Category Archives: Swim Spa

Last week seven members of our team travelled to Budapest to attend the annual European sales training and Hydropool hot tubs & swim spa conference. What we didn’t expect was to return with our hands rather full…!

We are delighted to announce that we received the top two European awards available!

We are now officially the European Hot Tub & Swim Spa retailer of the Year 2015.

“This award recognises the Hydropool European Retailer who best combines extraordinary sales, consistent year in and year out performance, percentage sales increase, and market penetration. They have successfully applied Hydropool’s sales and marketing concepts to generate new and repeat business”

We were also one of only five European Hydropool retailers to receive the prestigious European Platinum award for customer service, marketing and excellence in sales! This award reflects our hard work and determination to continually achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction by breaking the mould in our customer service, marketing & sales techniques!

The hot tub and swim spa company are so pleased to know that all of the hard work that our team put in really is fulfilling our mission to create your everyday happiness!

Finally, a HUGE thank you to our incredible customers for supporting us and giving us inspiration everyday!

Once you have purchased your swim spa, you can look forward to many hours of enjoyment and relaxation. If you want to get the most out of your swim spa, your swim spa manual can give you the ultimate experience.

If you are installing your swim spa yourself, you will definitely want to refer to the manual for the entire installation and setup. Even if you are having your hot tub installed professionally, you will still want to make use of your manual for all the additional information that it gives you.

Quite often people have a tendency to take their manuals from products that they have purchased and put them away in a drawer without really referring to them. This is not something that you want to do with your swim spa as it is loaded with great information.

It should provide some great information on how to choose the right location for your hot tub prior to its installation. It can give you examples of indoor as well as outdoor locations and what you want to look for. For your own installation purposes, it will give you an outline of your site preparation and even the proper way to unload and handle your swim spa.

You will have a lot of questions concerning the electrical system that you will need for your swim spa and your instruction manual should be able to answer all of your questions. If you have purchased some additional accessories to go with your swim spa, you will want additional information on these items regarding their proper installation and maintenance.

You are also going to want to know the process to fill, check and start your swim spa. This booklet will give you lots of extra information regarding the proper settings that you will want to follow and how to use the various components of your swim spa, as well as the water care that you are going want to utilize.

Another very important feature of your swim spa is the jets. You want a good understanding of these so you can use them to their best capability. Your booklet will outline the various types of jets, as well as their water flow and airflow adjustments that are going to allow you to fully optimize the swim spa.

If you have decided to go with the surround sound audio system, your booklet will also give you the best instructions for using this. There are many different swim spa features and you want to utilize each of these to their best ability. This is why your manual is going to be so important to you.

Once you have your swim spa installed, you are not going to want to be restricted regarding when you can use it. You want to make good use of it any time, day or night. When using it at night, you want to be cautious about your safety and you may want some lighting in the area to provide you with good visibility.

When you buy a quality swim spa, you should find that it does come with some lighting that is built into the unit. These are normally LED lights and will be installed properly by the professionals that are doing your installation. This may not be enough lighting for you, however, and you may like to have some exterior lighting installed around the swim spa area, not only for your enjoyment, but for guests that may want to sit around this area.

Having lighting near any form of water can be potentially dangerous and it is important that you follow all of the safety regulations for your outdoor lighting. There are in pool lights that you can buy, but these must be installed by professionals.

Many people are turning to the LED systems because of their safety and performance, but these lights must be made of quality components. It is tempting to go to your local store and buy some of the outdoor lighting packages that are available there. This is usually landscape lighting and is not the best choice for lighting in your swim spa area.

When looking at your lighting fixtures, you may want to focus on those that are made with non-rusting materials, such as non-ferrous metal alloy fixtures, which include copper or stainless steel. It is always recommended that any wiring that is going to be near any body of water should be installed in conduit. The goal here is to make sure that no part of the lighting system, which includes the fixtures, transformers, or wiring can come into contact with the water in any way, shape, or form.

When using any type of transformers, it is important to follow all of the manufacturer recommendations and that they are grounded. There are pool and spa rated transformers that can be purchased and it is highly recommended that the proper equipment is utilized.

When installing any of the fixtures they should be well back from the water’s edge. There may be bylaws in your area, but in general they should be at least six feet back from the water’s edge. The purpose here is that you don’t want anybody that is in the water to be able to touch any part of the lighting fixture. You may want to discuss your lighting for your swim spa area with your swim spa provider who are the experts in this area.

After your swim spa is installed, you will be spending a lot more time outdoors. That is, of course, if your swim spa was installed outdoors versus inside. If you spa is installed outside, you may become interested in expanding your outdoor living space. You can do this with some outdoor additions, and you have a lot of options to choose from.

It can be a real hassle having to walk back and forth to the house for entertaining. The best solution here is a pool house or enclosure. You can keep it as small or large as you like, which will depend on your space and budget.

If you are looking for just a small enclosure that can be used as a change room, a cabana may work for you. If you are looking for space just for relaxing and entertaining, a deck may be what you need.

With either one of these choices, you can have a wonderful selection of furniture. This is ideal for relaxing in between uses of the swim spa.

If you have a good weather environment or lots of space, you want to make the best use of this.

You may want to build an outdoor kitchen that is close to your pool area. You can go with something simple or elaborate. There is no shortage of selections of equipment to choose from for your outdoor kitchen.

There are many different appliances that are made for this use. If you want to keep it simple, you can simply restrict this area for your barbecue and some sitting space to enjoy meals. Conversely, you can put in a full blown kitchen with a stove, sink and fridge. It is all going to come down to your space and budget.

In terms of enclosures, you can have a fixed or retractable roof. Having an enclosed roof that is retractable, gives you the best of both worlds. In the warmer weather, you can have the roof open. In the cooler weather, you can close the roof to help retain the heat of your swim spa, increasing the amount of time that you are able to use it.

If you are limited on space that doesn’t mean you don’t have the option for an enclosure. There are many quality ones available that can be used for various swim spa shapes and sizes.

Do some research first before making your decision to see how you can make the best use of your available space.

You may only want to do a small outdoor section this year and then expand on it in the years to come. If so, you want to keep this in mind during your planning stages.

Once you have your swim spa installed, you may consider adding a deck if you don’t have one. You will find that you are going to have lots of choices in deck materials and styles. Some people prefer to have concrete decking while others opt for the wood. Both can be good choices and have their pros and cons.

When choosing your deck there are some things that you want to keep in mind, including:

• Safety factors
• Ease of installation
• Cost of installation
• Maintenance and repair

Your first priority for your new deck is how easy it will allow you to enter and exit your swim spa. Then, you may consider how convenient it will be for entertaining and relaxing.

Whether your swim spa is above ground, partially in ground, or in ground, this is going to help determine the best deck. For above ground pools the best choice will be wood as concrete is not a good option.

Wood

Amongst the many choices of wood that you will have, there will be the choice of timber decking or hardwood. Most individuals prefer to go with the hardwood decking rather than the soft wood as it is more durable. Other material choices are vinyl, aluminum or plastic. No matter which you choose, you need to be sure it is good quality, easy to care for, and water proof.

Concrete

If you choose concrete, there is a lot more work involved compared to wood. You will have lots of choices with a concrete deck too. This is a versatile material that can be colored or you can have a pattern added to it through stamping.

If you like the colored concrete, the best choice is integral color. This is color which is mixed throughout the concrete slab. If it happens to chip then the color remains. Another choice for coloring is topical coloring. This is where the color is added to the top layer of the concrete with various types of color hardeners. These are usually applied to the wet concrete.

If you want to add some character to your concrete decking, you can have stamped or patterned concrete as well.

Once you have purchased your swim spa, it’s time to prepare for the installation. This too is an exciting event because you and the family are full of anticipation as to when you will get to actually experience all that your new swim spa has to offer.

Prior to buying the spa you may have made the decision as to where it is going to be installed. This would include providing the dimensions of the area it will be installed in prior to purchasing your spa.

You are going to find that you have some great options for installing it, like whether it will be above ground, in ground or partially in and above ground. This will also determine what preparations you have to make.

You will also have to decide whether you are going to do the installation yourself or have your swim spa provider do the installation for you. Most likely, you will find it far more convenient to have these professionals do the installation for you.

Your swim spa manual should outline the full installation instructions, which will include what you have to do to prepare for this great event.

If you have opted to have the swim spa installed indoors, you may want to have a glass solarium or a four season room designated for the swim spa. If indoors is your choice, you may want the swim spa area to have easy access to the washroom and shower. There has to be a floor drain to get rid of the splash water. You also need to have proper ventilation for both the humidity and the support equipment that the swim spa uses. Pay attention to the access to the plumbing as you will need this resource to fill and top up the swim spa.

For an outdoor installation, you need to check to see if you need a building permit or what other regulations are in place regarding the installation of a swim spa. If you need to do some excavation for the installation, check with the gas, electric, and cable company to make sure there are no underground cables in the area where you are going to be digging. You also need to know that the area you have chosen is going to be convenient to access from the house. Plus, you want to know that all the support equipment for the swim spa can be protected from the elements. This is something you need to talk to your swim spa supplier about as this will be based on the make and model of swim spa that you have chosen.

There are general installation requirements that will have to be met as well. This will be for the preparation of the area where the swim spa is going to be installed. You can follow the directions of your swim spa supplier, as well as your instruction manual.

You have many wonderful choices when it comes to buying a swim spa. Included in these options will be whether you want to have it installed above or in ground. There are benefits to both ways of installing your swim spa, but it will come down to your personal preference.

Some people like the thought of the swim spa being installed in ground because they feel it looks more permanent and they have more choices for enhancing the spa area. While this is true, the same can be said for when the swim spa is above ground, it just means a different approach.

In either case, there are preparations that have to be done for the installation no matter whether it is going to be above ground or in ground. What some people like about the above ground version is that in the event they decide to move, it‘s easier to take the swim spa with them. With that said, a lot of people have discovered that having a swim spa is a great selling feature for the home.

For some, they may feel that the components of the swim spa are better protected if they are in ground. What you will find is that if you are purchasing a quality swim spa that this is not a concern. These types of spas are built with the proper insulation to allow them to withstand the different temperatures that they may be exposed to.

Perhaps, the first thing you want to consider is what your reasons are for going with an in ground swim spa. Some individuals feel that if they go with the above ground version, they will be limited in their options for having a permanent spa enclosure installed later on. Again this is not usually the case. There are many options available to you when it comes time to enclose your swim spa no matter which choice of installation you have made.

You may not realize it, but you also have another installation option, which is to install your spa partially in ground. To help you make your choice, you can speak to your pool and spa provider. The bottom line is as long as you have the available space to install an in ground swim spa, the final decision will come down to what you and your family prefer.

There is a lot of fun that comes with choosing a swim spa for your family. There are some things that you are going to have to decide on and one of these will be the size that is going to best suit your needs.

When selecting the right swim spa size, there are several factors that you want to keep in mind. You want to know that it is going to be an adequate length for the height of the people that are going to be using it.

There is no doubt that other people will be using your swim spa beside your family members and you want it to be large enough that everyone is going to be able to enjoy it without feeling restricted or crowded.

The swim spot is used for many different activities. Some enjoy just using it for play, such as the little ones, whereas the older teens may be using more for exercise. You want to keep this in mind when you are determining the size. If the spa you choose is big enough, everyone can enjoy all that it has to offer together, instead of having to wait their turn.

The other thing that you need to consider is the space that the swim spa will be installed in. This may take some thought on your part and you may have several alternatives regarding where you can have your spa installed. If you’re not sure, check with your supplier to get their advice as to where would be the best location.

Many people find that they originally start out thinking about buying a small spa but once they get the opportunity to see what’s available to them, they opt for the bigger one. In most cases, they are not disappointed by doing this. The swim spa comes with many benefits and features and it will be enjoyed by most every family member on a constant basis.

For those that are into general exercise and getting fit, there are many different exercise routines they can go through using the swim spa. Ideally, each person should develop their own water exercise program focusing on their level of fitness and then setting goals for where they want go. Once they do this, they can then set up a routine.

You may want to mix it up a bit when it comes to your water workouts. For example, you can use one day per week for swimming techniques. Incorporating different forms of swimming like the crawl and the breaststroke will exercise different areas of your body. You can vary the swim techniques and intensity as you progress.

On alternate days, you can do a timed water exercise routine. This could include walking against the current using floatation devices to assist you as your build up your endurance. Try doing some underwater crunches, which you are going to find to be quite a challenge, but very rewarding as well. Pull yourself back and forth against the current, which is like Pilates.

You can also use accessories that work well with your swim spa like rowing bars.

For those that are into some really serious training, there are several different kinds of swim spa courses that are now popping up on the Internet that you may find helpful.

It is really easy to get into your swim spa exercise because it provides a wonderful workout. Like with any exercise, however, start slow according to your skill level and then build up your endurance.

Many people have discovered that the swim spa can be a real resource for helping to lose weight. Again, this is through performing the proper exercises and following a good routine. Mild exercise can also be used for those who are suffering from various illnesses or disabilities. Hydrotherapy can be very effective for many different types of conditions.

Then, of course, one cannot forget about the simple pleasure that soaking in the warm water of the hot tub brings. There are many wonderful reasons for having a swim spa installed and encouraging the whole family to use it.