Questions To Ask Before Buying Hot Tubs
Unlike swimming pools, hot tubs are something that can be used all year round. From relaxing with a glass of bubbly watching the summer sun set, to warming up while snow falls around you, they provide enjoyment and increase your quality of life.
Of course, not all hot tubs are created equal, from portable blow up spas through to fantastic custom designed water features, the range of variety that can be found in your home jacuzzi is quite remarkable, and can be quite overwhelming when you first start looking for which of the top hot tubs to buy.
How many people is it for?
A four-person hot tub is generally the most standard, however you can get single person barrels or spa’s that will fit 12 comfortably. How many people you anticipate having in your spa at any one time will make a large bearing on which ones you should be looking at. Make this your starting question, then fine tune the list based on your other requirements.
How economical do you need it?
If you are running off grid power supply, or simply want to be conscientious about your power consumption, you should look at the power usage of each model. Hot tubs don’t need to use a great deal of power to stay warm and allow you to operate the jets, but some models will present you with a quite hefty bill.
Do you need it portable?
Some spa pools have to be permanently installed; however, some are quite simple to have as portable options. This is great if you are likely to move and want to be able to take your hot tub with you, or if you are living in rental accommodation. Even if a spa isn’t specially advertised as being portable, it may still be a viable portable option. However, you need to not only think about installation ease, but also how heavy the spa is. Investing in a unit that is easy to install but is going to require a crane to get it in and out of your location may not be the ideal situation. Some are completely freestanding, while others require extensive framing – and most are something in between.
Hot, Warm, Cold?
You might be quite surprised at the different temperature ranges spas can have. Whether you are looking at your spa as something to just chill out on a hot day with a lukewarm bubble massage or something that is going to make you sweat out the days’ toxins, you will need to see what the temperature range is. Some simply don’t heat the water hot enough to get a good sweat going, so if this is what you want you should make sure that you have make the right enquires. However, you also want to ensure that your water is at the right temperature to not only avoid scolding, but to also reduce the chance of bacteria growing (see here).
Does It Have Therapeutic Value?
You will find that hot tubs have a huge range of jet variations and positioning. From spa’s where everyone sits with feet in the middle to carefully contoured configurations. Most hot tubs are obviously relaxing with jets that will give a nice massage, but some have multiple modes, variable strength and different jet types which allow for therapeutic treatment. http://www.najms.org/article.asp?issn=1947-2714;year=2014;volume=6;issue=5;spage=199;epage=209;aulast=Mooventhan
When looking into the different options, you will notice a vast different in price, so it helps to know what style of massage you are really looking for, and how important things like variable strength are to you. If you are quite content with a few jets that fire water at your feet and back you will likely find a great range and cheaper options than if you are wanting full body pinpoint streams.
How Do You Maintain It?
This is particularly important if you are likely to have non-family members sharing your spa. Not only how do you ensure that the water is filtered and free from bacteria, but do you need to drain the tub in order to clean the surface? Some hot tubs have a tendency to get a little slimy in certain corners, and you really don’t want that. While some are super easy to clean and maintain, so do require you to completely drain them in order to get to the grit that seems to accumulate on the bottom no matter how many times people wash their feet before hoping in.
