Category Archives: Hot Tub

You have decided to purchase a new hot tub for you and the family to enjoy! You have done all the research and made all the pertinent choices regarding the amount of seats you prefer and the jet layout that you like. You’ve also decided on the accessories that fit your lifestyle, such as audio and visual components. You are now ready to get your hot tub delivered. What exactly do you need to do to prepare for the delivery and installation of your spa?

You may have considered this before purchasing your hot tub. The decision on where to locate your new hot tub is a very important consideration in deciding what type and size of hot tub you will ultimately purchase.

Whether you choose to install your hot tub inside or outside, there are things to consider, such as ease of access to and from your hot tub. Do you want to place your spa in the back yard and navigate along a pathway that you can light up that looks exceptional, while maximizing your privacy or would you prefer to have it closer to the house in order to eliminate that walk? Either way, you will need to make sure that you can get all the electrical components and hook ups to the spot as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.

You will also need to have a pad on which to place the new unit which will be fully able to support the weight of the spa when filled with water. If your installer does not include that as part of the package you have purchased, be sure to have a qualified contractor come in to do the job properly and to the specifications required by the hot tub manufacturer. This is important as the warranty for the spa may indicate that the installation process conforms to the manufacturers standards in order to be enforceable.

A good contractor can also help you if you decide to have a deck or some other structure like a gazebo built around your spa to enhance the visual appeal of the hot tub or to provide you a bit of privacy if you live close to other homes.

After you have your base in place and the electrical hook ups are all ready and waiting, the spa will be installed and you can sit back and enjoy a dip in your new hot tub.

Anyone who has used a hot tub knows there is nothing as relaxing as the feel of the warm water and jets soothing your sore muscles and joints. The jets apply the right amount of pressure to make the whole body feel relaxed and stress free. What some do not realize or are unaware of is that those suffering from common aliments can significantly benefit by using a hot tub.

One of the most common aliments in our society today is diabetes. Type 2 diabetes or adult onset diabetes is a rapidly growing and strikes all too many individuals in North America. The regimen of care necessary to treat diabetes stresses that circulation is of primary importance and many diabetes patients sufferer from a lack of circulation in the lower extremities.

While the joyful experience of soaking in a hot tub can and does help with circulation, the diabetes sufferer also has to be aware of how long they spend in the water, as well as the temperature that they are setting the hot tub to as well. If these simple cautions are adhered to, the diabetes sufferer can benefit greatly from the hot tub and a regular regimen that includes time spent in one.

A recent study has shown that diabetes sufferers between the ages of 43-68 years who spent 30 minutes per day, six days a week for a period of six weeks actually lost weight and dramatically reduced their insulin intake, while experiencing better sleep.

The soothing waters of a hot tub are a great way to improve overall health quality, not just for sufferers of diabetes or other ailments. Statistics show that improved blood and cardiovascular circulation are a primary driver in overall good health, especially for heart health.

While the relaxation factor is the driving force behind the purchase of most hot tubs, the added value that one gets from the many health benefits make the decision to install a hot tub in your home seem even smarter and more forward thinking from a health perspective.

Many people have made the choice to buy a hot tub for the benefits that are the most obvious, such as the soothing hot water that alleviates strained muscles and joint pain. What many people fail to realize is that you can get a very decent full body workout in a hot tub despite the space limitations.

The long understood benefits of exercising while immersed in water have been acknowledged for generations. The resistance that the water creates can help to build and strengthen muscle mass and help to prevent injury through the buoyancy created by the water.

The benefits realized are the primary reason that many spas and physiotherapy clinics have hot tubs.

Learning even a few of the countless exercises that can be performed in a hot tub can help with ailments, such as diabetes and other circulatory afflictions by helping to increase the blood flow in the body, especially to the lower extremities.

Performing a simple aerobic routine while in the hot tub with actions that use the resistance of the water instead of heavy weights is a great way to get a full body workout without the harmful effects that a high impact workout can cause.

Almost any exercise that you can perform in a full size swimming pool, other than laps, can be performed in a hot tub. There are many aqua fitness routines available on the Internet that are great to use as a template for your exercise routine.

Simply choose a set of exercises that is right for you, while taking into consideration the space you have to work with and you will find that you can get as good or even a better workout in the hot tub. Simply adjust your exercises to fit the space you are in and realize the true health benefits of owning your hot tub.

The only thing worse than getting into a hot tub that is too hot is getting into one that is too cold! So what is the right water temperature for hot tub? It really depends on your personal preference for the most part.

The boundaries that most hot tubs have with regard to temperature are between the very high point of 40 degrees Celsius and a lower range of about seven degrees before the pumps and jets kick in to prevent the tub from freezing. Most likely, nobody would want to sit in a hot tub in the seven degree range. At the other end of the spectrum, 40 degrees is the industry agreed maximum as anything higher can lead to potential health hazards.

Studies have shown that, for the most part, women will prefer a temperature that is slightly higher than men prefer. Of course, that is not always the case, but generally that is true. Women usually prefer a temperature around 38-39 degrees, not far off the mark of the maximum setting on the majority of hot tubs.

Many hot tub installers will tell you that when they install a spa and set it for the first time, they generally set the temperature to 38 degrees. This is the temperature that seems to be the most comfortable to enter into and allows for the temperature drop that hot tubs will experience when people enter into the hot tub.

The ability to lower the temperature in the very hot summer months is a great benefit as well. There is nothing that says you have to keep the temperature at the highest level during the summer months. As long as you maintain the water as you would normally, there is no reason why you cannot lower the temperature and enjoy your hot tub like a small cooling pool during the summer. You could reap the benefits of cooling down all the while saving on heating costs!

The fact of the matter is there is no one size fits all temperature that will please everyone. Your personal preference is what matters after all. Choose the temperature that works best for you, your family, and friends. Your comfort is the best answer to the question!

There is probably nothing worse than going to enjoy your hot tub or spa with friends or family, then you pull off the cover and find that the water is less than appealing in either smell or texture.

It is probably something every hot tub owner has experienced at one time or another, such as milky, foamy or exceptionally cloudy water. Furthermore, at times, you can’t figure out exactly what is causing the issue.

Depending on what you are experiencing, there is usually a pretty definitive explanation for what is occurring.

If your water is exceptionally cloudy and seems to have a whole lot of very small particles floating in the water, there are a variety of reasons for this occurrence. It may caused by insoluble particles suspended in the water, dead algae particles, organic debris or even detritus from a poorly running filter.

The best way to deal with this issue is to check your filter to be sure that it is running properly as this is the first suspect, especially when the water has particles floating. Be sure to clean the filter or even replace it if you suspect that they are performing less than optimally. You can also check and ensure that the balance of the water is correct with regard to PH levels and be sure to check your sanitizer level as well as this can be the cause of this symptom as well. You can also try and perform a full shock of the water with a non chlorine shock. As a last resort, empty the hot tub and begin again. While this may seem extreme, sometimes it is the best way to go, especially if the usage has been very heavy.

If you find the water to be very milky, while lacking the particles mentioned above, you can try the same techniques described earlier, while omitting the clarifier as it’s not necessary.

The easiest one to pin down is the foamy water issue. The primary cause of the water to become foamy and leave a greasy type film on the edge of the waterline is the interaction between the deodorants, make up and detergents on bathing suits and the chemicals in the hot tub.

The simplest way of dealing with this is to have your guests take a quick shower before jumping in the hot tub. This may seem like a pain, but the hassles it causes down the road can be limited by this simple process. You can also use an enzyme based product to counteract the reaction. Both of these are preferable to using products like No Foam as these types of products are simply a quick fix rather than a long term solution.

A common question as the weather begins to turn is what to do if you get snow on your hot tub cover. The biggest fear people have is how much weight can the hot tub cover take. There are different ways to approach this question and they are determined mainly by the type of cover you have for your spa. Of course, a mesh cover will perform differently both a solid cover and a safety cover. There is a general rule of thumb for snow on the cover which is if there is only a foot or two of snow, the cover should have no problem holding that amount. However, If you get to the two to three feet of snow, you should stay clam but begin to take notice. If you get over three feet, you should definitely take some action.

As we said above, there are different things to consider depending on the type of cover you have to protect you pool or spa. If you have solid type covers the best thing to do is simply let nature takes its course and let the snow melt over time. You can invest in a cover pump that will remove the melted water, but there is not much else to do overall. The cover should hold the snow reasonably well.

A safety cover may look as though it will break from the weight of the snow but there really is not much you can do other than wait for the snow to melt and then pump the water off just as you would with a solid cover. The main reason to avoid trying to shovel the snow off the cover is that you can cause much more damage to the cover.

For some people, a soft tub is the ideal choice for a hot tub. One of the greatest advantages with the soft tub is its portability. While the materials are considered to be soft, they are extremely strong and some of the additional advantages, such as its ability to be able to be installed easily in a limited amount of space.

For those that are on the go, perhaps travelling between their main home and summer home, taking the soft tub with them should pose no problem. Some individuals that have a large balcony have soft tubs installed in because the weight allows them to do so.

Once it decided that the soft tub is the best choice for you, you are going to find that there are some great choices available to you. If you are a couple that is looking for just a high quality smaller version of a hot tub, a small two-seater soft tub is a great solution.

Aside from the size and portability, there are some other great reasons for choosing the soft tub. Most often, they are used in small areas.

Energy efficiency is important with any type of hot tub, including soft tubs. Although, soft tubs are lightweight and soft, you can count on it being weather resistant. It can take both the heat and the cold, as well as the warm sunshine or the rainy weather quite easily. Keeping the soft tub clean is never an issue as it has an automatic cleaning system built into it.

There is never any reason for any individual or family to have to do without the benefits of a hot tub as the soft tub is the perfect alternative.

When one develops a cold, along with it comes several unpleasant symptoms. There is the stuffed up nose, the runny eyes, and sometimes a fever and a cough. In addition to this, it’s not uncommon for people to become dehydrated while they’re fighting off their cold.

Those that have made use of a hot tub when suffering with a cold often find that they generally feel better. This is because the hot tub helps you relax to relieve the aches and pains that can come with a cold. What some researchers are suggesting is that the hot tub can actually even create a slight fever when someone is entering into a cold. They consider this as a good symptom as it helps to fight the cold virus much quicker. This low grade fever produced by a hot tub boosts the immune system, which helps to fight off the germs and viruses that can come with a cold.

Many types of colds and flu’s also come with general aches and pains where some people complain of being sore all over. The hot water from the hot tub helps to increase the blood circulation, which in turn provides nutrients to the muscles and allows them to relax.

One of the most frustrating complaints of a cold is the congestion that comes with it. Many people have difficulty breathing, eating or sleeping properly when they are suffering with a cold. Some find that when they enter the hot tub, the warm steam filled air that it releases helps to loosen up the nasal passage, improving breathing.

There is no doubt that a cold can hinder sleep but the hot tub can promote a more restful night of sleep.

The best way to get the most out of your hot tub in the cold and flu season is to use the hot tub as soon as you feel sick. At the very least, you are going to feel relaxed, warm and soothed, which is going to put you in a better frame of mind to be able to fight the cold that is oncoming.

Hydrotherapy has been provided by hot springs that were found in nature for a very long time. These are not nearly as readily available as they once were, and where they are located often means a great deal of travel to get to them. With the introduction of hot tubs, travel is no longer necessary. Any individual can enjoy the benefits of what hydrotherapy has to offer in the comfort of their own home.

While every hot tub owner has their list of favourites when it comes to the advantages that a hot tub has to offer, one of the major ones is its ability to act as a stress reliever. There’s just something about being able to soak in warm circulating water that seems to remove all the stress that one is feeling both mentally and emotionally. As the blood vessels respond to the heat, it can actually help with relaxation. Muscles that have become tight as a response to stress begin to relax almost immediately after being subjected to the warmth of the water. Most will report that they get immediate pain relief when entering the hot tub after a mere few moments.

There are some very common medical conditions that the hot tub provides exceptional treatment for. These include arthritis, diabetes, and back pain. When it comes to diabetes, there is a study done several years back that indicates that blood sugar levels are reduced in those who suffered from diabetes and utilized a hot tub for 30 minutes a day on a six day per week basis.

One of the most common complaints when it comes to medical ailments is chronic back pain. There have been studies to show that the hot tub is a great resource for helping to reduce the pain that is created with this ailment.

Added to this is that many report that they find that their sleep patterns are much better after making use of their hot tub. They find that they get a more peaceful and deeper sleep as well as a longer one. Finally, there is the quality family time that can be spent in the hot tub and it acts as a great social venue for entertaining.