Hot Tubs & Spas
The world’s best-selling hot tub brand, sold and serviced by the people who’ve been taking care of pools and spas in Cedar Rapids for 50 years.
About Hot Spring
Hot Spring has been building hot tubs for nearly 50 years, and they’re the top-selling brand in the world for a reason. Every spa is engineered around three things: a massage that actually works your muscles, water that stays clean without a weekend of effort, and energy use that won’t surprise you on the electric bill.
Why Buy It From Pool Tech
A hot tub is only as good as the support behind it. Pool Tech has a Hot Spring-trained staff who know these pools inside and out, from first fill to filter changes to the occasional repair. We keep replacement parts, filters, salt cartridges, and water care products stocked in our Cedar Rapids store so you’re not waiting on a shipment when something needs attention.
We’re also the only pool and spa company in Iowa led by a licensed Master Plumber, and we run the largest parts warehouse in the area. That’s not just a pool thing. It means when your spa needs a pump, a heater, or a control board, we’re far more likely to already have it on the shelf.
Four Collections. One for Every Backyard.
Every Hot Spring spa shares the same core engineering. The collections differ in size, jet design, features, and how much of the water care system comes built in. Our staff can walk you through the differences in the store.
Three Questions That Narrow It Down Fast
Before you get into specific models, answering these will point you to the right collection and probably the right two or three spas.
1. How many people, realistically? Not the most you’ll ever have over. Two people don’t need a seven-seater, and a seven-seater costs more to heat. If it’s usually two but sometimes six, a five or six-seat spa is the sweet spot.
2. Lounge seat or open seating? A lounge is a reclined seat where you lie back with your legs stretched out. It’s great for one person and it’s the most relaxing seat in any spa. The trade-off is that a lounge seat takes up the room of about two regular seats, and shorter people sometimes float out of it. Open seating (all upright seats) fits more people and works better for socializing. Most collections offer both layouts.
3. How much space do you have, and where’s the power? A standard spa needs a 230-volt circuit run by an electrician. If that’s a problem, several models can run on a regular household outlet. And measure your space, including the path to get the spa there.
Highlife Collection
Hot Spring’s best. Premium design, the most specialized jet systems, 100% no-bypass filtration, and the FreshWater Salt System included standard. Smart Monitoring and Dosing are ready to add, so this is the collection for the full hands-off water care experience.
Every Highlife spa has at least one Moto-Massage DX jet, a patented moving jet that sweeps two streams of water up and down your back. Nothing else in the industry does this. Highlife also has the deepest seats, the most cabinet and shell color options, and the best energy efficiency in the lineup.
Pick Highlife if: you want the best massage and the least water maintenance, you plan to use the spa most days, or you’d rather buy once and be done.
Limelight Collection
Contemporary styling with colorful mood lighting and sleek accents. Targeted jets, strong energy efficiency, and it’s ready for the full FreshWater IQ system (salt, monitoring, and dosing) when you want it.
Limelight is the collection that turns heads. Dramatic shell shapes, brushed stainless jet trim, multi-point LED lighting inside and exterior corner lights outside. Under the hood you get a two-filter system (one for circulation, one for the jets) and FiberCor insulation that’s four times denser than what most spas use. Nearly every Limelight model seats six or seven, so this is the collection for people who want a big spa with a lot of style.
Pick Limelight if: you want a large spa, you care how it looks in the yard, and you want the option to add smart monitoring and dosing later.
Hot Spot Collection
The essential Hot Spring experience at a friendlier price. Comfortable jets, modern design, energy efficient, and ready for the FreshWater Salt System. Smart Monitoring and Dosing aren’t available on this collection, but the app still works on most models.
Hot Spot is where a lot of first-time buyers land. You still get FiberCor insulation, the no-fault heater, a real warranty, and Hot Spring’s build quality. What you give up is the moving Moto-Massage DX jet (though two models get the original Moto-Massage), some of the jet variety, and the smart monitoring option. Four of the six models can run on a standard outlet, which saves the cost of an electrician.
Pick Hot Spot if: you want a Hot Spring at a lower price, you don’t need smart monitoring, or you’d rather skip the electrician.
Freeflow Collection
Durable, portable, and Plug-N-Play. These plug into a standard outlet, so there’s no electrician needed. Great for a first hot tub, a rental property, or a deck that can’t handle a heavier spa. Freeflow uses the FROG cartridge sanitizing system rather than the salt system.
Freeflow spas are rotationally molded, which means the shell and cabinet are one solid piece of tough plastic instead of an acrylic shell in a separate frame. They’re lighter, nearly impossible to crack, and cheaper to make, which is how Hot Spring keeps the price down. Water care runs on FROG cartridges that release sanitizer and minerals automatically. You won’t get the jet variety or the depth of the other collections, and there’s no salt system or app, but you get a real Hot Spring-backed spa that you can set up in an afternoon.
Pick Freeflow if: you want the lowest cost of entry, you can’t run 230-volt power, or you need something light enough for a deck or a rental.
Water Care That Does The Thinking
FreshWater IQ: Salt, Monitoring, and Dosing
The number one worry people have about owning a hot tub is keeping the water clean. Hot Spring’s answer is FreshWater IQ, which combines three pieces into one system.
1. The Salt System
Add a small amount of spa salt to your water. A titanium cartridge converts that salt into chlorine automatically, so you’re not measuring and pouring sanitizer every few days. With proper care, you can go up to a full year between drain-and-refills. The cartridge lasts about four months and swaps out in seconds, no tools and no draining required.
2. Smart Monitoring
A sensor checks your pH, chlorine, and salt levels every hour. When something drifts, it shows a plain-language recommendation right on the spa’s touchscreen or in the app. No test strips, no guessing.
3. Precision Dosing
Refillable cartridges of pH Up, pH Down, and Phosphate Remover sit under the filter lid. When the monitor says your water needs adjusting, you tap a button and the spa dispense the exact amount. You can do it from the touchscreen or from your phone.
The Hot Spring Spas App
Powered by the Connected Spa Kit (a dealer-installed option on most 2024 and newer models), the app lets you run your spa from anywhere. From your phone you can:
- Check pH, chlorine, and salt levels and trigger a dose
- Adjust temperature, lighting, and jet strength
- Run a clean cycle or switch to energy-saving mode
- Set a seasonal timer so the water is ready when you are
- Get reminders for filter changes and cartridge swaps
- Add family members or a service tech as guest users
- Manage a second spa at a cabin or rental
- Lock the controls to keep the kids out
Everything That Goes With It
Equipment & Accessories
Hot Spring makes accessories specifically for their spas, so everything fits and works the way it should. We stock the common ones in Cedar Rapids and can order anything else.
Covers
Every Hot Spring spa comes with a custom-fit cover, and it’s a big part of why these spas are so energy efficient. Covers wear out over time from sun, snow, and use. When yours needs replacing, get the Hot Spring cover made for your model so it seals the way the original did.
Cover Lifters
Taking a cover off by yourself is awkward. A lifter turns it into a one-hand job, keeps the cover off the ground, and extends its life by reducing wear at the fold.
Steps
Getting in and out safely matters, especially on an icy deck. Hot Spring steps are built to match your spa’s cabinet color and stand up to weather.
Spa-Side Add-Ons
Handrails for extra stability, umbrellas for shade, and towel trees so you’re not hunting for a dry towel in the cold.
Entertainment
Depending on the model, you can add multi-color lighting, fountain and waterfall features, and wireless Bluetooth audio and video.
Connected Spa Kit
The hardware that links your spa to the app. Dealer-installed, and we can add it to the new spa before delivery or retrofit an eligible existing one.
Filters and Salt Cartridges
Both are stocked in store. Hot Spring’s Tri-X filters are dishwasher-safe and last longer than standard paper filters.
What Your Spa Actually Needs
Chemicals & Water Care Products
Even with a salt system, hot tub water needs a little attention. The good news is that Hot Spring keeps it simple, and the products are specifically made for their spas. Here’s what each collection uses.
Highlife (salt system included)
Required: Spa Salt, salt test strips, 5-way test strips, concentrated chlorinated granules (for startup and shock), pH/Alkalinity Up, pH/Alkalinity Down
Helpful: Clean Screen pre-filter, Vanishing Act calcium remover, phosphate test strips, phosphate remover.
Limelight and Hot Spot (salt system sold separately)
Required: Concentrated chlorinating granules, pH/Alkalinity Up, pH/Alkalinity Down
Helpful: Clean Screen pre-filter, Vanishing Act calcium remover, phosphate test strips, phosphate remover. Hot Spot owners can also use the Mineral Spa Sanitizer to cut chlorine use further.
Freeflow
Freeflow spas use the FROG cartridge system. A cartridge sits in the spa and releases chlorine and minerals on its own, so the routine is mostly swapping cartridges and checking pH. We stock the replacements and the test strips.
The Numbers That Matter
You don’t need a chemistry degree, but three readings keep most problems away:
- pH between 7.2 and 7.8. Too low and it’s rough on the spa’s fittings. Too high and the water goes cloudy.
- Calcium hardness under 75 ppm, target 50. Cedar Rapids water tends to run hard. The Clean Screen pre-filter on your hose during fill, plus Vanishing Act in the spa, keeps calcium in check and protects the heater.
- Phosphates under 300 ppb, target 150. Phosphates make the salt system work harder. Test a few times a year and use phosphate remover as needed. If you have the Dosing System, it handles this for you.
Bring Us a Water Sample
Not sure what your water needs? Bring a sample to the store. We’ll test it and tell you exactly what to add and how much. No charge, no pressure.
Startup, Cleaning, and Upkeep
Spa Care Starter Kit
Everything for the first fill in one box: chlorinating granules, MPS oxidizer, pH up and down, instant filter cleaner, test strips, and a troubleshooting guide.
Filter Cleaner
Clean filters keep the water flowing and the system running efficiently. The instant spray-on version needs no soaking.
Stain & Scale Defense
Keeps minerals from building up on surfaces and in the plumbing.
Defoamer
For when lotions, soaps, and swimsuit detergent turn the jets into a bubble bath.
Cover Shield
Cleans and conditions the cover so it lasts longer.
The Pool Tech Difference
Trained Staff. Parts on the Shelf. Right Here in Cedar Rapids
Buying a hot tub online or from a big-box store means you’re on your own when something goes wrong. Buying from Pool Tech means:
A Hot Spring-trained team who can explain every collection, set up your water care from day one, and answer questions for as long as you own the spa.
Parts and supplies in stock at 3233 First Ave SE, including filters, salt cartridges, dosing refills, covers, and the mechanical parts that keep a spa running.
Local service from technicians who work on Hot Spring spas regularly, backed by the largest parts warehouse in the area.
Delivery and setup handled by our crew, including Connected Spa Kit installation if you want the app.
50 years in business and a Master Pools Guild membership, which is an invitation-only group of the top builders in the world.