Everything You Need to Know About Hot Tubs

Where is the hot tub going to be installed?

This is the first thing you should consider when you are looking to purchase a hot tub. If you wish to have the hot tub inside you need to consider the following issues:

Is there adequate space for you to fit the hot tub in your home? Check the dimensions of the hot tub and external filters/accessories/plumbing.

Can the hot tub make it through passageways in your home? You may have adequate space to fit the hot tub in your basement but without a large cellar door you will not be able to get the hot tub to your desired location.

Are you prepared to install exhaust fans in the room that has the hot tub? Without proper ventilation the humidity from the hot tub can damage the room and its contents.

Can the floor of your home withstand 2,000 to 3,500 pounds a hot tub weighs when full of water?

If you are looking to place your hot tub outdoors you should consider the following issues:

Will your deck handle the 2,000 to 3,500 pounds a hot tub weighs when it is full of water?

Can the hot tub be placed close enough to the house that a trip to it will not be considered inconvenient?

If you've got an excessively elevated deck with limited access and a narrow staircase, you can expect to have to hire a crane to get it properly placed. This will usually cost between $60-100 per hour with a 3-hour minimum (it takes about 1 hour on site to get it done). Some spa retailers will be combined with deck-building and design firms, which offer quite a unique combination to give you the best of all worlds. Typically, in this instance you will be more satisfied with your installation, and the builder will stand behind not only the deck, but the spa as well. Be sure to choose a reputable company that doesn't cut corners, has a solid reputation and good references for building decks.

Hot Tub Maintenance

A common misconception among novices is that a hot tub needs to be drained after each use. This is not the case. Depending on the size of your filter vs. the size of the hot tub you will need to drain and refill the hot tub 3 or 4 times a year. The filter also needs to be maintained as per the manufacturer's instructions.

The amount of maintenance required also depends heavily on the method by which you decide to keep your hot tub clean. There are now electronic methods to purify the water in your hot tub as well as the traditional chemical methods.

There are many different ways to clean your hot tub that vary with the type of hot tub you have. Different surfaces require different methods so be sure to read your owner's manual. Using the wrong type of cleanser on some surfaces can cause significant damage.

Other things you should be concerned with when maintaining your hot tub:

Cleaning the Filter: Filters in portable spas are designed to be rinsed and reused. Check to see how easy it is to remove and replace the filter in any spa you are taking into consideration. Smaller filters do need to be cleaned more frequently but larger filters take up more of the spa's useable interior space.

Automatic Filtering & Heating: Hot tub's today feature small circulation pumps that continuously filter the water and provide the necessary flow to allow the heater to constantly maintain the set temperature. This continuous operation also means that ozone is always being mixed with the water. The reason this is important is because ozone dissolves rapidly and does not remain in the water after the system turns off. Hot tub's without circulation pumps rely on the low speed of a two-speed pump turning on periodically to provide filtration, ozone injection and the flow required for heating. For these hot tubs, periodic operation is typically controlled by a built-in programmable timer, by the spa's thermostat or both.

Water Quality: You will use chemicals and other additives recommended by your spa dealer to keep the water sanitized and chemically balanced. Ozone generators can be installed to reduce the amount of chemical sanitizers needed. However, Corona Discharge (CD) ozone generators are more expensive than ultraviolet (UV) ozone generators, yield higher concentrations of ozone for greater effectiveness and are less costly to maintain. For example, with UV systems, you will need to buy a new lamp and have it installed every two to three years, while the CD system will simply require cell cleaning at the same frequency.

Hot Tub Safety

Any time you have kids around you need to take precautions around your home. Hot tubs are not dangerous to kids but kids can make anything, including hot tubs dangerous. Here are a couple recommendations.

Purchase a cover for the hot tub that locks and can only be opened with a key.

Make sure the cover comes with a means of locking it securely to the spa to prevent unauthorized use.

Purchase a hot tub that has electronics that can be set to only be used by adults.

Use a qualified electrician to connect the electrical service to the spa.

Another tip that cannot be stressed enough. Do not drink alcohol while you are in the hot tub. The combination of the relaxation produced from the hot tub and alcohol can come so quickly you may find yourself asleep. Also avoid the hot tub if you are alone and very tired as it can also have the same negative effect.

Pregnant women should avoid hot tubs.

Check to be sure that the spa you are considering is listed by a recognized independent testing agency such as UL or ETL.

Article courtesy of whatsthebest-hottub.com.

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