Make sure you're covered
 Apart from being good clean fun, spas also have many therapeutic benefits for old and young soakers alike. They can help ease the pain of sport injuries, sore backs and arthritic aches. A spa can even help those of us who have a problem getting a good night's sleep.
Unfortunately, they can also be a major financial headache if you're not selective about the sort of spa you buy. A discussion on buying a spa would fill an entire issue of Warm, however one consideration that should be foremost in your mind is the warranty. Be as cautious about buying a spa and its support equipment as you would be about buying a new car. Find out as much as you can in advance; make thoughtful and informed, rather than impulsive, decisions. You can always sell a car later but it's a lot harder to unload a used spa!
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Types of warranties
Surfaces
 In the past few years, most manufacturers of acrylic spas have reduced warranty periods from as many as ten years to as few as one or two years. One year should be an absolute minimum. But remember that a warranty is only good if the manufacturer is still in business! As a rule of thumb, the manufacturer offering the warranty should have been in business at least as long as the promised warranty period.
Check whether a claim will be satisfied locally or whether the spa has to be shipped back to the manufacturer (often at the owner’s expense). Also check who will perform the warranty work and the response time for those repairs. In the case of a major problem make sure that the manufacturer will replace the spa shell rather than simply repairing it.
Structural elements
With acrylic or the newer plastic shells, the structural integrity of spas is rarely an issue. Most warranties are for at least five years. Be aware that warranties will not cover problems with in-ground spas that shift or settle. That's part of the contract warranty that you have with the person who installs your spa.
Equipment
Look for a minimum one-year warranty on equipment (pumps, filters, heaters, blowers and controls). Be sure that this period covers both parts and labour (some manufacturers only offer 90 days on labour). Also confirm before you buy that you won't have to disconnect and send in defective equipment to get warranty service.
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