What to Look for When Buying a Spa (And What to Avoid)
Thinking of buying a spa? Don’t get caught by clever marketing or too-good-to-be-true prices. Here's what really matters if you want a spa that lasts. Completely unbiased.
💬 Honest Advice
We don’t sell spas — but we spent many years repairing them, now supply parts and chemicals, and we get feedback from dozens of spa owners every day! This gives us a unique perspective.
If you're unsure about a brand, control system, or whether something will be serviceable in 5 years, contact us and we’ll give you real advice with no sales pressure.
We’d rather help you buy the right spa up front than sell you parts later for one that maybe should’ve never been sold in the first place.
🧠 What Actually Matters When Choosing a Spa
With so many spa options on the market, it's easy to get distracted by flashy lighting, waterfall features, and how many jets a model has. But none of that matters if your spa breaks down in a few years and you can’t get parts.
Here’s what you should ask — before price, before jet count, before the sales pitch:
- What control system does it use? (This affects future serviceability and spare parts.)
- Are the jets made by a known manufacturer? (Cheap jets often become unavailable.)
- the service!)
- How long has the spa brand been around? (New pop-up brands & online brands often disappear.)
- Is the warranty actually worth anything? (Read the fine print and ask who does
🔌 Control Systems: The Brain of Your Spa
Stick with well-known, supported spa control systems. If something fails — like the heater, touchpad, or circuit board — you'll want replacements to be easily available, not custom-made or locked behind dealer-only networks.
Look for these control systems only:
- ✅ Balboa
- ✅ Gecko Aeware
- ✅ SpaNET
- ✅ Joyonway (some later models)
Avoid: unbranded, private-label, or factory-only controllers. These are often used in cheap imports and can be impossible to replace.
📜 Warranties: What You’re Told vs. What You Actually Get
📄 Ask for the Full Warranty Document — Before You Buy
Before you sign anything or place an order, always ask for the full written warranty document. Not a brochure. Not a vague webpage. The actual, complete documents. Unsure how to interpret it? Send it to us!
Look for:
- What’s actually covered (and for how long)
- What voids the warranty
- Who handles service and support
- If labour and freight are included
- Any unusual exclusions or hidden clauses
If they won’t give it to you in writing — walk away. That’s a major red flag.
🚫 Common Spa Warranty Traps (That You Won’t Hear in the Sales Pitch)
- ❌ Use Standard Chemicals? Warranty Voided - We've seen warranties denied just because the customer used regular industry-standard chlorines or bromine — the same products sold at nearly every spa and pool store in Australia. In some cases, using them once is enough to void your entire warranty. Note: This is likely unenforceable under Australian Consumer Law.
- ❌ No Transfer of Warranty - Some warranties only apply to the original purchaser. Sell or give your spa to someone else — and the warranty disappears.
- ❌ You Pay Freight — Both Ways - Many brands require you to ship faulty parts back at your cost, wait for testing, and then pay again to receive a replacement. This can delay repairs and add unnecessary costs.
- ❌ Labour Not Included — Even in Year One - Many “5-year” warranties only cover parts — not the labour to diagnose or install them. Even in the first 12 months, you could be paying hundreds for technician time.
- ❌ No Local Technicians - Some spa companies sell Australia-wide but have no local service agents in many regions. If there's no one nearby to help, you’re on your own — and if you hire your own tech, they may void the warranty.
- ❌ Locked Parts and “Authorised Only” Repairs - Certain brands use proprietary components and won’t sell parts to anyone but their own dealers. If your technician isn’t “authorised,” they may void your warranty, even if the repair is done correctly.
- ❌ Contradictory or Hidden Fine Print - The marketing says peace of mind — but the warranty terms say something else. Watch out for exclusions on surface wear, electrical faults, spa colour, or even normal usage conditions.
✅ Know Your Rights Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
No matter what a company claims, your rights under the ACL can't be taken away. You’re entitled to:
- Products that are of acceptable quality and last a reasonable time
- Repairs, replacements, or refunds for faulty goods — even outside of “warranty” periods
- Fair access to support and spare parts
If something doesn’t seem right, contact your local Consumer Affairs office for advice. A good spa company won’t try to hide behind fine print.
❗ Why Cheap Spas Can Cost You More
Cheap spas — especially those imported from overseas — are often built with unknown parts, random fittings, and non-standard jets. They work great out of the box... until something fails. Then you discover there’s no support, no parts, and no help.
Even some high-end spas have this issue. Some brands lock down their parts and refuse to sell them to independent repairers, forcing you to go back to their dealer at inflated prices.
Spas linked to Spas Direct, Sunseal, or similar operations have caused major frustration for owners when parts became impossible to source. Be very cautious of any company or person related to these groups.
🌀 Jet Brands: More Important Than You Think
Jets wear out over time — they crack, seize up, or stop spinning. When they do, you’ll need to replace them. If your spa uses a random or unbranded jet, you could be out of luck.
- ✅ CMP
- ✅ Waterway
- ✅ Balboa / Pentair
Avoid: Any other brand or spa-brand-specific jets as they may be difficult to get replacements. Many cheaper spas use cheaper jets, or unknown types and parts are near impossible to find even just 2–3 years later.
This also applies to air controls, jet diverters, and other top-side fittings — use known brands or be prepared to chase rare plastic parts for years.
💺 Comfort Matters: Sit Before You Buy
Many people buy a spa online based on specs or photos — then discover the seats are too deep, the jets hit the wrong spots, or the lounger just floats them up. Always try the spa in person.
Some retailers will let you do a “wet test” — actually sit in the spa with water running. If they won’t let you sit in a spa, that’s a red flag. No one should buy a spa without knowing if it fits your body.
🚫 Don’t Be Fooled by Jet Count
“85 jets!” might sound impressive, but it’s mostly marketing fluff. Jet count does not equal quality. What matters is jet placement, pressure, and purpose.
We'd take 3 powerful jets in the right spot over 20 weak ones that don’t do much any day.