Category Archives: Swim Spa

The rise in the cost of living is affecting everyone and energy prices are one of the biggest concerns for many people. When it comes to your swim spa’s running costs there are lots of ways that you can influence this. If you’re concerned about this type of expense as we move into the second half of the year towards the cooler months then here are 5 ways that you can easily reduce your swim spa’s running costs.

1. Lower the temperature in the swim spa

It’s the most obvious way to reduce costs and will save you a significant 5-10% on your bill for heating the water. You don’t need to reduce the temperature that significantly to see a difference either – just one degree can produce a much lower bill. If you find that lowering the temperature by one degree still feels good then try another – this is the ideal time to do this, as the air will be warm for another couple of months.

2. Review your filtration cycles

The filters in a swim spa have an important role to play – they reduce any build up of potentially harmful bacteria, for example, and ensure that dirt and debris don’t affect the system. However, they can be expensive to run if you’re doing this in the wrong way. So, switch your filtration cycles so that they are running at off peak times to use less energy. You can also lower the settings if you’re using the swim spa less – for example, a two-hour cycle twice a day if the spa is getting occasional use.

3. Get a cover that fits – and use it

Swim spa covers are filled with foam, which helps to trap heat and they are an essential part of ensuring that your swim spa isn’t leaking heat unnecessarily. So, make sure that you have a good cover with robust insulation that will help to trap heat. A reflecting cover protector can also help with this. If the foam insulation gets wet then its efficiency will fall quite significantly so it’s important to check regularly whether this is happening.

4. Look after your filtering system

It’s one of the most important parts of the swim spa – and also the component that can most affect running costs. Keeping it clean and maintained will have a big impact on running costs because if filters aren’t kept clean this can cause debris to build up and means that the pump has to work twice as hard to do its job and filter the water. Regularly cleaned and maintained filters will use minimum energy and keep costs low.

5. Fill the swim spa with warm water

This is one of the simplest ways to avoid big energy bills. Make sure you start with a small layer of cool water and then add your warm – max temperature 40 degrees – to fill the swim spa, rather than waiting for the water to be heated up.

If you want to reduce your swim spa’s running costs this year then these are some of the simplest ways to do it. 

As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

If you’re keen to do more every day to boost your mood and wellbeing then a swim spa is a great resource to have. Cost effective, fun to use and much closer to home than a gym, your swim spa can be a great way to support physical and mental health. These are just some of the activities that you can do in a swim spa that will boost your mood and wellbeing.

Swimming

It’s the most obvious activity for a swim spa – and also one of the most effective. You’ll be able to swim against the current that works for you, which means that swimming in your swim spa is ideal for all fitness levels. And for getting fitter. If you’re keen for an activity that works pretty much every major muscle group then swimming is it. It’s a supportive way to improve your health and fitness and boost overall wellbeing too.

Running

If you’ve always been someone who found running painful – or you’re looking for more of a challenge than a treadmill – then running in a swim spa is ideal. In the water, the heaviness of gravity is minimised so you’ll get all the benefits of running without the pressure on joints and muscles. Plus, running in the water provides greater resistance, which means you can have a better and more intensive workout if you choose to. Run against a current that works for you, whether that’s focused on fitness or rehabilitation.

Rowing

Maybe you’ve always wanted the fitness benefits of rowing but never had a rowing machine – or just never got around to using one at the gym. With a swim spa at home you can do regular rowing whenever it works for you. It’s a much more authentic and effective experience to actually row on water and it can get you used to ‘real life’ conditions on the water too if that’s where your focus is.

Supported strength activities

Strength training is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages because of the many benefits that it offers. If you’re looking to start training with weights in a more supported way then the swim spa is the ideal place for this. You’ll be able to get fitter and stronger more quickly – and with less risk of injury – if you’re working out in a swim spa. Plus, many people find the experience much more enjoyable.

Time out and time off

You don’t have to only use your swim spa for intense physical activity and improving your fitness. It’s also just as important for your mood and wellbeing to have somewhere to switch off and relax too. Use the spa jets for an ultra relaxing massage, float to release tension from your body or just enjoy the benefits of warm water immersion. A swim spa is also a great place to be sociable – which is always a great way to boost your mood.

If you’re looking for ways to boost your mood and wellbeing, these swim spa activities will help you do it. As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

The days are long, the air is warm and the sun is making much more of an appearance than it has for a long time. Summer has finally arrived and that means it’s the ideal time to get outside more. And if you are lucky enough to have a pool at home – or access to one – then this is the best moment to start really enjoying it. Because there are some very good reasons why swimming every day makes a lot of sense.

1. Get active, fit and slim. Swimming is a fantastic exercise that works the whole body but does it without placing excess stress on joints and bones. You can burn around 600 calories an hour from swimming, build strength and tone muscles. It also has many benefits when it comes to improving lung capacity and flexibility, as well as building up confidence in your body and what it can do. Plus, there are so many ways to do it, from breast stroke to butterfly or even aqua aerobics.
2. Cool down quickly and easily. Getting overheated can be really uncomfortable, especially if you’re spending all your time in a hot office or stuck on public transport or in traffic. The pool is a great way to quickly cool down, refresh and bring your body temperature back down.
3. Feel calmer and sleep better. It can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep in the summer – and a lack of sleep will leave you feeling tense and stressed. Swimming has been found to help aid sleep in a number of different ways. The buoyancy of the water is incredibly relaxing for your body and the exercise itself will tire you out and make it easier to wind down for a restful night’s sleep. As with any activity, swimming releases a rush of endorphins and these feel good chemicals can help to break any stress cycles you might be stuck in and ease you into a good night’s rest. Plus, the colour blue has been found to have a positive impact on mental health, to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.
4. It’s an accessible and affordable activity. If you have a pool at home then the only ongoing costs will be maintenance and you can save money on travel and costs that other activities might incur. Pools are also accessible because anyone can swim and enjoy it, from children who are learning under supervision to older adults looking for a way to be active or someone recovering from an injury.
5. Be more sociable. Because everyone can use a pool, and enjoy it together, it’s a great place to connect with friends and family. Swimming is an enjoyable activity for everyone and there are lots of ways to integrate socialising around it so that you get to see more of the people you love this summer.

If there is one thing you do more of this summer, we recommend swimming. It’s good for you, sociable and has a really positive impact on overall wellbeing. As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

Exercising in water has a lot of benefits. It tends to be less hard on your body and the resistance of the water can actually make a workout more effective too. A swim spa provides the perfect setting in which to start exploring full body workouts that will really make a difference to your health and wellbeing – here are our top 5 full body workouts for your swim spa to try.

1. Jogging under water. You will actually burn more calories jogging against the resistance of the water than on a treadmill – plus doing this in your swim spa has a much lower impact on your joints. Try turning this into a HIIT session by varying the intensity of the jogging, from a faster pace to a slower walk. Turn on the high powered jet system and run against the flow of water to make your workout even more intense.
2. Underwater squats. We all know that squats are great for strengthening key areas like the core and glutes – as well as getting your heart rate up. The perfect underwater squat starts with feet shoulder width apart then bending as if you were about to sit in a chair. Have your hands either on your waist or held out parallel in front of you for the more advanced version. As you stand back up, drop your arms to your side and then repeat 10 or 15 times.
3. Lower ab crunches. Strengthening your core and abs is easy to do in a swim spa. This is a seated exercise – position yourself sitting facing the centre of the swim spa with your legs straight out in front and your palms on the floor of the swim space. When you feel stable, bring your knees into your chest and then extend your legs again to crunch and use the ab muscles. Inhale when you pull your knees into your chest and exhale when you push them out again. Repeating this exercise is what makes it effective – aim to build up to three sets of 20 repetitions.
4. Underwater leg raises. If you’re looking for a workout that brings together both cardio and strength then this exercise is ideal, as you’ll get toning as well as an elevated heart rate. It’s also really simple to do – stand in the swim spa and hold onto the side. Lift one of your legs behind you as high as you can and squeeze your glute at the top. Repeat 10 times on each side and aim for three sets.
5. Jumping. If your goal is to raise your heart rate then try adding some jumping into your workouts. Start in the deepest part of the swim spa and simply jump, tucking your knees up as far as they go each time you leave the ground. Use your arms to help keep you balanced.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your swim spa when it comes to exercise these workouts are a great place to start. As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

Life is so fast paced today that it can be difficult to find the time to do the things that really make a difference to how we feel. Being fit and healthy, strong, mobile and able to move through life with physical ease can make a big difference to how we experience life on a daily basis. If you have a swim spa then you may have thought that swimming was the only way to use it – but it’s also a great resource for working out – here’s how.

• A cardio workout. Any swim spa will have both massage jets and water jets that create a current. If you’re looking for a cardio workout then you can use the water jets to provide the resistance to get a really thorough full body session. Opt for traditional swimming against the current or try a jog instead. This is a particularly good way to get your cardio if you find that you’re in need of a low impact option.
• Yoga and pilates. These types of exercise offer the opportunity to improve flexibility and mobility and also to build strength, not just in your core but all over your body. One of the simplest ways to work your core in a swim spa is to stand against the jets and resist the water pressure. The buoyancy of the water can also be a great way to get more from your yoga moves – and the warmth of the water enhances flexibility too.
• Resistance workouts. If you have a resistance band then you can use this very effectively in a swim spa to work out. Increase the intensity of your session by turning the swim jets on to create more instability and resistance for your body to work against. Even without a resistance band you’ll get a great resistance workout thanks to the way that the water makes everything, from lunges to leg lifts, slightly harder.
• Use the swim spa to optimise performance. Being in warm water and using the massage jets is something that many of us are familiar with when it comes to processing the after effects of a workout. There are lots of great benefits to doing this and it can actually enhance your workout performance next time round if you take the time to do this kind of conditioning work. The massage and hydrotherapy effect of a swim spa will stimulate blood flow to encourage muscle recovery and also help you to relax.
• Weight loss workouts. Low impact exercise can hold the key to effective weight loss and this is much easier to do in a swim spa thanks to the buoyancy of the water.
• Rehabilitation for the older generation. If you’re struggling with pain or mobility, working out in a swim spa can help you to continue physical activity when it may otherwise be difficult. Plus there are lots of swim spa features – such as a support bar – that make this easier.

Yes, you can actually work out in a swim spa – and for many people it might actually be the preferable choice. As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

If your goal is to improve your fitness in 2023 then a hydropool swim spa is a great option to have. Not only will it give you access to hydrotherapy to help with recovery from training sessions and improving body condition but it’s also a great space to work out in. Did you know that there are a number of different ways to get fitter in a hydropool swim spa? Here are just a few of them.

• Swimming. This is the most obvious way to use your hydropool swim space for getting fitter – and so many people do because it’s so effective. It’s simple to change the speed and current in a swim spa to accommodate different levels of workout and improve the intensity as you get fitter. Swimming is incredibly exercise, as it works the entire body. It’s a great cardio option and an effective way to get fit. Plus, the water can take the pressure off joints and bones so that exercise doesn’t feel so high impact.
• Step-ups. Another very simple exercise, step-ups are really easy because you can just use the steps to the swim spa if you don’t have an aqua fitness step. The action of stepping up and down on the steps can be strengthening and a good cardio workout – the buoyancy of the water is supportive making this effective but not damaging for joints and muscles.
• Cycling. The best thing about using a swim spa for cycling is that you don’t actually need to get a bike into the water. Instead, simply hold on to the edge of the swim spa and mimic the cycling motion with your legs. The best way to do this is with your back up against one of the walls of the swim spa. You can keep yourself supported with your arms by spreading them out along the edge of the wall. As you cycle your legs move them up and down towards the surface and then back to the bottom. If you really enjoy this then there are specialist bikes for swim spas so that you can have the full cycling experience in the water.
• Jogging or running. The resistance of jogging or running in water is a really powerful way to build strength and get fit, fast. There are lots of different ways that you can do this in a swim spa. For example, you can choose to focus on jogging on the spot, bringing your knees as high up as possible. Or you can switch on the jets in the swim spa and run against the resistance of the current. Jogging or running in a swim spa is a very effective cardio workout that you can tweak depending on how hard you want to work.
• Lifting weights. All you need for this is a set of water weights so that you can work out in your swim spa. Use them for strengthening, as you would in the gym, or add them into a cardio workout for increased intensity.

There are lots of ways to get fit with a hydropool swim spa – these are just a few of them. As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.

Swim spas are the perfect option for those looking to use water resistance exercises as part of their workout routine, but don’t have the space for a full swimming pool or are time-poor and can’t get to the local public swimming pool.

One of the best things about having a swim spa in your back garden is that you can swim as far as you like every day without actually covering much ground – think of it like a treadmill, but for swimming! This makes them fantastic for exercise, improving your stroke and staying fit.

Swim spas work by using an internal current system that lets you swim on the spot. What’s more, swim spas can be effectively heated, making swimming outdoors throughout the year possible. To add to the workout benefits that swim spas deliver, you can also use them as a hot tub. The built-in hydro water jets provide a soothing massage that makes the perfect warm-down after a swim.

What Should You Consider When Installing An In-ground Swim Spa?

One of the first things you need to bear in mind when you decide on how you’re going to landscape your swim spa is that if you choose to install your swim spa in the ground & you decide to move house, it will require quite a bit of work to excavate it to take it with you. You’ll also need to consider the maintenance and service practicalities of an inground swim spa.

It’s vital to ensure that the swim spa is installed on a solid level platform that can handle both its weight when filled with water and people. This will require a floor loading of significantly more than 500kg per square meter. Additionally, concrete retaining walls must be built and waterproofed appropriately so that groundwater doesn’t enter the internal components.

A drainage channel with float-switch-driven pumps is also necessary with their own RCD supplies to protect the home’s electrical system from being tripped if an issue arises. Another important factor to think about is the electrical connection location. In order to protect it from potential flooding, it must be placed as high above the recess floor as possible. Another consideration is ventilation, as the pump motors must be kept cold.

Partially In-ground Swim Spas vs Fully In-ground Swim Spas

You can partially bury your swim spa by building a deck all the way around it. If you don’t want to deal with the expense of a full excavation, or if it’s simply not possible to build the swim spa totally inground owing to geographical considerations, a raised deck is a fantastic compromise.

While excavation for a fully in-ground swim spa can be expensive, the benefits are generally worthwhile. Once installed, the in-ground swim spa can be tastefully incorporated into your garden design. This could, for instance, be a rockery, a lawn, or natural stone. If it’s raining while you’re swimming, you might want to set up a canopy or some privacy screening.

As a family-operated business encompassing two generations, we have over 50 years of combined experience selling and servicing hot tubs, swim spas, pools, saunas, gazebos and steam rooms. We love what we do because we love the lifestyle that comes with owning a luxurious hot tub or swim spa. Get in contact with a member of the team today to explore our range of fantastic products.