Author Archives: Christina Mantoura

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.

If, like many other people at this time of year, you’re currently focused on losing weight, having access to a hot tub could help you achieve your goals. There are many benefits to shedding pounds, from improving your confidence to increasing sporting ability and general enjoyment of life. It’s essential to take a healthy and gentle approach to weight loss so that it’s sustainable, and a hot tub can help you to do that.

Losing weight with a hot tub

It is actually possible to burn calories simply from using a hot tub – for example, you’ll burn 3% more calories from a hot tub than you would by sitting on the sofa. However, these direct weight loss benefits are relatively modest compared to the other ways in which a hot tub can support you on your weight loss journey.

Using a hot tub for exercise

The resistance created by the water in a hot tub can significantly increase the impact of any exercise that you do while you’re in it. The buoyancy of the water supports your muscles too so there is much less chance of injury. Try yoga in a hot tub or opt for a homemade work out including exercises such as bicycle crunches and calf raises.

Getting better sleep

As anyone knows who has ever tried to remain motivated after a night of insomnia, sleep has a huge part to play in how committed you can be to a healthier lifestyle. Lack of sleep has been found to contribute to an increased appetite, as well as cravings for sugary snacks, which can make it difficult to remain within weight loss goals. Plus, lack of sleep can leave you feeling too tired to train. However, if you’re able to spend 15 minutes in a hot tub each evening you can prepare your body for sleep and enjoy a better night’s rest as a result.

Minimising stress and maximising effort

Stress hormones, such as cortisol, can destabilise plans for healthier living, for example by interrupting sleep patterns and increasing the potential for stress eating. Cortisol has also been linked to increased body fat and reduced muscle building. In a hot tub the combination of hot water and targeted hydrotherapy jets helps to relax muscles and slow breathing, gradually bringing cortisol levels down.

Recovery and reward

For most people, getting in shape involves a combination of diet changes as well as a new exercise regime. Any form of increase in physical activity can cause aches and pains that may make you feel like you don’t want to get back to the gym/running track etc for the next session. The warmth of a hot tub increases blood flow around the body, stimulating recovery and repair and can be very effective as part of a healing and cooling recovery process. It’s also a motivational and calorie free reward – looking forward to a hot tub session is a great way to push through your next workout.

These are just some of the ways in which a hot tub can help you with your weight loss journey this year.

When it comes to new year resolutions those that relate to health and fitness tend to be the most popular. If you opted to set these goals for yourself in 2020 then you’re not alone, as millions of other people have also decided that this is the year to get fitter, slimmer and be more active. Unfortunately, the failure rates for new year resolutions tend to be high – up around the 80 – 90%. However, if you have access to a hot tub then you have a secret weapon that will enable you to better achieve your goals this year. Here’s how:

BRINGING YOUR STRESS LEVELS DOWN

Stress has a generally negative impact on the human body and this is especially so when it comes to what we eat. The release of cortisol during a stressful situation may cause you to start craving high fat, high calorie foods, which can do a lot of damage to a carefully managed diet. If your cortisol levels remain consistently high then this can prevent new muscle being built and cause the body to store more fat in response. Soaking in a hot tub for just 15 minutes a day can significantly reduce stress levels. It will slow your breathing, relax muscles and help to slow down or stop the release of cortisol as your anxiety fades away.

ENCOURAGING RECOVERY FROM INJURY

When you take on a new exercise regime it can cause a lot of new aches and pains and you may even find that you end up injured. A hot tub could form an essential part of the process of preparing for, and recovering from, exercise. The warmth of the water means that capillaries and blood vessels dilate and blood flows more freely around the body, which can speed up recovery, as well as getting your muscles warm for activity. You’re also much less likely to try to avoid your next exercise session as a result of aches and pains from the last one.

IMPROVING QUALITY OF SLEEP

We all know what it feels like when you wake up after a bad night’s sleep – you’re tired, cranky and hungry. Lack of sleep can spike cortisol levels and result in lots of cravings that will ruin new year resolution diets. Sleep deprivation causes the body to release more ghrelin, which is the hormone that makes you hungry so if you’re not sleeping then you will struggle to stick to those goals. A hot tub session each night before you go to bed can help to combat this. Hot water helps the body to relax and get ready to wind down for the night. It’s often a much more effective way to switch off at the end of a hard day than having a glass of wine, which can add calories and actually keep you awake.

If you’ve set new year resolutions that revolve around health and wellness for 2020 there is plenty that you can use your hot tub for to help you achieve these positive goals.