Intex Hot Tub Review

What’s great about hot tubs like the Intex Portable Hot Tub, apart from the relatively low price, is .. well… it’s portability. It can quite easily be packed away when not required. The whole spa squashes down to the size of a jumbo duffel bag, there’s even a bag included helping keep everything neat and tidy.

Let’s run through some of the main features

An Intex Inflatable Hot Tub Is Tough

No inflatable hot tub will ever be puncture-proof, however, the Intex Pure Spa patented “Fiber-Tech” construction is as close as you can hope to get. It offers great structural stability while maintaining a comfortable surface for a restful hot tub experience.

Fiber-Tech Construction involves a three-ply laminated material that sandwiches structured fiber material between standard PVC material. It’s tough, durable, and strong. You can easily sit on the walls of this hot tub without sagging or bending. A rigid wall makes getting in and out of the spa safer and easier and offers great support when you’re leaning back and relaxing.

Intex has been making inflatable mattresses for many years. The company has spent plenty of time and money developing the technologies and methods required to create quality inflatable products. Today an Intex inflatable hot tub is a good example

Intex Softens Hard Water

Having soft clean water in your spa really makes a difference. That’s why the Intex PureSpa is such a popular option. Included as standard is a hard water treatment system. You will still need some regular maintenance time, but there are many benefits associated with soft water.

Over time the mineral deposits found in most tap water will build up in the machinery of your hot tub. Excessive build-up can lead to breakdowns, blockages, and inefficient heating. These same minerals can also cause skin irritation and itchiness.

The Intex hard water treatment system works by generating an electromagnetic inside the filter housing, as the water is pumped through the filter certain minerals such as calcium become agitated and remain trapped in the filter.

When spa water is conditioned pumps, heaters and piping should all last longer. Your skin and hair should also benefit from softer treated water. For such a budget-priced hot tub this is really an awesome feature that is often not included in more expensive spas.

Insulated ground mat

A padded thermal ground cover that acts to keep heat in and provide extra comfort is also included. Although the supplied ground cover does make sitting in the spa more comfortable, it’s thermal properties leave something to be desired.

Tip…To really get the most from your Intex spa, we recommend getting some additional insulation. Placing a layer of builders foam underneath the spa will help greatly with heat retention. Your spa will stay hot for longer and you will save money by not running the heater as often. That’s a win-win and well worth considering.

Well insulated hot tub cover

When you realize how much heat escapes naturally from the surface of a hot tub, you can understand the benefits of an efficient hot tub cover. The supplied cover that comes with the Intex portable hot tub is efficient and works well to keep the heat in. It consists of a thick inflatable air bladder topped with a tough vinyl cover. The cover can be safely secured by means of a number of straps around the outside of the tub.

Having a secure hot tub means toddlers and small children will be safe from any harm, even for the curious the straps are childproof.

Easy access digital control panel

The digital control panel on an Intex Inflatable Hot Tub sits up high so it’s very easy to reach and control.

With other inflatable hot tubs like Coleman and Bestway, the control panel is situated on top of the motor assembly. This means you have to lean out over the wall of the spa to reach the controls.

The Intex control panel is much easier to use especially for the elderly or those with limited movement. No stretching or bending required.

Lots of accessories

You get plenty of options to customize with an Intex hot tub.

Intex makes more accessories than any other inflatable hot tub brand.

Things like drink holders, headrests, and molded seating are all relatively inexpensive to buy and can all help you to relax and enjoy the experience.

Innovative and useful accessories like a towel rack and a curved inflatable bench for relaxed seating outside the hot tub are also available.

One last point to make here is that Intex hot tub filters are easy to come by, which is not the case for some other brands.

What’s not so good about an Intex Hot Tub

Capacity May Be Exaggerated

Don’t expect 4 adults to be comfortable in a 4 person spa or 6 adults in the larger model. You will end up being quite close to your fellow occupants. This probably isn’t a deal-breaker but better to be fully informed before you decide.

Tip…One easy way to judge the size of a hot tub is to draw out a circle on the ground .. say 55 inches for the 4 person Intex model, or whatever your spa measurement is… A garden hose works well for this. Once you have the correct sized circle, sit in it, ideally get someone else to do the same. You should be easily able to tell how many others might be able to fit. It might sound a little wacky but it’s a simple and effective way to be sure of what you’re getting.

Intex inflatable hot tubs have many positive reviews, but there are some consistent complaints raised that deserve mention.

The blower unit is loud when making bubbles.
You may be able to lessen the noise by careful placement of the pump/blower unit. Solid level ground is best to minimize noise and vibration. If you want a relaxing and peaceful soak then consider this fact. What is loud to one person however may not be to another and certainly, this complaint is in the minority. Some reviews have stated that the bubbles themselves make more noise than the blower.

Can’t Heat And Makes Bubbles At The Same Time

The air jet pump and heater units are combined which means only one operation can be performed at a time. Put simply you cannot operate the bubble jets and the heater at the same time. This is really only an issue if you intend to spend long periods in the spa. Doing so may mean turning the bubbles off and the heater on until the water temperature rises.

Changing Filters Regularly Will Cost You

The spa filters also seem to be an issue for some people. The filters work well to keep the spa water clean, but they do require regular cleaning and replacement. If your hot tub is in use daily you will need to replace 2 filters every 2-3 weeks.

This can add significantly to the running costs of your hot tub. Filters are around $12 for a pack of 2. You do the math.

You can save some money by buying filters in bulk. But be warned this is one maintenance routine you cannot ignore. Clean filters are essential for proper water quality and pump motors may fail over time if the filters become to dirty however you will usually get an error code before this happens.

You may find you can get a little more life out of your filters if you simply clean them regularly rather than replacing them. Even doing this you will still need to replace filters just not quite as often.

Intex Has No Hydro Jets

The bubbles produced by an Intex Jacuzzi are adequate and most customers seem satisfied with the volume and intensity. The bubble action is soothing and you can expect a light massage sensation. However, don’t expect a deep tissue massage. There are no jets with this hot tub and you cannot direct the flow.

The bubbles are achieved by driving air through 120 outlets built around the bottom of the inside spa walls. This 360-degree ring distributes the bubbles evenly but does have an impact on water temperature. If its cold outside the hot tub will be injecting that same cold air into the water. In these circumstances expect the water temperature to drop faster than normal.

Lack Of Seating

There is no seating built-in to this hot tub either. For those who are less flexible, you can buy water-filled cushions that may be more comfortable. Although the included padded ground cover has a gel-like feel and is quite comfortable on its own.

Draining The Spa Could Be Better

The outtake and combined drain plug are set about 10 inches from the bottom. This makes emptying the spa a little harder. After draining is finished there will still be an amount of water left, sitting below the drain plug. This water must be manually removed. Scooping out this remaining water takes time and a little effort. The whole process takes around 20 minutes.

A closer look at the Intex range

OK… now we know the pros and cons let’s take a more detailed look at what’s on offer.

An Intex inflatable hot tub comes in 2 sizes. The 4 person model is 77 inches in diameter and the 6 person version which is 85 inches wide.