About Portable Hot Tubs

Archive for the ‘Consumers buying guide’ Category

A hot tub system can set you back from about $800 at warehouses and home depots to as much as $10,000 for the most sophisticated systems. The prices will greatly depend on the hot tub’s size and the features which you would like it to have.

Features to keep in mind

Add-ons contribute a lot to the wow factor of your hot tub unit, so the more sophisticated and complete your hot tub is, the more expensive it will be. There are turbo blasters, solar blasters, waterfalls, fiber optic lighting, neck jets, a phone line, stereos, a DVD system, and even a computer! You can even have your own unit customized to get the maximum benefit from your hot tub system. A unit that seats four to six people, with a few of the features enumerated above, may cost anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000.

It has been proven scientifically that spas and hydrotherapy are not only invigorating, but also relax tense joints and muscles. They give fantastic relief to sufferers of arthritis and other joint and muscle ailments.

Today, spas are within the reach of not just the elite, but of just about anyone who has the available space and the obsessive desire for it. There are a lot of various hot tub models and sizes to choose from to fit every need and budget. Some hot tubs can even be customized for your own personal taste.

Don’t be ashamed to request for a wet testing before you decide to purchase a hot tub. After all, you are making quite an investment on this purchase, so you need to know if the model you are choosing is definitely the best one for you. Test for water buoyancy, see if the jets are just right for your requirements, and test-drive the seating comfort.

There are two major things you need to pay attention to before buying a hot tub:

* Comfort — The major reason you are on the lookout for a hot tub for your home is your comfort. Don’t just get one for its stylish looks; make sure that it is comfortable enough for you to sit in it for extended periods.

* Dealer reliability — Although hot tubs are becoming cheaper and cheaper each year, they are still considered a major investment, and it’s best to get a unit from a dealer who can provide you with a good warranty and after-sales service. Check out a dealer’s history or buy from a dealer who has already sold units to satisfied friends. There are more than a hundred dealers of hot tubs in the market today, so take advantage of this surfeit.

A wide variety of models

There are hot tubs made of acrylic material that is propane-heated or electric-heated. The dealers would also be selling accessories used for the hot tubs. They sell Conair spa baths, dual jet baths, and other accessories. Some common features of hot tubs are those convenient storage spaces wherein you can keep your soaps, robes, towels or drinks. Check the Internet for the right dealer for your ideal hot tub.

One of the most important things you need to consider when looking for an outdoor hot tub is its type of insulation. Choose an outdoor hot tub with an insulation that’s full foam, closed-cell. This can drastically make a change in your electric costs.

If it isn’t properly insulated may run a bill of up to $100 a month just on the hot tub alone. However, if the outdoor hot tub is properly insulated, it would only cost you $20 to $25 a month. A qualified dealer would be able to give you important advice on the costs it would take to maintain an outdoor hot tub at home.

Also look for an outdoor hot tub model that has a perfectly sealed heating element. This prevents the water from coming in contact with the actual heating element, making the heater last longer and become more efficient.

How the water circulates

The water would be kept clean if the outdoor hot tub circulation system is kept running continuously. This way, you can have a dip anytime you want to. A good system also prevents stopping and restarting, which wastes a lot of energy. In addition, spa chemicals are used to disinfect the circulating water. A dip in a warm outdoor hot tub can be truly relaxing but don’t overdo it; too much would cause your energy to be drained.

Fittings

Take note of the plumbing and how to go about it as soon as you decide to install an outdoor hot tub. There needs to be a cold supply, a hot supply and a good drainage system. Moreover, the electrical fittings for jets and whirlpool pumps that would be used for the outdoors need a lot of planning. Thermo Spas is a manufacturing company that has been producing the most affordable and luxurious has been in the industry for more than twenty years now.

It’s a complicated task to plan and design for a bathroom or a spa room, but installing a hot tub in a bathroom has never been easier. Hot tubs have come out of the woodwork in recent years as the perfect solution for easy and accessible hydrotherapy, and having a unit in the comfort of your own home is one of the best gifts you can reward yourself with.

Starting and ending the day with a luxurious bath has now become affordable, and you get the full benefits of a relaxing spa plus full privacy once you decide to install a hot tub in your own bathroom.

Useful tips in planning for a room

1. Paint the walls of your hot tub room with hues that are soothing and relaxing. You can opt to decorate it with wallpaper that blends with the color of your hot tub or other major fixtures in the bathroom. Choose either vinyl or tile flooring for easy maintenance, and further decorate it with attractive indoor plants and classy pictures or artwork.

2. Use plush towels and area rugs that would also complement the colors you have chosen for your fixtures and your walls. If you have picked neutral colors for your flooring and walls, you can pick bold colors for the towels and rugs. Enhance the hot tub room with a beautiful window treatment. Use small potted plants and situate them in corners to add life to dull areas.

3. Neutral colors such as ivory or soft pastels for your tub and other major fixtures could work wonders. They are also easy to match as you can merely change the colors of the room’s smaller accessories. Pick vanity mirrors with attractive frames as accent pieces in the room; make sure that you have enough room to walk through after you’re done with the decorating.

4. To complete your hot tub room, which should really be your getaway from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, install overhead lights that provide a soft and soothing illumination. You can choose lights that can be equipped with a dimmer so you could adjust its intensity if in case you would like to read while soaking in your hot tub. There are sound systems, which can also be installed in a hot tub room. Bathing while listening to soft and relaxing music would give you the ultimate in comfort and relaxation, all in the privacy of your own home.

The avid do-it-yourselfer would do well to search for reliable hot tub plans before proceeding with hot tub installation. A hut tub can be very simple or can be very complicated, and you should be able to assess your own level of competence before deciding if a simple or complex hot tub is the right one for you.

Equip yourself with an easy-to-understand set of hot tub plans for the specific hot tub you’ve set your heart on. Visit the nearest spa shop to see if it has the hot tub plan you’re looking for. Find a competent professional and ask all the questions that need to be answered. Many stores have at least one very competent agent who knows exactly what you’re talking about. Another option is to visit a popular Home Depot or the nearest Lowe’s where you can find someone who will lead you to the hot tub plan you need.

Widen your search

If you’re living in an area that has a dearth of large home depots or specialty spa shops, try surfing the Internet and you might just be lucky enough to stumble on what you need. In fact, if you type “hot tub plans” on Google, you’ll come up with no less than 10,500,000 hits — that’s how hot hot tub plans are these days, and it also tells of how many people opt to install their own hot tubs. Once you’ve got the perfect hot tub plan in your hands, study it very well.

Simplify the manual by writing the steps in your own words. Discuss the installation with family members or friends who might want to lend you a hand during the actual installation. The better you plan for the project, the smoother the process will be.

A word of caution

If the plan you have does not include steps on electrical installation, it may be because they’re actually discouraging you from tackling it yourself. Hiring a professional to do this part of the project is important for safety reasons. A lot of things are involved in a hot tub’s electrical or mechanical setup, and it’s best that this is done by someone who knows all the terms, parts and safety procedures. This is one aspect that you shouldn’t scrimp on.

If you’re approving of the idea of soaking in a warm tub after a grueling day at work, but you don’t have the budget for it yet, try renting a hot tub to “test the waters.” You can also opt to rent a hot tub for a special occasion, such as a graduation, an anniversary, a birthday or even for a non-occasion romantic weekend. You can also gather your friends and see who will be interested in a relaxing hydrotherapy healing gathering.

There are rental companies that could provide influential heaters capable of warming your hot tub water to a soothing 140 degrees Fahrenheit from any water source. These companies deliver the hot tub and fill it up with water. Their technicians would take care of regulating the heat before they leave you to enjoy your warm bath. They will teach you how to manipulate the controls to the most ideal settings for maximum pleasure and to avoid all possible accidents.

They will also brief you on the proper chemicals to be used, leave some for you to use, and answer any questions you may still have. All you need to do is relax and recline in the hot tub. These hot tubs for rent are all portable and can be situated anywhere that is ideal — all that’s needed is an electrical outlet and you’re ready to soak within minutes.

Added service

When the workers return for the hot tub, they will be in charge of pumping the water out wherever it’s convenient for you. Since the chemicals do not contain ingredients that are harmful to plants and animals, you need not worry about the runoff from the hot tub while it’s being emptied. The hot tubs are cleaned and sanitized only with high-grade broad-spectrum sanitizers and virucidal and antibacterial cleansers. Choose from among the many models at Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs and experience the thrill of having a spa right at your own backyard.

Deal with the experts

Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs guarantee professional service and quality products, so you need not waste precious time surfing the Internet and trying lesser brands. If you decide to buy rather than rent, Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs will gladly offer you free consultation services on which type of hot tub would best serve you — an above-ground tub or an in-ground one. Choose from a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes, and see what accessories would best fit your needs.

You will also receive honest and no-frills quotations for installations or renovations. Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs will also give you information on which chemicals would be best for your unit and advice on how to use them.

If you want to experience hydrotherapy from the privacy of your home, consider getting a hot tub. Hot tubs for home use are becoming popular nowadays because many are discovering the benefits of having this fixture at home. For one, a hot tub affords you with the opportunity to soak and relax in healing waters, rejuvenate your tired muscles, get rid of stress and repair the damages on your body caused by aging, sickness or a busy lifestyle. However, many are also discovering that the joy that can be had from a hot tub is doubled when shared! Thus, the availability of two-person hot tubs.

You will find two-person hot tubs made of plastic, cedar, artificial wood an treated malleable material. If you move a lot or don’t have much space in your home, you’ll be happy to know that there are portable two-person hot tubs available.

Because two-person hot tubs are smaller, they are more affordable. The cost of a two-person hot tub ranges between $700 and $2,500. Of course, the price of a two-person hot tub depends on its size as well as its features. Larger two-person hot tubs are easier to install compared to their smaller counterparts. However, smaller two-person hot tubs are actually not a bad purchase; they have the same features as the larger ones. Typically, a two-person hot tub is a round portable unit that you can set up right away. Some of these two-person hot tubs feature turbo wave massage action, which is also featured in their bigger version.

The two-person hot tub is relatively affordable, easy to install and much less complicated to use and maintain. If you go with an inflatable two-person hot tub, you will be able to use it in just a few minutes and it has a heated jet action similar to the permanently installed two-person hot tub. To begin using an inflatable two-person hot tub, simply inflate the hot tub, plug it in and fill it up with water using a regular garden hosepipe or a pump system that has a filter unit for recycling water. If you have plenty of space, a two-person hot tub for permanent installation is a good choice since it comes with more features.

Because of the rising prices of hot tubs and home spas, many do-it-yourselfers are now thinking of acquiring a hot tub kit and assembling their own hot tub units. Designed for people who want to relish a relaxing warm bath after a long day at work and who have the interest in utilizing their skills in putting their own hot tub together, a great variety of hot tub kits are now available in the market. Putting up your own hot tub can be a very engrossing activity and you can also have the option of choosing your preferred color, material and design.

What are they made of?

In the 1960s, when hot tubs were all the rage, redwood was the material of choice. Hot tubs then were constructed out of large containers such as used wine vats that were made of high-quality wood. These days, however, old and discarded vats are scarce, and alternative materials have been proposed.

A hot tub can also be made of cedar, which has a refreshing scent. Many people prefer wooden hot tubs over the more modern fiberglass spas as they are a lot cheaper and have that quaint and rustic character about them.

Although wood remains to be a popular material, there are now various grades and varieties of plastic being used in hot tub kits. Hot tub kits come with everything you need to set up your hot tub successfully.

Materials and accessories that go with your kit

Your kit would contain the basic container or tub, its heating system using a circulating pump and all the other accessories such as jets and seats that you choose to include. You can even have solar heaters, as they are becoming very popular these days.

A very important thing to remember is that your hot tub should always be kept clean. The water has to be free from bacteria. There are chlorine bleaches and other chemicals specifically for this purpose. The parts and surfaces have to be thoroughly scrubbed and the filters need to be regularly cleaned to keep you protected from skin infections.

You may want to look at other materials such as plastic or fiberglass. They are easier to maintain and come in a wide range of colors and modern designs. All you need to do is browse the web where you can find a lot of information on prices, product descriptions and after-sales service.

If you would like to relax by spending hours simply soaking in warm and refreshing water then a hot tub is for you. In a hot tub, you can relax, revel in hydrotherapy, meditate or read a good book. Often located outdoors, a hot tub is perfect for a couple who appreciate a relaxing warm bath or for anyone fond of entertaining guests with a marvelously crafted hot tub.

One popular model is that made of cedar wood. Its staves are arranged to form a barrel-shaped hot tub and it may or may not be equipped with jets. This type of hot tub is often constructed with a wooden deck through which people enter. The seats inside the hot tub are normally wooden benches or a continuous seat that forms a ring around the tub. Chlorine is the disinfectant of choice for a hot tub made from this material. Some hot tub models utilize an ozone generator, which reduces the amount of chemicals that are needed to clean the water.

Another type is the one made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic. These hot tubs take on different shapes and colors, and come with a variety of seating arrangements for the users. Some of the jets that the hot tub is equipped with may also rotate. This adds to the variety of water pressure exerted on the bather’s body, creating a perfect massage-like effect. These hot tubs may be embedded into a hot tub deck or left free-standing. If it is the latter type, these hot tubs are entered by climbing a short staircase and the bather then steps over the side of the hot tub to help himself into the seat.

Some people may choose to have a combination of therapy seats and bench seating, while others prefer to have dedicated therapy seats and a relaxing lounge seat. The beauty of having your own hot tub is you can choose exactly the type of seating you want. Another accessory that can be specifically designed according to your preference is the spa jet. Those that mainly seek hydrotherapy benefits from their hot tubs generally prefer multipurpose jets that give different degrees of pressure and water movement. On the other hand, those who think of purchasing hot tubs purely for entertaining are satisfied with the standard jets in different quantities and placements in the tub.