Dream Maker Spas: Value-Priced Uni-Body Hot Tubs

If you're in the market for a new hot tub spa, consider the Dream Maker Spas line. These are some of the best values in hot tubs today. Constructed with the shell and surrounding cabinet as a single piece by means of a unique, rotational molding process (also called unibody or roto-molding) they are extremely durable and require little maintenance.  Dream Maker has been producing these spas for over 10 years, and the quality is outstanding. When shopping, be very careful in selecting the right dealer, as we'll explain later in this article. It does make a difference.

There is a definite limit to the size that roto-molded spas can be made, compared to larger acrylic spas such as the Belize brand.  But if the size of these spas meets your needs, their great value makes them an attractive choice.  Dream Maker spas are designed for indoor or outdoor use, in all climates (except X-100).  They are easy to maintain and service, and are very durable.  Made in USA. No plumbing is required. Max temperature is 104º F-- this upper limit is the same for all spas, and is set by Federal regulations for safety. (Another dealer claims that the max limit is 105º F-- this is untrue).

Plug-n-Play

These hot tubs have molded seating.  Dream Maker models are all plug-n-play spas which operate on standard 110-120V 15A household power outlets, which means no costly 240V electrical hookup is necessary.  They feature a heat-recovery system which actually warms the water with waste heat from the pump, rather than a thermostatically-controlled heating element.  Contrary to what some retailers will tell you, waste heat recovery does not provide free heat.  Pumps of course consume electricity.  However, since this type of spa has no separate heating element, and thus fewer components, it is less expensive to manufacture.  This means a lower retail cost to the consumer.

Model Comparison

      X-100                EZ Spa               X-400                Eclipse             Fantasy                 X-500            Odyssey

• X-100

Indoor or mild weather round hot tub (only non-insulated model). Seats 4 persons. 76" diameter, 26" high. 150 gallons, 5 jets. No light, no waterfall.  Grey only.  This is DreamMaker's lowest price spa, so if you are on a budget and will not be using it outdoors during sub-freezing weather, it may be right for you.

• EZ Spa

Entry-level spa, replaces obsolete Xspadition model. Seats 4 persons. 70"L x 60"W, 31" high. 220 gallons, 11 jets including lighted waterfall. No underwater light. Grey or Tan.  The EZ Spa has smaller jets than the X-400 and is quite a bit smaller in overall size, but a very good value.

• X-400

Big brother to EZ Spa. Seats 4 persons. 76"L x 66"W, 32" high. 235 gallons. 11 jets. Lighted waterfall and underwater light. Grey or Tan. Considerably larger than the EZ Spa, the X-400 is one of DreamMaker's most popular spas.

• Eclipse

Slightly elliptical shape. Seats 4 persons. 74" x 76", 29" high. 210 gallons. 13 jets. Lighted waterfall and underwater light. Grey or Tan. Very popular model in the traditional hot tub shape.

• Fantasy

Two seater with lots of legroom. 78"L x 64"W, 31" high. 235 gallons. 13 jets. Lighted waterfall and underwater light. Grey or Tan. If a spa for two meets your needs, this spa is a great choice because it has all of the legroom of larger spas in a space-saving design. Perfect for corner locations too.

• X-500

Lounger spa, seats 5 persons. 76"L x 66"W, 32" high. 270 gallons. Lighted waterfall and underwater light. Grey or Tan. Similar to the X-400 but with the addition of a lounge seat.  Very popular model.

• Odyssey

Largest DreamMaker spa. Lounger, seats 6 persons. 88"L x 76"W, 33" high. 260 gallons. Lighted waterfall and underwater light. Grey or Tan. This model is the top of the DreamMaker line and has plenty of room for larger families.  Compared to traditional acrylic spas, a lot of spa for the money indeed!

(Specs subject to change)

All models come with color coordinated locking insulated spa cover. All are ozone-ready (for optional ozonator) except X-100 which cannot accept an ozonator. All DreamMaker spas have a high performance AquaFlo 1.5HP pump, and filtration system. Models equipped with an underwater light come with colored lens caps, standard (this is not a free bonus item, as one dealer claims).

Select an Established, Reliable Dealer

There are several dealers offering Dream Maker spas on eBay. This is a major purchase, so you will want to select a dealer that is trustworthy.  Consider the following when deciding whom to buy from:

• How long has the dealer been in business? This will tell you a lot about their reliability in case you need help with setup, warranty, etc.
• Does the dealer have a staff of Customer Service people to help in real time? Or do they only communicate via email/voicemail?
• Do they support via Live Chat and/or toll-free telephone assistance? Or will you be stuck calling an answering machine if you need help?
• Does the dealer make deceptive claims in their advertising such as listing standard equipment items as free extras? Can they be trusted?
• Does the dealer have expertise dedicated to hot tub spas, or do they sell all kinds of unrelated merchandise?

Deceptive Advertising- watch out!

All DreamMaker spas are made with exactly the same components.  There are no "deluxe upgraded" versions, despite what one dealer claims.  All DreamMaker spas come from the factory with a hard insulating spa cover as standard equipment.  It is never a free extra. Most dealers ship in the continental 48 USA at no extra charge. Some dealers advertise standard equipment as free bonus items, which is misleading since they all come that way. If a dealer is willing to stretch the truth in order to make the sale, can you trust them to have your best interests in mind after the sale should you need help or warranty service? Hard to say... but worth considering.

Call us for more information.

Blems - A great way to save $$$

Spa manufacturers make thousands of spas monthly, and inevitably a few of them come off of the line with slight blemishes, imperfections, minor cabinet scratches, dings or slight deformations, or other cosmetic shell flaws such as color variation. Although these blemishes do not affect spa performance or the warranty, they can't be sold as perfect. In many cases customers have reported that the imperfection is hardly even noticeable. These spas are covered by the same manufacturer's warranty as factory firsts.

One dealer (The Spa Depot) has been selected by DreamMaker as their exclusive distributor of factory seconds. You can save a lot of money on these "blems" if a spa with minor defects is not an issue.

Chemical Supplies Kit - they're not all the same!

Many dealers provide a small chlorine or bromine chemical startup kit with a spa purchase.  A far better choice is the advanced Cleanwater Blue system.  CWB is the odor-free alternative sanitizer without the harsh smell of chlorine or bromine, and is gentler to hair, eyes, skin, and is better for your spa's equipment too. The professional kit also includes water balance chemicals, shock, clarifier, test strips and basically everything you need to maintain your spa's water quality. Cleanwater Blue lasts a long time, and many users report saving over $100 per year compared to the cost of conventional sanitizers. 

About Cleanwater Blue:

Cleanwater Blue Bactericide-Algicide is the most advanced spa water purification system ever offered. Going chlorine and bromine free is easier than ever with Cleanwater Blue. It's gentle to equipment and won't sting your nose or burn your eyes. Your spa water will be more inviting and feel softer, without a chemical smell. You'll be amazed how good your skin feels after tubbing! The odor-free alternative to chlorine and bromine! Say goodbye to irritated skin, red eyes, harsh fumes, and bleached swimsuits. Rely on the low-maintenance Cleanwater Blue system for crystal clear, sparkling clean, comfortable water without all the problems, and a lot less expense.  The best part-- instead of checking your spa water daily or weekly, with the Cleanwater Blue system, you test your spa water only twice per month!

Important Note about Ozonators:

An optional, easy-to-install ozonator option is available. An ozonator helps maintain better water quality by oxidizing some of the organic contaminants such as perspiration, lotion residues, etc. However, it does NOT replace your chemical sanitizer system. One eBay dealer offers to substitute an ozonator in place of the chemical supplies kit. This would be very dangerous. Using only an ozonator without the sanitizer system would expose your family to potentially harmful bacteria, which would quickly infect a spa without the disinfecting sanitizer system.  The other chemicals in the supplies kit are also essential to balance the pH to prevent equipment damage, and to promote water clarity.

An ozonator is a great upgrade, but it is never a substitute for a sanitizing and water balance supplies kit such as the Cleanwater Blue system.

Visit The Spa Depot's Store for the Complete Dream Maker Selection  Our 800 number is listed there. Call us if you have any questions.