Best Pools, Hot Tubs & Supplies
Easy to operate digital control panel; automatic start/stop timer-controlled heating system.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I’ve owned the hot tub for about a month now and can make some comments and recommendations others might find useful. I don't think the manual mentions it, but place the "insulation blanket" (which is essentially a sheet of heavy duty bubble wrap) with the bubble side face down under the hot tub (and obviously before you put water in it). This is a big time saver in that you don’t have to wait for the cold water taken from an outdoor spigot to warm up, especially if you’re chomping at the bit to use your new hot tub. The specs say the “filled weight” is 2701 lb but this probably incorporates four average people and is a useful design number. Therefore, if you have the temperature set at its max of 104 deg, you may find it running all the time with the heater on. The temperature setting is everything and I would suggest keeping it at 100 deg all the time (particularly if you live in a cold climate like I do) and if you know you’re going to use it later, crank it up to 104. ENERGY TIP: Putting some kind of blanket over it during the day will vastly reduce the amount of heat loss. I stitched together two moving blankets and have been laying them over the hot tub inflatable cover when I’m not using it. I need to figure out how to put the blankets in some sort of waterproof wrapping so they can be out there in the rain and snow. Another suggestion is to find some sort of insulation (preferably waterproof) below the hot tub. The supplied “bubble wrap” liner they give you to put under it probably isn’t sufficient. This is similar to the effect on bridges where they freeze before the roads do since their underbelly is exposed and cool off faster. As mentioned it pulls in cold outside air and pumps it up through the nice warm water. SOUND: It's very quiet when just the circulator pump and heater are running, like a low frequency hum. Educate yourself on the chemicals by reading about them online or going to a pool/hot tub store and speaking with someone who knows what they are talking about. I’m not a chemist, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the chemicals that are added to the water work to (among other things) bind up oils. Also, rinse your bathing suit with fresh water before you get in as detergent is usually still in the fabric and will go right in the hot tub. When I was contemplating purchasing it, I wondered how people sat in it since there obviously weren’t built-in chairs like a real hot tub would have. The water height is about 3’, so a normal size person (I’m 5’ 10”) can sit in it and put their rest their arms over the side. I’d rate the tub 9.5/10 for value and only misses a perfect score because of the annoying feature described above."
"After seeing this Coleman steeply discounted on Black Friday at another retailer, I decided to give this inflatable a try. It contains the heater, a blower (which doubles as both inflator and bubble maker), and a membrane control panel. The dark LED segments show bright white while the red is dimly lit. Make sure you unlock it again ahead of time, otherwise you'll spend a minute trying to figure out why the heck it won't turn off and overinflate your pool! Although the instructions mentioned nothing of this pad, I faced the flat side down and put the pool on top of it. I couldn't find my sink adapter, so I just used whatever bitter cold water came out of the garden hose though. This is because you are physically restricted by the number of watts you can pull through a typical house plug. The bubbles are surprisingly large for just blowing air into a holed ring in the bottom. My tub is not at temperature yet (57F), but as it stands now, it turns off all heating in order to make bubbles. Obviously bubbles make a lot more noise, and there is a slight vacuum cleaner sound. The manual is completely useless and tells you to "go to a spa store" to learn about some "chemicals". Searching on the internet is not much help either, as it is full of snake oil additives, unsound science on forums, etc. Make sure you buy a pack of test strips, as blindly adding chemicals can be very dangerous. Read the directions, but typically one will add Sodium Bromide (granules) to bring the Bromine levels up to an initial value. I also noticed that it takes a lot of energy to maintain 104F (it runs 100% of the time), and you might be looking at $90 in electricity over the month! * however * I have discovered that simply lowering the temperature a couple degrees when you are not using it makes a huge difference. ** Update - 6 months later **. The inflatable vessel has developed some problems (leaks) and I have now engaged the warranty process. Eventually, a large section failed and it was hard to keep up with batching all of these holes as the hot tub slowly tore itself apart. I had to cut out the serial number from my tub (don't be scared) in order to get a full replacement. I also have a comment on temperature: while low temps create long duration of full heating cycles, I've consistently kept our tub at 102-104 in the 20F range."
"Once it was filled, we let it sit for the recommended 24hrs for the temperature to reach 104 degrees. Also, when both my husband and I got in, the water rose almost to the top wanting to spill over, so my husband got a bucket and took some of the water out."
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Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It doesn't fit in the Intex filters so I just used a zip tie to attach it to the water inlet jet so the water is always flowing through it."
"So, I have a ring that has inside threads at 1.5", I have a 90 degree elbow that is 1.5" on one end and 1.25" on the other end, I have a 1.25" short length of pipe, then I have an elbow at the bottom."
"I recently had to repair a leak in our tub and decided to start fresh when I had to refill it."
"These are very convenient and effectively keep the spa water clear."
"I previously used bromine and it worked but caused lung irritation."
"Been using these for years, in our old hot tub and now the new one."
"Be careful not to let the extension bar fall off into your pump."
"Now, between this, the Bright and Clear, and some non-chlorine shock oxidizer here and there, my spa water is clean and clear!"
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Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Works well in my Hot springs spa."
"I hate trying to remember to add chlorine on days I don't bathe in the tub."
"Super concentrated, takes a lot less to chlorinate."
"After trying the Leisure products we have come to rely on them and will keep purchasing them in the future."
"Excellent product."
"This chlorinated my hot tub just fine."
"I've been using the leisure time products for over six years in my hot tub's."
"Not much to say about these products, they work or they don't."
Best Pool Cleaning Tools & Chemicals
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Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It doesn't fit in the Intex filters so I just used a zip tie to attach it to the water inlet jet so the water is always flowing through it."
"So, I have a ring that has inside threads at 1.5", I have a 90 degree elbow that is 1.5" on one end and 1.25" on the other end, I have a 1.25" short length of pipe, then I have an elbow at the bottom."
"I recently had to repair a leak in our tub and decided to start fresh when I had to refill it."
"I use a large wire cutter to cut the rod down to the point where the "hot springs" model (gray instead of yellow)."
"These are very convenient and effectively keep the spa water clear."
"I previously used bromine and it worked but caused lung irritation."
"Been using these for years, in our old hot tub and now the new one."
"Be careful not to let the extension bar fall off into your pump."
Best Filters & Filter Media
Bestway Lay-Z Spa Replacement Cartridges Give your Bestway Lay-Z Spa its best performance by using these genuine Lay-Z Spa Filter Cartridges Type - VI. Replacement cartridge for the Coleman inflatable spas (models 54131E and 13804).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These came well-packed, and worked perfectly in my Bestway Lay-Z-Spa."
"Exact replacement and they fit perfect in my Coleman Lazy Spa."
"I bought these to use with the Coleman inflatable spa."
"These work very well."
"We got these for our Coleman Lay-Z Spa, an inflatable hot tub."
"They work well and are pretty easy to clean."
"These worked perfectly with my portable hot tub although mine is not the Coleman brand spa."
"I tried using an off-brand filter but they didn't fit as well and dind't work as good as the original."
Best Swimming Pool Heaters & Accessories
Take advantage of the sun's FREE HEAT resulting in a warmer water Made from durable resin material Constructed with thousands of small air bubbles to capture and transmit heat from the sun to your swimming pool Blocks undesired dirt and debris from your pool Helps prevent up to 95% of pool water evaporation, thus reducing heat loss at night or on cloudy days. **Disclaimer** Please note that solar covers may come with 2" - 11" of overlap to allow trimming to fit your pool - Trimming will NOT void the manufacturer’s warranty. MINIMIZE WATER EVAPORATION: The use of a solar cover helps in preventing up to 95% of pool water evaporation. When not enjoying a refreshing swim, keeping your pool covered lessens the vast amount of water lost into the environment. Enter the swimming pool confidently knowing the Sun2Solar solar cover has kept the water warm just for you.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After about a week of use, and moderately cold weather the pool got to 72 degrees. Yesterday we had a nice, hot day the the thermometer registered 80 degrees. I am a new pool owner without a lot of experience, so I had no idea on what to expect."
"Before installing the solar blanket, the pool was 71 degrees which is too cold for swim. The first day after installing the solar blanket the pool climbed up to 74 degrees."
"We used it for about two months now and so far it works great as far as minimizing the water evaporation and maintaining our pool without much debris."
"It is just thick bubble wrap, but it was easier to cut than I expected, and it does seem to help my pool retain heat over night."
"I'm very satisfied."
"Works great, my pool is 10.1K gallons, temp was 75 when I put it on and a day and a half later it was 83, two days later 86."
"SUPER...... received it and it was wonderful early in the Spring keeping the pool warm on cool nights with the assistance of our sun solar during the day."
"In 20+ years of pool ownership, this has turned out to be the poorest quality solar cover."
Best Outdoor Hot Tubs
Pamper yourself in relaxing heated water surrounded by soothing bubble jets. Includes: Heating system, 3-way test strip, 2 filter cartridges, floating pool chlorine dispenser, thermal ground cloth, inflation hose, carry bag.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Our back patio is only wood slats so we put 2-8ft boards of plywood on top and it worked out perfectly! The blow-up COVER, that's included, is great quality, has straps that connect to the sides to keep it from blowing or as a safety feature so no one accidentally falls in and it is so thick & sturdy that it will keep the water nice and warm. Even if I wanted a regular stationery Hot Tub (for thousands of dollars) I would still buy this one instead!"
"Update: living in California and running the spa 24/7 @ 104 degrees, it has been costing me upwards of $130.00 a month in electricity. So I put together a propane powered water heating system and it heats the spa at about 1 degree every 2 or 3 minutes so it only takes about an hour or two to get it up to 104 and costs me pennies. In case anyone is interested here is the parts list, all purchased from Amazon except for the 20lb propane and hoses I got at Home Depot all hoses are 3/4" clear so they are barely noticeable going into the spa: Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater. Flojet 2.9 GPM. Kastar LCD AC Adapter 12V 6A. Bond 67635 Tank Hideaway. 30 Amp 12 Volt LED ON-OFF Rocker Switch. 20 lb."
"I reset the panel (basically unplugged it and plugged it back in) and the same thing happened. I called the Intex customer service....and like others who wrote reviews.....was talking with someone who's primary language was not English. She just took my contact info, what the problem was, and told me I would receive an email to file my claim. Within 10 minutes I was online and uploaded my receipt an filled out the claim form. The only downfall is that the "estimated" delivery date is over a week away.....now I have to decide to drain the spa or not until it arrives. As for the overall experience......if it eventually works as well as it looks....this will have been, even with this hiccup, a great purchase. Intex is based in California and Canada.....but evidently some, if not all, of their products are imported. If you read the negative reviews....perhaps the people did not properly follow the instructions when filing a claim, or perhaps Intex knows that Wal**rt is a huge retailer of their products compared to smaller vendors on Amazon...and expedites claims. In fact......it only took 1 day to get a FexEx tracking number from my initial claim. I had drained the spa....so before I replaced the new control unit...I filled it with my pool water as mentioned earlier. I replaced the control unit, plugged it in, pushed the power button and presto! This was yesterday...and I got an email confirmation that my base unit was approved and will be shipped. I have a 90-day return policy with WALM**T...so I will play the game for now and keep my fingers crossed. Weird thing is that for some reason I decided to reset the spa last night (I kept the water in it)...and the control panel beeped once and started working! I "gently" pushed the heater control up to 100 degrees...and the filter pump turned on. I turned off the bubbles and left the thing, checking from my window if it was still lit up every so often. I will hook up the new BASE tonight and give a final do or die update in the next few days. I have the original control panel and will hook it up later today, but THREE STRIKES YER OUT!!!. FINAL UPDATE: Hooked up the old original control unit and the same thing. I am so bummed that I am one of the few that isn't having luck with this.....but in the long run, it is probable that the lack of quality concerning the electronics will eventually catch up with a lot of these 5 star reviewers. Can't deal with Intex customer service again...even though they will send me new parts....they just crap out. Had a BIG pool birthday party for my daughter 2 days ago....kids in and out....many, many people commenting on how cool it is, etc. I kept my eye on the kids making sure they didn't push buttons too many times, etc., and was yelling at them if they got too rough. It costs them an arm and a leg to manufacture and ship out free replacement parts. Using thicker wire or bigger blower/heater would help cut back on most of the problems (In my case its all been electronics). Keep a small 1" tab of clorine in the little floatie and test water every 3/4 days. If clorine tests high, i take out floatie for a few days and keep in glass dish by spa. Even with the chemicals balanced correctly, there is a slight film (rubs off easily) that developes after a period of non-use. After inflating and filling with water, turned on the unit and everything lit up correctly. After a few seconds got that familiar beeping noise with the code that indicated pump was not working. After a day or two, I turned on the unit, pushed the circulation button and to my surprise....the pump started working!! I'm thinking that slight corrosion over the winter prevented the impellers from moving and caused the problem."
Best Pool & Spa Parts & Accessories
Specifications: Light:Warm White. Waterproof level: IP64. Charging time:4-5 hours. Working time: about 6 - 9 hours. Battery: 18500 lithium battery 3.7V 2200mAh. Dimensions:29*9.5*34 cm. Power Source: Solar-Powered. Features: 2 modes - high light mode & dim light mode. No wiring required - simply install and enjoy. Great for landscapes, grass area, decks, docks, and more. Solar-Powered, Low Voltage, Stake or Hang, Automatic. Adjusted 270 degrees up or down（ 180 degree for the solar panel, 90 degree for the light head). Winter weather resistant- you can leave these out all year long. Prior to first use, leave the light charge for two sunny days let the battery charge fully. URPOWER 3rd Generation solar outdoor spotlights,rechargeable and adjustable solar wall lights / In-Ground Lights, easy to install with no tools.Waterproof and Durable, withstand all kinds of weather all round the year.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a Marketing Director for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Valley Partners, I've shared these with top real estate agents to use with their listing/ sales signs to keep getting attention long after dark! As a Real Estate agent, myself, I will add these to our "settlement gift baskets" for new home owners."
"After doing a lot of research on solar lights I went ahead and purchased 3 sets of these lights which arrived last week to my home."
"We have ordered both the regular white ones and a lot of the color-changing ones to use as decorative accent lighting along our backyard fence and to highlight our trees and bushes, and our pond at night as well."
"Please buy these."
"The other one works fine. The lights work just fine."
"I use the spotlights for a kneeling Marine/Soldier statue that is located in front of my flagpole and the other one for the flag."
"I've ordered 28 of these solar lights over the last year to light my landscaping and am very satisfied with the lighting power, soft white color, and hours of illumination. I brought my lights in, directed them up into my lampshades and made a chandelier over the table."
"I'm only ashamed that I didn't purchase these sooner and wasted money on other cheap lighting."
Best Pool Pump Replacement Parts & Accessories
Designed for in ground pools and spas of all types and sizes, the Super Pump features a totally balanced, efficient Noryl impeller to produce higher flow rates at less horsepower than other pumps, so you can run your pump less and save on electricity. Super-sized 110 cubic-inch basket has extra leaf-holding capacity and extends time between cleanings. Super Pump combines proven performance with quiet, efficient and dependable operation. Efficient, dependable circulation pump for in-ground pools of all types and sizes. Super-size 110-cubic-inch basket has extra leaf-holding capacity and extends time between cleanings. Designed for in-ground pools and spas of all types and sizes, Super Pump features a large see-through strainer cover, a super-size debris basket, and an exclusive service-ease design for extra convenience. Super Pump combines proven performance with quiet, efficient and dependable operation. Highlights Heavy-duty, high-performance motor with air-flow ventilation for quieter, cooler operation Exclusive swing-away hand knobs for easier strainer cover removal: no tools required, no loose parts, no clamps See-through strainer cover lets you see when the basket needs to be cleaned and eliminated guesswork; special self-adjusting seal ensures dependable sealing 110-cubic-inch basket has extra leaf-holding capacity; load-extender ribbing ensures free-flowing operation Service-ease design gives simple access to all internal parts Self-priming (suction lift up to 10-feet above water level) Heat-resistant, industrial-size ceramic seal is long-wearing and drip proof Mounting base provides stable, stress-free support, plus versatility for any installation requirement; adapts 48- and 56-frame motors. Hayward self-priming pumps are very dependable and simple in design. They require a sufficient supply of water from the pool or spa, and no air in the suction lines. To winterize a Hayward Pool pump, turn off the electrical circuit breaker that supplies power to the pump. Exclusive swing-away hand knobs makes for easier strainer cover removal: no tools required, no loose parts and no clamps.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Purchased to replace existing Hayward 2 HP Super Pump (this model) that started having bearing noise."
"But the process of removing the old pump and installing this new one (again, using the downloaded manuals and several online videos found at YouTube), went very smoothly. We have about an 8 foot lift from the bottom of the pool, and this pump worked flawlessly to get the water flowing very,very quickly. It is quiet as a church-mouse (compared to the old pump on it's last legs - screaming like a banshee, bad bearings and seals)."
"However, the lid to the strainer is made from tinted plastic, so you can't see the strainer basket without a flashlight or direct sunlight."
"The original equipment began to leak a year ago and I had to install a new seal around the drive shaft extending into the pump."
"i may just have bad luck but the motor just failed after installing july of last year, all properly installed and was not abused or run without water."
"We have three of this same pump running 24/7 in our lobster tank, they usually go for about 2-5 years before the pump breaks down."
"They will not honor the warranty as I hooked up the two wires and not a dealer."
"This pump motor failed after 27 months, 10 months of which it was not used, as the pool is closed for the winter months."
Best Saunas
Seven (7) Carbon Fiber Far Infrared HeatersEquipped with 100% high quality Carbon Fiber Far Infrared Heaters.Situated at the back, side and calf areas to maximize heating area.Canadian WoodMade out of 100% top quality Canadian Hemlock Wood.No chemicals added.T & G ConstructionTongue and Groove construction for stronger structure.Read more ► Dual Wall InsulationDual wall construction for better heat insulation.This also means that you could fit your sauna at tight spaces and not to worry about heat expansion and insulation.See Through DoorDesigned with special safety glass which tolerates higher temperature within the cabin.Provides better insulation.Provides better visibility from within the sauna.Easy Assembly (Patented structure)Unique \"Tools-Free Design\" - simply buckle the panels together and you are all good to go.Easy to break down and to transport to other locations when necessary.Premium Sound SystemTwo premium speakers along with an amplifier via a 3.5mm auxiliary plug.Includes a volume rocker and on/off switch and works with all portable audio device.LED LightingEquipped with long lasting interior LED Lights, allowing you to use your sauna for many years to come.50% more cost - efficient than standard light bulbs. digital control that allows you to control the temperature and the duration of use of your sauna.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"**Updated 10/6/2016**. We purchased the three person unit direct from the factory since it is not offered here on Amazon. We purchased a Bluetooth receiver ( Aluratek AIS01F I-Stream DockFree Bluetooth Audio Receiver with RCA Cables Included - Black ) to plug into the speaker port, to make the phone a little more comfortable to use in there. We did run into one snag which required a road trip, I will explain that later, and also had to break for a quick bite to eat. You have to heat the unit up for one hour with the door open, and then let it cool down. The biggest problem I had was figuring out which piece was the left side and which was the right. The seat, heat panels, and the roof will require a Philips screwdriver. (Make sure you have a set of channel lock pliers when building this!). I do worry that eventually a piece of wood will fall out of that crack. I checked my breaker panel to make sure I was plugging into a 20 amp circuit. Someday I would like to get a meter and find out what the actual current draw is. If you opt for the three or four person unit, make sure you have a 20 amp circuit readily available. Dynamic Canadian Hemlock Sauna Backrest 2-pack 100% Natural Hemlock Wood Construction, S-Shape, No Stains, All Natural Finish When used against the back (of course) they fit absolutely perfectly. Well, the side heater is placed too close to the back, and the backrest won’t fit there. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of us buying the three person unit, so I may try to modify that. In the middle of the night I noticed the control panel has a green light that is always on. I’ll need to find a way to cover up that light, I don’t really want to unplug the unit every night. **Update: I bought an Indoor/Outdoor thermometer, and suspended the "outdoor" receiver from the cieling near the back. I figure if I built my own unit from scratch, I probably would have twice as many problems, and most likely would spend twice as much money."
"Tim G.from St.Louis. JNH Joyous 2 person Sauna review:"
"I have to hand it to this company, the quality of the engineering of this thing is perfect, the parts fit perfectly and it was put together (alone) in about 30 minutes, though I recommend two people working on it, because lifting the heavy parts are a little much for a single person. I have started off with 30 minutes at 110 degrees will increase time and temperature as soon as I know what is comfortable. The heating elements never get so hot that touching them would give you a burn, though I have a bad habit of putting my feet against the lower ones. First trying to get all on one page while leaving the back unused is a mistake on their part. Put the bottom screw in first so you can tilt the unit to see the hole, then you can see the top one just looking down. I will be sending pictures when the project is complete as I am making a special place for the unit."
Best Swimming Pools
Center includes water slide, wading pool, water sprayer, ring toss game (with 4 inflatable rings).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We bought this for Christmas along with 400 balls to use as an indoor ball pit for our toddler grand daughter."
"These were great and my girls love it."
"No need to buy the more expensive options!!"
"My kids loved this thing."
"It got a hole in it the first week because I had some family visiting out of town with bigger kids and they were playing extremely rough on it every time my back was turned (I'm still mad, but that's another story). So other than the issue with the hole (which I'm not surprised happened, the older kids were too big for it and were being way too rowdy), I feel like this pool is very durable. I thought it was going to get full of holes right away, I've had bad experiences with this type of product in the past, but this was the best item I could find within my budget so I rolled the dice."
"This took a very long time for me to put together, and even longer to take apart...kids did not love it."
"-This is a sizable play center with two pool basins. -There are ample toy accessories that come with the play center, ensuring endless hours of entertainment. -Some reviews site that there isn't a drain on this product - Mine indeed had not one, but two drains that worked very efficiently."
"No padding under pools, which is common, so you should have it on grass or similarly soft ground. Just purchased so can't speak to how long it will take to rip, but it does feel a little thin in some places."