Hot Tubs and Spas
Hot Tubs – Spas Safety First
One of the most important things to consider with hot tubs and spas is whether it is safe for you and your family. The hot tub and spa industry has a maximum permitted temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Although a little less than 104 degrees is considered ideal for most people. It is recommended that everyone check with their doctor before purchasing a hot tub for personal use. It is especially important for people with any form of illness to check with their doctor.
Hot tubs are usually not recommended during pregnancy. So make sure you have the “go ahead” from your doctor before spending hard earned money on a hot tub! Also, most but not all, come with a locking cover to add safety against unwanted hot tub guests, especially children. Safety is the name of the game when the hot tub or spa is not in use. So hopefully, your doctor will agree that you could benefit from a hot tub and you have the ideal location for a hot tub. If so, then keep reading. And we’ll do our best in this website to head you toward the perfect one for you! Let’s take a look at some interesting facts.
Hot Tub or Spa?
Lifesmart Rock Solid Simplicity Plug and Play 4 Person Spa
Today, the terms hot tubs and spas are used interchangeably. They both describe a large tub that is used for relaxation, hydrotherapy, warmth, and entertaining. Whether you call it a hot tub or a spa, most all are equipped with built-in jets for targeting those sore muscles and joints.
In yesteryear, Spas were that health resort up town where people could go to receive massages, facials, and other pampering treatments. Today, a spa refers more to a hot tub, whether it’s freestanding or a custom built in-ground hot tub. At motels and gyms, hot tubs may be in close proximity to a pool for a hot-and-cool workout or relaxation session. Most are stand-alone tubs, and some more extravagant spas are set into the ground or custom built. What better way to relax after a hard day’s work than with your very own hot tub or spa?
TWO SIZES of HOT TUBS and SPAS
Small hot tubs and spas that accommodate 2 to 3 adults are designed for a more intimate experience and measure about 3 to 4 feet high by 5 feet across. They hold approximately 500 gallons of water. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors and oh so many features! There are blow up and portable hot tubs and some that are just better to be left in one place.
Larger hot tubs and spas are around 4 to 5 feet high and 6 feet or more in diameter and are built to accommodate up to 11 adults. They hold about 850 gallons of water. Most have a ton of features like waterfalls, colored lights, multiple jets, movable jets, digital control panels and of course a customer appreciated warranty.
The choice is yours. Is your intention for your hot tub more of a stay at home relaxing kind of adventure, or are you planning on inviting family and friends? Of course the bigger the tub, the more features it offers, and the bigger the price. Know what you have in mind using the hot tub for, the features you desire, and plan accordingly.
So You’re Contemplating Hot Tubs and Spas?
The top three reasons that people buy a hot tub or spa are leisure, strengthening, and health.
Leisure spas
Leisure spas are mostly used for relaxing after a hard day’s work. They are a great way to get together with a small group of family or friends; or just an intimate rendezvous for the two of you.
Strengthening
Hot tubs are also used for exercise and strengthening purposes. Those are called swim spas or underwater treadmill hot tubs. The swim spas are quite long and designed with powerful water streams. This stream will help build your muscles while you swim. Most of these hot tubs come with a variety of features. Just choose the hot tub or spa to suit your personal taste and requirements based on your desired outcome, whether just for leisure, building strength or for health reasons.
Health Spas
Health spas focus on relieving tension in the body due to physical illness or for relaxation. Even some medical doctors prescribe a health spa to relieve certain mind or body conditions.
Other Considerations
There are many factors that have to be considered, such as where will we put the hot tub? Will we have enough room to walk around the hot tub for access to the rest of the room? Will it be outside on the patio or deck? Is the floor sturdy enough to hold the hot tub when full of water? Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon so they can be pretty heavy when filled. Will it be set up permanently or do we need one we can take down and store away when not in use? Know what features are important to you and make sure the one you are considering has those important features. Here’s a few more considerations:
Electrical
Starlight Hot Tubs Northern Star 5-Person 41-Jet Hot Tub
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— A trip to our local hot tub dealer confirmed our thought that hot tubs need to have their own dedicated circuit. What that amounts to is that nothing else needs to be on the same circuit with the hot tub. Most hot tubs we found runs off of 110 power outlets; however, there were some that ran off of 220. If in doubt, check with an electrician to make sure you have the proper plug-in for your hot tub. Tripping breakers is not fun when you have to get out of the hot tub dripping wet to reset the breaker. Which most likely will trip again once you’ve returned to the tub. Isn’t that the way it goes???
Chemicals
— OMG, it seemed like the list of chemicals never ended! My hot tub dealer recommended a de-foamer, chlorine tablets, filter cleaner, and hot tub cleaner. Some of those bottles weren’t cheap either! You will also need filters and some spas will allow certain filters which can cut down on some of the chemicals you’ll need. So, what it seems like is that you either spend money on chemicals, or filters, and probably on both. And of course you need a spa water test kit. And the one for the swimming pool won’t work for the hot tub either. The spa test kit tests for different things than what you’re testing for in the pool.
If everyone entering the hot tub would wear swim suits that were washed without detergent (or go in nude) the de-foamer could be omitted. Foaming comes from laundry detergent that remains in the swimsuit after washing. A way to avoid that is rinse the swimsuits several times to get any leftover detergent out before wearing it in the hot tub. After your relaxation session is over, just hang the swimsuit up to dry and omit the laundering part whenever possible.
Power Bill
— Your hot tub uses electricity. The nicer ones kick on and off as needed throughout the day so as to maintain your ideal temperature. Our local hot tub dealer stated that the power on certain models raise your monthly power bill $7-$10 per month. Of course, we were only looking at a 4-seater. The larger the tub, the more water they have to heat, the more it works on raising your power bill.
Controls
Starlight Hot Tubs
— Most of the hot tubs had a built-in control board. Some of the more expensive ones had lights, waterfalls, and adjustable jets. There were some of the more expensive models had moving jets so you can get a massage at the same time! Some have wireless touchscreen remote controls that can be changed from inside the hot tub or a few feet away. There are some that can be controlled with an app for your phone or tablet.
Oxygenation
— Through our local retailer we learned that more oxygenation (more bubbles) means the tub stays cleaner. But of course, those tubs cost more.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOT TUBS
BLOW UP HOT TUBS and SPAS — also called INFLATABLE HOT TUBS and SPAS
Coleman Lay Z Spa Inflatable Hot Tub
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In a blow up hot tub, you can pamper yourself in relaxing heated water surrounded by soothing bubble jets. Blow up hot tubs usually have easy to operate digital control panels with an automatic start/stop timer-controlled heating system. Most have a 4-6 person capacity and the inflated walls are made of durable materials. Blow up hot tubs provide for fast, easy set up and most come with its own pump. Typically, no tools are needed for set up and it is as suggested…it is portable. They still need to be set up on a safe, level spot so make sure to check the ground for any protrusions that might puncture the bottom. Most blow up hot tubs use less water since the walls are pretty thick. Looks like most of them hold a little over 200 gallons of water. So if the party can’t come to you, maybe you can take the party to them!
Intex Hot Tubs and Intex Spas
PureSpa Portable Bubble Massage Spa Set
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As previously stated, the words hot tubs and spas are pretty much interchangeable. We did a search for Intex hot tubs and Intex spas also came up. And of course, when we searched for Intex spas, Intex hot tubs came up too. But almost every one of them had the word “spa” in their title. Each of the Intex hot tubs or Intex spas have their own set of characteristics. Most of the Intex Hot tubs and Intex spas that we researched, have high-powered bubble jets and a built-in hard water treatment system that makes water gentler on skin, clothes, and the entire spa system. They also have a user-friendly interface that controls spa circulation, with bubble jets and hard-water treatment system.
Some of the Intex hot tubs and Intex spas are manufactured using Fiber-Tech high strength fibers with beam construction and puncture resistant 3-ply laminate PVC for the ultimate in comfort, support and durability. Some models include an insulated ground cloth and locking spa cover. Most Intex hot tubs have a simple maintenance system with easy-to replace filter cartridges. Some even come with a floating chemical dispenser and carry bag with grab handles. Just make sure you read the features of the ones you are considering so that you get the aspects that are most important to you.
Intex Pure Spas
Intex 85in PureSpa Portable Bubble Massage Spa Set
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The portable Intex PureSpa Bubble Massage Spa allows you to pamper yourself in relaxing, heated water surrounded by soothing bubble jets. The easy-to-use control panel on this garden hot tub activates the 120 high-powered bubble jets surrounding the interior of the spa for a refreshing massage. The built-in hard water treatment system makes water gentler on skin for a soothing experience. The heating system has a 3-way test strip that adjusts to fit your personal temperature preference allowing a stress-free spa experience. The Fiber-Tech Construction and the puncture-resistant three-ply laminated material provide the ultimate comfort, support and durability.
The Intex Pure Spa provides simple maintenance with two easy-to-replace filter cartridges for lasting enjoyment for up to four people. Some models have a floating chlorine dispenser and a thermal ground cloth. An insulated cover and lock is included to minimize heat loss and provide an added safety feature. A carry bag is provided for easy storage and transport. An inflation hose is included for easy inflation.
Lifesmart Spa
Lifesmart Rock Solid Simplicity Plug and Play 4 Person Spa With 12 Jets
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The Lifesmart spa has the same standard parts and features as any brand name hot tub such as Balboa topside controls, adjustable jets, and a top-loading filter, but also features a highly indestructible RockSolid Shell. Most are a 110 volt Plug & Play spa which avoids the high cost of hot tub installation. Simply set it up, fill it up, plug it in, and ENJOY.
Only Lifesmart uses Eco Smart technology, the highly efficient energy management system built into every Lifesmart Simplicity spa. Lifesmart Spas require less energy and deliver better performance due to a full-foam insulation system and a thick energy-saving spa cover designed to save money on the operation of the spa. It even meets the strict California Energy Mandate for spas and hot tubs. The Lifesmart Simplicity Spa has 4 deep bucket seats complete with rotating back jets, and top-side comfort valves that allow you to find the perfect mix of air and water for the perfect massage. Most of the Lifesmart spas have a waterfall feature. The Simplicity also features a top side digital command center and a spa light with interchangeable red and blue mood lens caps.
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