Author Archives: Christina Mantoura-Gough

As the seasons change we all tend to fall into different habits and shift to lifestyles that embrace the change in temperature and weather. When you have a hot tub at home the summer can be a great time to get the most out of it. Even when the mercury rises there are still lots of ways to enjoy your hot tub during the summer months as much as you do in the winter. No matter where you are your hot tub can still support fun and fitness right through the hottest part of the year.

Get in when it rains

If you’re not that keen on using your hot tub when the temperatures are high then take advantage of rainier days. When rain falls the temperature drops and you might find that the hot tub is a more comfortable experience for you. It can also be incredibly romantic sitting outside and listening to the rain fall – ideally you’ll have a fairly robust cover over your hot tub so you can do this without the raindrops falling into the hot tub itself.

Make your hot tub a truly sociable space

Summer is a great time for being sociable and if you have a hot tub you can make it a focal point for this. A few changes in the area where your hot tub sits could turn it into the perfect spot for an al fresco movie night for example or somewhere to enjoy a few cocktails with friends. Some models have technology that will enable you to connect a home entertainment system to your hot tub controls (e.g. via Bluetooth) so that you can change volume etc without getting out. Add fun extras like spa pillows and lights to create atmosphere or a sense of occasion for a party.

Opt for a soak early or late

Early mornings and late evenings are the ideal time to enjoy your hot tub in the summer, as the temperatures tend to be lower. It can be incredibly refreshing to start the day in your hot tub, finding a moment of calm before work and responsibilities begin. Equally, the warmth of the water is ideal for winding down at the end of a busy day, especially if you have a good view of the sunset.

Supporting your workout

If you’re looking to maintain your beach body throughout the summer months – or you’re just keen to get fitter – a hot tub can be very useful. The warmth of the water, combined with well placed jets, can help to ease the tension in muscles and get you ready for your next workout session. Warm water also helps to improve circulation, which can be essential for speeding up recovery.

If you want to enjoy your hot tub during the summer months then a few changes to the way that you use it can introduce a whole new range of lifestyle benefits. From hot tub parties to somewhere to relax after a hard day at work, your hot tub in summer is a great place to be.

Hot tubs have a whole range of health and lifestyle benefits. However, it’s easy to forget that these exist when the temperatures outside are rising – in fact many people waste their hot tubs during the summer by simply putting the cover on. The reality is that if you have a hot tub at home there’s a lot that it can add to your day-to-day experience all year round. So, how can you make a few changes to use your hot tub this summer?

Hot tubs don’t have to be hot

In the winter there is nothing better than getting into a toasty warm hot tub and allowing the heat to soothe and relax your body. In the summer you might already be warm enough and wondering how to use your hot tub when the temperatures are high. The answer is simple enough – just turn it down. Most hot tubs have more than one temperature setting and if you reduce yours to 85F then the water can be a much more pleasant experience. There are other ways to make your hot tub cooler too. For example you can run the hot tub with the cover off and the air jets on – or you could even add ice. Thanks to the insulation in most hot tubs once the water is cool it will stay that way until you turn the temperature back up.

Using your ‘cool tub’ in summer

Once you’ve found the right way to reduce the temperature in your hot tub to make it cooler there are lots of great options for enjoying it throughout the summer.

• Start your day with a dip. Summer days are always cooler first thing in the morning and your hot tub is the ideal place in which to make the most of this. Grab a coffee and enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet before the day begins.
• Use your hot tub to recover. Both heat and cold have been shown to have a positive impact on the body, especially when it comes to supporting recovery, whether that’s from a heavy session in the gym or an injury. Many of us ramp up our activities and exercise in spring and summer – the muscle relaxing, circulation boosting impact of your hot tub could be a great way to help ensure that you’re ready for each new session.
• Essential family time. Even during the summer holidays it can still be difficult to get everyone together and share some quality time. A hot tub is the ideal space for this as it’s convenient, fun and the water means that phones and devices have to be left at a distance. Arrange regular hot tub time with your family to share some quality moments – allow everyone to invite some friends if you want to make it super sociable.

A hot tub has many uses during the summer. Simply turn the water temperature down to accommodate the change in atmosphere and adapt the way you enjoy your hot tub to take into account the weather outside.

Your hot tub is a great way to relax and enjoy a range of lifestyle benefits at any time of year. Many people assume that the summer months are too warm to get the most out of a hot tub but that’s not the case. In fact, it’s at this time of year that there are even more opportunities to use a home spa for social or spontaneous fun. These are our tips on how to make sure that you get the most from your hot tub during the summer months too.

Enjoy a cooler experience

During the winter most hot tubs tends to be set to a minimum of 98 degrees but you don’t have to maintain this temperature during the summer months as well. Your hot tub will have a lower temperature setting and turning this down to around 80 degrees will mean that the water is cooler. Your hot tub might even allow you to turn the heater off completely and just make the most of the water jets in the hot tub instead.

Set up your space for summer

If your hot tub is outside then you might want to make a few changes for the warmer months. For example, investing in a large shade or canopy will ensure that you can enjoy the water without the risk of getting sunburned. There are also lots of accessories available that can help you make the most of your hot tub in summer, whether that’s a pack of water proof playing cards, a music system or spa pillows.

Keep everything clean and well maintained

It’s important to stick to your cleaning and maintenance schedule throughout the summer and to ensure that you take into account the additional challenges at this time of year. For example, try to ensure that anyone using the hot tub rinses off suntan lotion or oil before getting into the water. This isn’t always possible so it’s important to keep treating the water in your hot tub with the right chemicals, such as chlorine or bromine so that your filters don’t get clogged. Regularly change the water in your spa and if you’ve had the filter for some time it might be worth getting this changed before the summer starts.

Look into a better cover

Especially at the end of the summer falling leaves can be a real issue, not just in terms of clogging up mechanisms but also when it comes to keeping the water in your hot tub clean and clear. Investing in a new cover is a great way to ensure that your hot tub is as energy efficient as possible (it will preserve heat) and also stays clear of floating debris. Check that the cover itself remains in good condition and isn’t getting waterlogged – if that’s the case then you can flip it over and leave it to dry out in the sun.

Summer is a fantastic time to have a hot tub. With a few changes to the way that you use your hot tub you can enjoy it all year round.

Despite all the recent storms and bad weather we have turned the corner to spring and there are signs that the warmer months are coming. For many of us that means shedding winter layers and getting ourselves ready to enjoy all the fun and sunshine of the summer. A hot tub can be a useful tool for helping you to feel like you’re ready to make this transition, particularly when it comes to a seasonal detox.

Looking great starts with feeling good

Winter tends to be a season when we all overindulge. Christmas treats can easily stray over into the new year and by spring you might be feeling like your system is sluggish and in serious need of a detox. There are lots of ways that you can do this, including introducing more exercise, fruit and vegetables into your diet. If you’re looking to make this gradual shift to a healthier lifestyle in time for summer then a hot tub can help to support you – and speed up the detox process.

Using a hot tub for a regular detox

• Make sure you have a shower before you get into the hot tub. In fact, many people find that exfoliating before you enjoy time in a hot tub can make it a much more effective detox experience. Use a body scrub or massage mitt to remove dead skin cells so that you’re clean and ready to detox when you actually get into the water.
• Enjoy the sweating process. The heat in the water of the hot tub will make you start to sweat and it’s at this point that your body starts to detox. Sweat is the most effective way for the body to remove toxins from your system so sit back, relax and let it happen.
• Drink plenty of water. As you’re losing liquids through the sweating process you’ll need to make sure that you replace these. That means drinking plenty of water, both when you’re in the hot tub and also when you get out afterwards.
• Use the hydrotherapy to feel better. That might mean aiming one of the massage jets at an area of your body that feels tight or stiff or simply using the heat of the water to stretch out.
• Shower off when you get out. As you will have been sweating out all those impurities while in the hot tub it’s important to make sure that you shower off when you get out. If you want to increase the impact of the experience a cold shower can be very effective.
• Detox on a regular basis. The best way to get the most from a detox to get ready for summer is to do it regularly. Your body will benefit from a hot tub detox session every couple of weeks.

Now is a great time to start thinking about how a regular detox session in your hot tub can help to get you ready for the summer months.

Getting a hot tub is a goal for many people this year. Your own hot tub at home offers a lot of opportunities for lifestyle improvement, whether you’re looking to be more sociable or find new ways to relax. If a hot tub is on your list for 2020 these are our top 5 reasons why you should go ahead and invest.

1. There are lots of health benefits

Health and wellness are top priorities right now, whether you’re a stressed Millennial or a parent looking for a space for essential me time. The health benefits of a hot tub can help with everything, from improving your sleep to providing respite from a busy life. For example, a 20-minute session in a hot tub before you go to bed could help you to sleep better and will improve circulation. It can also be a great place to meditate or dial down the stress with some relaxing music or your favourite podcast. Plus, the warmth of the water, combined with the pressure from the jets, can help to ease aches and pains in joints and muscles.

2. You’ll be more popular

Not everyone has a hot tub. Many people simply don’t have the space for one, others can’t afford it or won’t be able to maintain it. But that doesn’t mean that they won’t want to use yours. If you’re keen to be more sociable in 2020 a hot tub is a great idea for your home. You can have regular sessions with friends, time alone with a loved one or family time where smartphones, games consoles and TVs are all out of reach.

3. Your home will increase in value

Of course it depends on the property but many people have seen the asking price on their home go up as a result of having a hot tub. It can be the distinguishing factor and many buyers are willing to pay more to have a hot tub that they haven’t had to install themselves. In fact, some hot tub owners have seen as much as £10,000 added to the value of the property from a £4,000 hot tub.

4. Your garden will look great

If you’re looking to create an enjoyable outside space that is a real asset to your property there’s no substitute for a hot tub. Modern designs look fantastic and can add a lot to aesthetic, as well as enjoyment.

5. Hydrotherapy is a powerful resource

If you have a hot tub at home then the benefits of hydrotherapy are literally available on your doorstep. Hydrotherapy is used for a range of different purposes, from helping athletes to recover from events and races to promoting healing after injuries or simply adding value to your workout routine. To benefit from improved circulation and the healing properties of hydrotherapy you just need to spend 10-20 minutes in your hot tub on a regular basis.

These are some very good reasons to bring a hot tub into your life this year.

A decade ago the answer to this question might have been yes. However, today – thanks to advances in technology and a more energy efficient approach – it doesn’t have to be expensive to have a hot tub at home. This is everything that you need to know about the cost of running a hot tub.

Different hot tubs use energy differently

The amount of energy that your hot tub uses will largely determine how much it costs to run. There are many different variables involved in this, including the size of the hot tub that you choose, the climate where you live and how well insulated the hot tub model is that you opt for. Whether the hot tub has a well fitting cover is also another key consideration. For any hot tub you will see a small uplift in your electricity costs – this could be as little as £20 a month.

Factors that affect the cost of running a hot tub

• How often you use it. The more you use the hot tub the more energy it will need to supply and this tends to use more electricity.
• The quality of the hot tub and the extent to which it is maintained. If you buy a good quality hot tub that is well insulated and has a well designed cover it should use less energy. Regularly maintaining it, for example ensuring filters are kept clean, will also mean the hot tub doesn’t have to work harder to function.
• Changing the water too often. Depending on the model you may need to drain the hot tub and then refill it two or three times a year. Each time you do this it will cause a small increase in the cost of the electricity required to heat up the new pool of water. If you change the water more often than this – or have a model that requires more regular draining – then your electricity bills will be higher.
• The size of the hot tub. As you might expect, more energy is required to power a larger hot tub than a smaller one. However, this shift is not as dramatic as you might expect. For example, a hot tub that is almost twice the size might cost just an additional £10 to run per month.

How can you keep the costs of running a hot tub down?

As well as regularly cleaning and maintaining your hot tub and buying an efficient model, there are other ways to keep running costs down. For example, don’t turn the hot tub off when it is not in use. It’s much more efficient to keep the hot tub running at a lower temperature between uses than to turn it off completely and then require the whole system to heat up again every time you want to use it. The right cover can also make a huge difference – if it’s well fitted and robust it will stop heat escaping, which means it’s easier to maintain a constant temperature.

Your hot tub doesn’t have to cost a lot to run – there ways to ensure that you get to enjoy it efficiently.

The word “chemicals” may not seem to be synonymous with health and wellness. However, a hot tub that hasn’t been properly treated can be a very dangerous place for the human body. Even if you’re looking for the most natural possible experience with your hot tub it will still be important to ensure that you have the right mix of chemicals in there to keep you safe. As with everything, it’s always possible to strike a balance that works for you.

A hot tub without chemicals – what are the risks?

The average hot tub is usually kept at a temperature of around 25-40°C – this creates optimum conditions for fungi and bacteria to thrive, both of which can be highly detrimental for humans. If you decided to use your hot tub without any chemicals at all the water would soon become green and there could be a whole range of unfortunate – and dangerous – health consequences.

A hot tub sanitiser is essential

Chlorine is the most popular option for hot tubs and there is a very good reason for this – it’s a cheap and effective way to sanitise your hot tub and make sure that the water in it is safe for you, your friends, family and guests to use. It’s also an incredibly fast acting sanitiser so it will start working very quickly and provide protection almost straight away. However, not everyone likes using chlorine. You may be allergic to this chemical or you may have had a bad experience in the past – if so there are other options. It’s worth noting that if you feel like you’ve had problems with chlorine elsewhere, for example at a public pool, this may not necessarily be the chlorine itself but could be another issues, such as a PH imbalance or too little chlorine in the water leading to a bacterial infection.

What are the alternatives to chlorine?

If you’re really not keen on chlorine in your hot tub there are two main alternatives:

• Bromine. This chemical comes from the same family as chlorine but tends to be a little softer on the skin and isn’t quite as fast acting. Although Bromine is usually more expensive than chlorine it will regenerate every time the water is shocked so you may need less of it. Bromine is also very effective in hotter water, which is ideal for a hot tub.
• Salt. If you’re looking for a more natural option, salt systems are a great choice. These use sodium chloride in the water to create chlorine to sanitise it.

Every hot tub requires some kind of system in place to ensure that the water is clean and you are protected from bacteria and fungi. However, there is no need to use harsh chemicals in your hot tub and with the right approach you can keep the use of chemicals to a minimum. The key is to ensure that you have just enough to provide sanitising protection for you and everyone you plan to share the hot tub with.

New year, new you – new hot tub? It’s the time of year when many of us are looking for new ideas and making an investment in a hot tub is a great way to bring something fresh into your routines in 2020. If you’re planning to buy a hot tub this year then there are five things you need to do first.

1. Go and see some hot tubs

You don’t have to buy your hot tub from a showroom but it’s often a good idea to visit one first so that you can get an idea of dimensions, style and the models that you prefer. Especially if you’re investing a lot of resources into a hot tub purchase it’s essential to research it properly first.

2. Work out where you’re going to put it

In particular, it’s important to ensure that you have a good, stable, level base for the hot tub. If you’re planning to put the hot tub on grass then you’ll need to rethink this, as it’s not an appropriate surface for a number of reasons (e.g. potential sinking). Decking can work as long as it’s strong enough to handle the weight but for most hot tubs a solid, 4-inch thick (minimum) concrete base is often the best choice.

3. Make sure you can get it there

This is the element of buying a hot tub that many people don’t consider until it’s too late – how are you going to get the hot tub into position? Most hot tubs come fully constructed, which means that you’ll need to ensure there is enough access, in terms of width and height, to get the hot tub to where it needs to be. This may mean removing some fence panels, for example, or using a crane to lower the hot tub over a roof and into position. All of this needs to be considered, and planned for, in advance.

4. Get detailed when it comes to the specifications

In particular, how many jets and pumps do you want the hot tub to have? The number and quality of pumps in a hot tub will have a direct impact on performance – investing in a well engineered system can not only increase the experience you have of the hot tub but its longevity too. Jets are also an important consideration – more jets doesn’t necessary mean a better hot tub but it’s worth looking at how many jets you want and where you want them to be.

5. How do you want to use the hot tub?

This is particularly relevant when it comes to the type of seating you opt for. For example, if it’s just for you and a partner then two lounger seats could be ideal. But if you’re planning to have friends and family over you might want a hot tub with more seats and in an upright design.

Buying a hot tub is an exciting time – these top tips will help you to ensure that you’re ready.

Everyone takes a slightly different approach when it comes to their hot tub. In terms of best practice, just like a car, it’s a good idea to ensure that you do get your hot tub serviced. This will not only guarantee that everything is working well in terms of all the component parts but also provide early warning of issues that could be potentially costly if left unchecked further down the line. So, although you don’t necessarily need to get your hot tub serviced in order to carry on using it, if you want to make sure that you get the most out of it then this can be a good idea.

What type of hot tub needs to be serviced?

The short answer is: all of them. The level of servicing that your hot tub needs will depend on a range of factors, such as the type of hot tub you have, where it is positioned and how old it is. It will also be contingent on how much time you have available personally when it comes to carrying out the maintenance and repairs that could prolong the life of your hot tub.

What type of servicing should you opt for?

There are many different ways to approach servicing for a hot tub. An annual service is often a fairly standard choice. This will apply a number of key standards to your hot tub, enabling a professional to come in every 12 months and check water quality and electrical terminals, as well as examining the plumbing and all the key components of the hot tub. This type of service will also usually involve flushing the hot tub through so that any biofilm is removed and then cleaning and refilling it. An engineer performing this type of annual service will also be able to provide advice, for example when it comes to reducing running costs or what you can do to help increase the life of your hot tub.

When should you increase the frequency of servicing?

As a hot tub gets older there are definite benefits to investing in a more frequent service – although many people do choose to do this from the start to keep a new hot tub fresh. Committing to servicing at shorter intervals may reduce the cost of each individual service and could include a number of additional benefits, such as free cover or drain replacement. If your hot tub is just about to come out of its warranty period then a servicing plan can be a great idea because it will provide essential cover that you may no longer get from a manufacturer once the warranty has come to an end.

If you want to ensure that you get the most out of an investment in a hot tub then it’s important to make sure that it’s serviced regularly. The type of servicing plan that you opt for will depend on your budget, the hot tub itself and the time you have available to look after it yourself.