Category Archives: Hot Tub

After picking out the perfect hot tub for your family, the right amount of hydrotherapy jets, the placement of those jets, entertainment options, such as a TV and music player, the final decision is where to place your spa for the best possible experience.

Do you want to place it outside and take advantage of that beautiful view, while relaxing in comfort or do you prefer to put it in a dedicated room inside for ease of use in all weather conditions? There are limitless options as to where you can put a hot tub, but there are some things to consider that may make the decision a little easier.

If you have an existing pool or swim spa, you may want to position the hot tub to take advantage of the existing plumbing hook ups. The same can be said if you prefer to install the spa in the house. Consider exactly where the plumbing is in your house to determine if the hot tub would be better situated in one location or another.

No matter where you decide to place your hot tub, you will need to understand that you require ample space around the hot tub, so that you will be able to fully service the spa whenever necessary. Keeping that in mind when laying out your plan will make life a lot easier in the long run.

You also have to fully consider the space required to house the support system of the hot tub, which includes the air blower, the water pump, filter and all other plumbing and hardware required.

If you decide that you want to take advantage of the pristine views offered in your back yard or from your deck, you will have to take in to account if there are any trees or other fauna that may fall into the hot tub when uncovered for prolonged periods.

It is wonderful to sit outside no matter the weather and enjoy the benefits of your spa, but you will curse the tree that continually drops leaves into your spa. So, ensure that you have fully considered all the variables when making your choice of location, whether inside or out. Safety and ease of use should be major considerations in making that choice.

By planning to use existing plumbing and electrical lines you can dramatically reduce the cost of your installation. All of these things need to be fully understood and considered before making a choice and when they are your experience will be that much easier and much more enjoyable in the long run.

If you are thinking about buying a hot tub, there are few things to consider before visiting a hot tub store to buy your spa. Some of the things you will need to consider are quite obvious, while others are not so obvious. One of the primary considerations is the actual size of the hot tub. How many people would you like to accommodate and will that size hot tub fit into the space you have reserved for the installation? This is probably the most important issue to resolve from the outset.

It really doesn’t matter how many people you want to accommodate if your space dictates that you can only fit a certain size hot tub into your space, so figure this out first. Another crucial aspect to consider is comfort. Sit in the hot tubs you like and that will fit your space to determine if they meet your requirements for foot space and seating depth. The requirements are dramatically different for a person who is 6ft 6″ versus a person who is 5ft 5″. Check if the controls are easily accessible. Check for ease of entry and exit. Ask if they have cushioned headrests. Explore what basic options are the most important to you and your family before making a decision.

Another major consideration in a hot tub purchase is the number of jets for hydrotherapy. The amount of jets alone does not equate to a good hot tub. The placement, adjustability and variety of the jets are of equal importance when selecting a good hot tub. Strongly consider if your hot tub is built by a reliable manufacturer with an excellent and long established record of safety and durability. Check to see if the hot tub is backed by a warranty that covers you fully.

Once you have reviewed some of these vital details, look at some of the fun options. Do you want a built in music system or TV? Check to see if the hot tub is self cleaning and energy efficient. You want to take this into consideration as it will save you money in the long run. The easier the hot tub is the better as you will have more time to enjoy your spa.

It should go without saying that you will want a hot tub manufacturer and installer who considers safety a primary factor and will ensure that your tub and installation complies with all safety and bylaw issues that are necessary for your area. Be sure to do your homework before hand and it will ensure that you have many years of fun and leisure.

Most likely, if you have invested in a quality hot tub, it has been designed to conserve energy, but you can enhance its efficiency with a few small steps. What you really want to focus on is preserving the heat of your hot tub. Let’s take a look at how you can achieve this.

Your hot tub cover:

Since heat rises, you want to focus on conserving the heat of the hot tub at this level. This you can be achieved with a well made hot tub cover. With a quality spa, you won’t have to be concerned about losing heat through its shell.

You need to check your spa cover to make sure it hasn’t been subjected to wear and tear where it is no longer performing at its peak. Usually, when heat leaks occur it is at the hinge fold and around the rims. Perhaps, the sealing qualities have been compromised by age.

The other thing to keep in mind is that if the cover is quite old, it may become water logged. This will be evident if you find that the cover seems to be getting heavier.

Proper placement of the cover is really important. Make sure to take the time to ensure that cover is in its proper position and, if necessary, use tie down straps to keep it in place and stop it from shifting.

Proper location:

Another big factor that can really help with your energy conservation efforts is where you place the hot tub for use, while creating a windbreak, if needed. Not only does this help with energy savings, but it provides a level of privacy. There are lots of options for windbreaks, such as shrubs, privacy panels, or even a spa enclosure.

Vacation settings:

If you are going to be away for a period of time, there is no need to keep your hot tub at its optimized setting. Most vacations are taken during the warmer months, so you can safely turn down the thermostat settings until you get back.

Finally, don’t forget to turn off the air jets, lights and blowers when you are not using the hot tub. All of these energy savings tips are small but are accumulative when it comes to saving on energy, which in turn saves you money.

As a hot tub owner, you know about all the great benefits that a hot tub has to offer. You have probably discovered how easy it is to maintain and this is partly thanks to your hot tub cover. In order to continue experiencing these great benefits, there are some steps that you can take regarding your hot tub cover maintenance that will really help to preserve it and extend its life.

It is going to depend on the type of cover that you are currently using, such as if it’s a hard cover or a soft vinyl cover.

If you have a vinyl cover, you will find that it is comprised of a PVC layer that is backed with fabric. To make the outer layer strong and weather resistant, it is usually top coated with special compounds called plasticizers. Then, softening agents are added to keep it soft and easy to work with.

Over time, this top coat can end up getting damaged, especially from UV rays. Although, some of the better quality hot tub vinyl covers have UV protectors built into them. You can seek out vinyl protection products that contain UV inhibitors that you can apply to enhance the protection of the cover. Just make sure that it is designed for use on hot tub covers. Many of these products that have been designed for this use allow it to be used on the underside of the cover as well to help protect against mildew.

One thing to really be on the lookout for is vinyl treatment products that contain any oils or petroleum distillates. These can be really harsh on vinyl. You also don’t want a product that leaves a coating that looks like dried wax.

While adding extra protection to your vinyl hot tub cover is important, so is the regular cleaning of it. You really should include this as part of your hot tub maintenance program. You can easily clean it with your garden hose and a quality vinyl cleaner. Make sure the run off is not entering the hot tub.

By taking good care of your vinyl hot tub cover you are extending its performance and longevity. This, in turn, is providing the ultimate protection for your hot tub.

Your hot tub is no doubt bringing you a great deal of enjoyment. Chances are, you are finding that you are spending a great deal more time outdoors thanks to your spa. Now, you may be considering enhancing the area of the hot tub and this brings to mind some decking installation.

Enhancing you hot tub area with decking is going to give you some exciting choices both in styles and materials. You really want to make sure that you make the choices that are going to best suit your needs.

You are soon going to find that your new deck is going to be an extension of your indoor living space. It will not only provide a great setting for your hot tub, but will be a place where you can sit and relax after enjoying a session in your tub. It will also be a great location for entertaining friends that have come to enjoy your hot tub with you.

There are so many different types of materials that decking is now comprised of. When it comes to the hardwoods, the favourite choices include teak, mahogany, redwood, cedar and cypress. There are some concerns about the over use of these woods as demand continues to grow. This is leading some to other alternatives, such as man made materials including composite and vinyl decking. Although these can be more expensive initially, they are low maintenance, which compensates for the extra cost. One issue that arises with composite decking is that it will age over time and tends to fade.

You want to pay particular attention to the decking you are going to use around your hot tub because it is going to be exposed to water. You also want to pay attention to the look and feel of the decking, so that it enhances your swim spa, but at the same time is comfortable to walk on. Aside from woods for the decking, you can also consider concrete or stone.

All of the decking materials have pros and cons, so you want to review each of these carefully when making your choice. It must possess all of the safety features like being slip resistant and easy to clean and maintain.

Not only do you have to decide on which decking materials you want, but you also have to consider the size and design. Once you have finished with your decision making and go ahead with your new decking plans, you will love the results and how it enhances your hot tub area.

Maintaining your hot tub should be simple and easy, while not taking up more than a few moments of your time when doing your maintenance. There are several different chemicals that you can use to keep your hot tub optimized and there are products that you can use to test the quality of the water, which are your test strips.

Being able to keep your hot tub in prime condition is going to depend on the information that your water analysis gives you. Some people prefer to use liquid test kits rather than the spa test strips simply because they feel that the liquid version is more accurate. However, technology is really advanced with the testing strips and they are now becoming one of the preferred methods for testing water. The reasons that many people like to use these strips is because they find it much easier and quicker to use, while being more economical when compared to the liquid test kits.

With the liquid test kits, you have to clean the equipment used for the testing before each use. You also have to know the formula of the liquids that you have to use. So, being able to use a test strip, which is requiring no more than dipping the strip into a sample of the water makes it an easy task.

The entire purpose of testing the hot tub water is to make sure that the water that the spa contains is fully balanced. You don’t want too much alkaline and you don’t want it to be too acidic. It also helps to determine how much sanitizer you need to use to keep the water free from bacteria and microorganisms.

When doing any adjustments to the water, the alkalinity should first be adjusted and then check the pH. This is because the total alkalinity will bring the pH into balance.

One of the newer products on the market when it comes to testing strips are those that will allow for the testing of bacteria. How often you need to test depends on the product that you are using to keep the bacteria levels down. If you are using bromine, you may want to check the water weekly, whereas if you’re using other products, you may only need to test twice a month. But, you need to follow the instructions on the product that you are using.

Using the test strip is really easy. All you need to do is let the hot tub water circulate for a few minutes and then take a sample of the water from the spa. You can use a clean plastic drinking glass for this. Then, you take the strip and dip it into the water, so that it is able to wet the test pad section on the strip.

Shake the strip lightly after taking it out of the water and then compare it against the colour comparisons on the chart that you will find on the bottle.

One thing that you want to be careful of is to make sure that you wash your hands before doing the test as the residue on your fingers could affect the test results. Also, make sure that you store the strips properly, so that you’re keeping them at room temperature and in a dry area. Don’t allow them to become exposed to direct sunlight or any moisture. In addition, these strips often have an expiry date on them, so make sure that you check the date and that you are using ones within the appropriate date.

Owners of hot tubs will tell you about the pure enjoyment it brings them time and time again. Some that are new to a hot tub may feel that it is not appropriate for use in the summer. Those that experienced make as much use of their hot tub during the hot weather as they do during the other seasons.

Once you have learned how to use your hot tub in the summer, you’re going to find that it is an amazing way to be able to cool down and get some relief from the humid and hot weather. All you need to do is go and turn the spa to the cool water mode and reduce the temperature to 85&less. If you want, you can turn your heater totally off.

You’re going to find that once you leave the cover off and keep the air jets running on your hot tub that the water temperature will soon begin to drop. Then, what you want to do to maintain the cooler temperature is to make sure that during the hot days, you keep the cover on the hot tub. In the evening, you can use the water features and the air jets, which will help to cool the water temperature more.

One thing that you’re going to discover is the insulation contained in the spa will help to maintain the lower temperature of the water from the night time through to the following day. With the cover on it, the spa will not absorb the heat from the sun. Many people love using their hot tub during the winter even if it is installed outdoors. You just want to ensure that you are getting to and from the hot tub as quickly as possible, so your body does not cool down too quickly.

Many people, when their hot tub installed, consider the winter use and make sure that it’s installed conveniently close to the home, so that they are going to be able to use it no matter how cold the weather is. A good quality hot tub has excellent insulation and with the use of a proper hot tub cover, the water can be maintained at a comfortable temperature. Using your hot tub all year round is really something that you want to take advantage of.

Most people that own a hot tub want to take advantage of it all year round. When the seasons change they often like to do some extra maintenance to really enhance its performance. Spring is one of the times where this takes place.

Chances are you have used your hot tub throughout the winter and in that case, you didn’t need to winterize it. However, now that spring is here, you want to give the hot tub a full flush. This means that you want to drain all of the water from your hot tub and replace it with fresh water. If you did close up your hot tub for the winter, you are going to need to perform a full system flush. If this is the case, you are going to want to make sure that all of the lines have been totally flushed out and your owner’s manual should tell you specifically how to do this.

This is also a great opportunity to do a full inspection on your hot tub. If you winterized your hot tub, now is the time that you’re going to reattach all the components before you flush the lines. While doing this, you want to inspect them to make sure they are in prime condition and there are no repairs that need to be done or parts that need to be replaced.

What you want to do is really focus on any parts that could leak and make sure that any areas that should normally be dry are not showing any signs of water. If you are in doubt at all, you really should call a professional to come in and do a full inspection of your hot tub for you.

This is also a great time where many people are anxious to get started with their gardening and it’s also the perfect time to clean up and enhance the area around your hot tub. This is also a good time for you to inspect your hot tub cover, give it a good cleaning, and check it for any needed repairs.

Checking your jets is going to be another area that you want to focus on. Then, once you have replaced all of the water in your hot tub, you are going to want to do your chemical balancing.

While all the steps are a little more than what you would normally have to do with your hot tub maintenance, it is well worth it.

Most people invest in a hot tub because of the therapeutic and relaxation benefits. They use it to reduce their stress and to relax at various times throughout the day. What many are discovering is that the hot tub is an excellent way to perform low impact exercises that are beneficial physically.

When first entering the hot tub, most people want to sit back, close their eyes and let the warm water sooth the body. Many are not aware that there are some great exercised you can perform in the hot tub.

Rolling the shoulders

As your stress begins to melt away and you relax, consider rolling your shoulders forward, then hold this position for about five seconds, then roll them backwards. Repeat this exercise five times.

Bicycle kicks

Sitting on the edge of the seat, while support your hands and arms on the top of the hot tub, lift your legs and pedal just like you would if you were riding a bicycle. Start slowly if you do not exercise regularly. Start by doing it for 30 seconds, then increase the amount of time with your ultimate goal being to work up to one minute.

Arm rotations

Immersing yourself back into the water of the hot tub, partially submerge your arms and roll them forward, then reverse the rotation, so you are rolling your arms backwards. Your ultimate goal is to build up to three sets.

Rotating your torso

This time you’re going to kneel on the floor of the hot tub making sure that your back is straight. Put your hands on your hips and tighten your abdominal muscles. Then, rotate from the waist side to side. Do five of these and increase the number each time you use your hot tub.

Thigh presses

While sitting in the hot tub, put your knees together. Now, put your hands on the outer part of your knees and push your knees against your hands. You should be able to feel this in your inner and outer thigh muscles. Do this three times.

Once you have completed your exercises, you want to sit back and relax once again. Not only is the stress going to melt away a but you are going to feel revitalized.