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A used hot tub can be worth it, but only if the saving survives three costs the advert does not mention: transport, checking the pumps and control panel, and the warranty that changes. Before you pay, you need to see it running, full of water and up to temperature. If the seller cannot show it to you that way, you have no way of knowing what condition it is in.
The legal rules quoted here are the Italian ones: if you are buying in another country, check your local consumer law.
When a used hot tub is worth it
The right comparison is not the advert price against the new list price: it is the two totals with the tub installed and working. On a used tub the total includes draining and disconnecting, transport, a crane if needed, the electrical circuit, a new filter, sanitising and any repairs the test reveals.
New, the BL-807A hot tub with 3 seats starts at € 5.969 and the BL-801 hot tub with 6 seats at € 6.766. If the difference shrinks to very little once the sums are done, the new one also gives you the full warranty and a history you know.
A used tub holds up better in three cases: the seller is nearby, access is simple at both ends, and the tub is still running, so you can test it.
Who sells it decides what protection you have
If you buy from a professional seller, the legal guarantee also applies to used goods. The contract can shorten it but, as the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy explains (page in Italian), not below one year. Check the company's registered office and terms of sale: you need them to enforce the guarantee.
If you buy from a private seller, that guarantee does not apply and the Civil Code rules on defects remain. Article 1495 (in Italian) requires you to report the defect within 8 days of finding it and sets one year from delivery as the limit for taking action, unless the parties agree otherwise. That is why it pays to put in writing the year of purchase, the model, the work done and the condition of the tub at the time of sale.
On our new models the warranty is 24 months for private buyers and 12 for businesses, as set out in the terms of sale.
The test to do before you pay
Ask to see it full, connected and up to temperature. An empty, cold tub will not tell you whether the pumps and heater work. These are the six checks, in the order I would do them:
- The cover. On a tub that has been outdoors, look at it first: it is what holds the heat, and a good part of the running cost depends on its condition.
- The acrylic shell. Look for cracks, blisters and discolouring, especially on the seats and edges.
- The pumps. Turn them on one at a time, then all together: listen for vibration and check that every jet is pushing.
- The control panel. No error messages should appear on the display. Note the model: if the control unit is proprietary to a single supplier and that supplier closes or changes model, the spare part may no longer exist.
- Leaks. Have the technical compartment opened and look at the fittings, pumps and base: water and corrosion leave traces.
- The rating plate. Photograph the model, serial number and CE marking, and ask for the manual: a technician needs this information to work on it.
The other criteria for spotting a tub built to last apply equally to a used one, and you will find them in the guide on how to choose a hot tub.
Moving it is the cost the advert leaves out
A BL-866 hot tub weighs 395 kg empty and measures 223 by 223 centimetres. That is the order of magnitude for a used tub of similar size: it cannot be carried by hand.
First it has to be drained and disconnected by an electrician. Then you need a vehicle with a tail lift and insured transport: a standard national courier usually has neither a tail lift nor a pallet truck. Measure the route at both ends, where it is now and where it is going: the width of gates and passages, bends, the height of arches and canopies. If there is no way through at either end it goes by crane, following the procedure in the sheet on lifting with cranes and mechanical equipment.
Get a written quote before you negotiate the price.
Before you use it: water, filter and power
A tub that belonged to someone else goes back into service as if it had just arrived: pipes sanitised with the tub full and the pumps running, water changed, new filter. In our catalogue the BL-SPASAN spa sanitiser costs € 54 a pack and paper cartridges € 145, but check the size on your tub. The procedure is in the guide on how to clean a hot tub.
In its new position it needs a dedicated circuit with residual current protection of no more than 30 mA, installed by a qualified electrician: the requirements are in the sheet on the electrical connection. If the breaker trips at first start-up, or the display shows an error, switch off and have the system checked instead of trying again.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying a used hot tub?
It can be, if the total with the tub installed stays below that of a new one, and if you can test it running and up to temperature.
Can you trust a second-hand hot tub?
It depends less on the advert than on what you can verify. What counts is seeing the tub working, having the year, model and work done in writing, and knowing whether spare parts are still available.
What warranty does a used hot tub have?
Under Italian rules, a professional seller still owes the legal guarantee, which the contract can shorten to one year. With a private seller the Civil Code applies: report the defect within 8 days of finding it and act within one year of delivery, unless agreed otherwise.
Can a used outdoor hot tub be moved?
Yes, but it has to be drained, disconnected by an electrician and transported on a suitable vehicle. Measure the route at both ends.
What needs doing before you fill it?
Fill it, sanitise the pipes, drain it and fill it again with a new filter.
What to do, in order
- Do the sums on the total with the tub installed, and compare it with the price of a new one with the same number of seats.
- Ask who is selling: under Italian rules a professional's legal guarantee cannot go below one year, while a private sale falls under the Civil Code.
- Ask to test it full, connected and up to temperature, and do the six checks.
- Measure the route at both ends, and get a written quote for transport and a crane if needed.
- Put in writing the year of purchase, model, work done and condition of the tub.
- Before using it, have the circuit with residual current protection installed, sanitise the pipes and fit a new filter.
The most common mistake is negotiating on the advert price and only finding out later what it costs to bring it home. The concrete next step is to measure the narrowest passage at your place, before you even go to see it.
To compare the sums with a new model, prices are in the hot tubs category, and four questions about your space and how you will use it narrow down the catalogue. For a question about your case you can write to customer support. Who we are and what experience we write from is on the about us page.
The catalogue data in this guide (weights, dimensions, seats and prices) is read from the product pages and updates with the catalogue: what you see is the current value. It remains indicative because it refers to standard configurations. Weights refer to the empty product: the operating weight includes water and people and must be calculated separately. The information on guarantees is for general guidance and does not replace a lawyer's advice on your contract. No figure given here replaces a check by a qualified technician on the tub and the system.
