Unwind in your Premium 4 Person Spa
Written: Dec 03 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small yet big enough for 4 people, 24-hour circulation, ABS Pan, Ease-of-use
Cons: No Lounger, not big enough for everyone
The Bottom Line: Perfect Spa compared to cost for use with 4 people. No lounger, but excellent jets, circulation and ease-of-use. Great Warranty. Solid Construction. Sit in one today!
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| Sarv's Full Review: Jacuzzi Essence 320 Spa |
How the world says hot tub. Without even thinking about it, when people think of hot tubs, they say Jacuzzi. There is actually a brand out there named Jacuzzi Premium, and they have this spa, the J-320 (or J-325, same spa, different number), which is perfect for four people, yet affordable enough to not break the bank. The difference between it, the J-310 and the J-330 (which is a step up), is that it does not have a lounger. Instead, it has 4 bucket seats. Having seen this spa up close, I'm going to rate it (as well as any other spa) on three things: Ease of Use, Durability, and Hydro-therapy.
Ease of Use
The J-320 is about average in size, being a little short of 3 feet tall. Most people find that easy enough to climb into (especially when built into a deck, or when being used with a step). When you come home after a long day at work, you don’t want to have to do MORE work just to relax. Sometimes you’ll see that in other spas. The J-320 does all the work for you, you just need to supply the swimming trunks or bathing suit.
It has a 24-hour circulation pump, as well as jet pumps that provide the filtering through two 60 square foot filters, allowing the spa to have water circulated over 30-40 times a day. When you open the spa, you should see nothing but crystal-clear water. An ozonator also helps to do this.
You can get an ozonator installed which releases Ozone into your spa, recreating what mother nature already does in the wild. Ozonators today are much more efficient than in the past, using a corona discharge instead of a UV light. In the J-320, the ozone is filtered through the plumbing, then into a discharge chamber, then into the water. So, before even reaching the water in the spa, the filtered water is ozonated. This cuts down on the amount of ozone in the water, which was something not seen in the past, nor seen in many other ozonators today. If you purchase an ozonator with any spa, make sure it is Corona Discharge, or something similar, and not UV.
Durability
Jacuzzi spas, and the J-320, are made out of a durable acrylic shell that is built to last. The warranty even guarantees it, with 10 years on the Shell Structure (what holds the shell together), 7 years on the Shell Surface (protecting you from cracks, bubbling, or anything else that may happen), 5 years on the electrics and plumbing, as well as 5 years on labor and components. Try and find a warranty like that from other spas.
The base, like Marquis and Sundance spas, to name a few, is made of a ABS pan that protects your spa from the elements. Nothing will be able to get in, nor will you have to worry about anything going out (unless you have the drain open, then you'll see some leakage).
The siding comes in many colors (as does the shell), and is made out of either durawood (vinyl siding) or realwood (red, silver or natural, to match your home). I prefer durawood, because it cuts down on maintenance (just spray it off when it's dirty), and it will last (covered under 10 year warranty).
Hydrotherapy
The J-320 has 15 jets, which is only two more than the J-310. However, you have more room for people to sit in this spa. Instead of 3 seats with jets, you have 4. Two seats now share the foot jets found in only one seat on the J-310.
If you get into a spa, and there are bubbles everywhere and you're feeling ichy and just mainly uncomfortable; it's because you're getting too much air in the jets. That is why having 50% air, and 50% water coming out of the jets is best way to go. Simply sit in a J-320 (or any Jacuzzi Premium), and you will see.
The J-320 has four neck and shoulder jets in the main seat and two high-power jets for your upper and lower back. The seat next to it has three high-power jets in a bucket-like seat arrangement. The other two locations in the spa have two jets for your upper and lower back and two feet jets for your sore toes.
General Specs
Size: 76"x84"x34"
Dry Weight: 738lbs
Full Weight: 3386lbs
Water Capacity: 320 gallons
Pumps: (1) 2 speed, 4.2h.p. Break, 2 continuous
Total Jets: 15
Filters: 2 - 60sqft
Lighting: Yes, two colors, underwater
Seating: 4
Electrical: 240v @ 30A or 40A
Note the Pumps and Electrics. When you see a spa advertised with high horsepower, check to see if it is break or continuous. Continuous HP is the most important, as it is what you'll see when the jets are on. You don't need a lot of HP; too much will throw you out of the spa.
The electrical is important as well. Unlike the J-310, you can hook your spa up to a 220 outlet only. 110v is not available this year, but will be available in 2004. See your electrician to have this done.
Cost
Jacuzzi's are premium spas, and of high quality. Don't expect to find these spas at the cheap prices of many spas seen on Epinions and in your area. Your dealer will remind you of this as well when you are shopping. Keep in mind that with the J-320, even with the circulation pump running 24/7, filters coming on 4 times a day (giving you probably 50 full filtrations of the water in the spa per day), will cost you on average of $10 - $14 per month in added electricity. You will only need to drain and refill the spa 2-3 times per year if you take care of it (keeping it clean). An ozonator will bring down the cost of chemical usage. Cleaning your filters will do the same.
See your local Jacuzzi Premium spa dealer for latest prices, as sales are usual in the spa business.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Sarv
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Member: Erik Sarvela
Location: Medford, OR
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 15 members
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