit in one. Visit any of our three Indianapolis-area showrooms and we’ll walk you through the builds, answer your questions, and run your personalized cost analysis. No pressure. Come see us when you’re ready.
