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Are Signature Spas Good? Signature Spa Review

I wanted to look at various makes of hot tubs to see what people regard as the best, and I came across one that I didn’t know much about called Signature Spas. So I did a little research to find out are Signature Spas good?

Signature Spas manufacture higher-end hot tubs with excellent features. However, their parent company LPI, Inc currently has 176 complaints with the Better Business Bureau from the prior 3 years which is cause for concern.

If you haven’t owned a hot tub before and are thinking of buying one, Signature Spas is worth considering, but let’s review all the pros and cons first, including going through all those negative comments. That way you can make an informed decision as to whether or not Signature Spas is worth it.

Read on to find out more.

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Are Signature Spas hot tubs expensive?

Suggested retail prices of Signature Spas hot tubs range from $7,500 to $18,500 which is the average range for many higher-end hot tub companies. They are not, however, a budget-priced hot tub company.

Features common to all include:

  • 100% Anti-Fungicide plumbing to prevent bacteria build-up in the tubing resulting in cleaner water and less chemical use
  • Synthetic cabinetry
  • No-leak “Hydro-Lock” plumbing

At the mid to top end:

  • Waterfall
  • Perimeter LED lighting
  • Built-in speakers for Mp3
  • Full-foam insulation
  • Balboa controls and (top of the range only) jets
  • Multi-layered fiber-glass coating to the shell
  • ABS bottom to protect from corrosion

On the face of it, the cheapest one at $7,500 does seem expensive for such a basic 4-seater hot tub available in white acrylic only with seven-colored lights and 15 stainless steel jets. Also, this model is a 110v Plug ‘n’ Play.

If you are looking for an entry-level hot tub, the Integrity model by Essential Hot Tubs – see it here on Amazon – is half that price.

But before you make any decision, you should read my recent article on this site for the 23 crucial things you need to know before buying one. I get into all the tips I wish I had known before I bought my first one, including the 1 mistake that cost me over $1,000.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Are Signature Spas energy efficient?

Signature Spas is known for producing extremely energy-efficient hot tubs, with their unique Hydro-therm Heat Regeneration System. It uses friction from water passing through the manifold system to generate heat.

This creates up to 3°F per hour, or to put it another way, 1° every 20 minutes when the pump is operating at high speed, and it does this without using the heater.

When you use your hot tub, the water temperature drops a little the longer you stay in and have the lid off.

So in effect, with their system, the temperature stays the same as it was when you got in. This is an excellent plus for Signature Spas, especially during the cooler months, and since this is free energy, the running costs can be cut by as much as $2 a week depending on how much you use it.

All Signature Spas are made using high-density foam insulation on the shell and cabinetry, which is the best you can get. Some hot tubs have spray foam applied to the shell only, but this is not as energy efficient as full foam or multi-density foam.

For colder climates, Signature Spas offers a thermal wrap upgrade.

I wrote about adding insulation to your hot tub in a recent article with all the pros and cons of doing it, and a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

How many different hot tubs does Signature Spas have?

Excluding their swim spas, Signature Spas have 18 models listed on their website, including 6 110v plug-and-play models.

The prices shown below are taken from there and you will be able to get them cheaper through their dealers.

Model Base price Size (no. of people in brackets) No. of jets
S-11000 $18,499 96″x 108″x 36″ (7) 70 Balboa
S-10000 $17,499 96″x 108″ x 36″ (7) 70 Balboa
S-14 $15,499 92″x 92″ x 38″ (7) 62 ss
S-13 $15,499 92″x 92″ x 36″ (5) 69 ss
NS-12 $15,499 92″x 92″ x 36″ (6) 59 ss
NS-7 $12,999 82″x 82″ x 36″ (6) 50 ss
NS-6 $12,999 82″x 82″ x 36″ (6) 47 ss
SS-44* $11,499 82″x 82″ x 36″ (6) 44 ss
NS-5Plus2 $10,999 80″x 80″ x 34″ (6) 37 ss
NS-5Plus $10,499 80″x 80″ x 34″ (6) 37 ss
NS-3Plus $9,999 80″x 63″ x 34″ (3) 33 ss
NS-5* $9,999 80″x 80″ x 34″ (6) 29 ss
NS-3* $9,499 80″x 63″ x 32″ (3) 25 ss
NSS-4* $9,499 70″x 80″ x 32″ (5) 25 ss
SS-3* $9,499 76″x 76″ x 34″ (3) 27 ss
NSS-1000* $7,499 70″x 60″ x 30″ (4) 15 ss

*Plug ‘n’ Play 110-115v.

On all models, the stainless steel jets (denoted ss) can be upgraded to the better quality Balboa jets.

Where are Signature Spas built?

All Signature Spas come directly from the LPI manufacturing plant in Johnson City, Tennessee, where they have been manufacturing hot tubs since 2016. They have recently expanded their manufacturing by purchasing the former CanTech factory also located in Johnson City.

This will be used for warehousing and distribution, freeing up space at their manufacturing plant to increase production and maybe iron out some of those issues from the poor reviews they were getting.

Although the company has worked with dealers in the past, they have announced that in 2021 their focus will be on their Aqua Living retail stores and factory outlets.

These are scattered right across the USA – currently, 36 outlets in 23 states, but that is likely to grow next year with plans for over 100 more in the next few years.

Signature Spas also make Dr. Wellness hot tubs at their Johnson City factory.

And they have recently acquired Catalina Spa Pools to make LPI one of the largest swim-spa manufacturers in the world. The company currently produces a limited number of swim spas in two models from its Signature Spas line, and the Catalina brand will expand this to more than a dozen.

What do the reviews say about Signature Spas?

Signature Spas rates 4.8 stars on Google from 57 reviews. Signature Spas does not have a Facebook or Yelp page, but their parent company, LPI, Inc does have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and rates 3.2 stars in their customer review section, and they have had 176 complaints in the past 3 years.

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One of the best ways of finding out how good a hot tub is is to read what owners have to say about them.

There are a few negative comments on the forums but nothing about specific models, just the company. These comments go back to 2015/16, when they were in the process of setting up their manufacturing plant in Johnson City, so that might have something to do with it.

Here are some of the positive comments and things worth noting from the reviews I looked at:

  • Jets: they have a good range of massage settings – swirling, pulsing, streaming, and penetrating.
  • Lighting: the adjustable LED lighting system provides various effects from romantic to party-time.
  • Sound system: MP3 stereo and optional powered subwoofers provide a great sound, and with the Bluetooth add-on, you can connect your smartphone to it.
  • Controls: Balboa is one of the best there is. Digital touchpads give you total control over water temperature, circulation, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, filtration, and lighting.
  • Sanitization: the corona discharge ozone generator option reduces the need for chemical sanitizers.
  • The cover: the marine-grade vinyl cover with high-density foam fill is made for maximum heat retention. The cover locks into place, forming a protective seal to keep heat in.

And here are some of the top concerns or negative comments I saw:

  • Unable to get parts on a 1-year old hot tub
  • Trouble and lengthy delays getting replacement parts under warranty
  • Delays in receiving the hot tub (all were from 2020 though, which was common with all manufacturers)
  • Broken jets after only 4 months of use
  • Overall poor customer service

All in all, I’ll say that 176 complaints in only 3 years on the BBB site is definitely cause for concern.

By comparison, all the other major manufacturers I looked at like Jacuzzi, Master Spas, and Sundance, all had complaints in the single digits. So something is up with Signature Spas although it could simply be they got behind and overwhelmed in 2020 and haven’t recovered yet.

But I would probably look elsewhere until their reputation improves.

Final Thoughts

I hope that covers all you wanted to know about Signature Spas.

It is a company that is growing with massive plans for increasing capacity and market share over the coming years. Yes, it has had its problems, but it is definitely one worth looking at.

If there is anything I might have missed, please leave a comment or drop me a line, and don’t forget to check out the related articles on my website by clicking on the links.


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Jeff Campbell