When it comes to choosing a hot tub, many people don’t know where to start. This article outlines some of the questions that need to be addressed in the decision making process.
1. What type of Hot Tub do you want?
This is obviously the first issue that needs to be addressed when looking at buying a spa or hot tub. Cheap Hot tubs can be bought from a couple of hundred pounds, or if you are not willing to sacrifice quality, can cost thousands.
Hot tubs can come in many different variations; indoor and outdoor, portable or permanent, sunken and above ground. Before any other questions enter your head, these three options need to be decided.
2. Choosing a respected Hot Tub Manufacturer
When you choose your Hot tub, the manufacturers name can be very important as they often tell us of the hot tubs quality and pedigree. If the spa manufacturer that you choose has a decent reputation and has been trading for many years then you can buy in the knowledge that you are guaranteed a quality product and not just a cheap hot tub.
Respected manufacturers in the UK are Vision, Spa Crest, Waterstream Hot Tubs, Artesian Spa’s, HotSpring Spa’s, Marquis Spa and Hydropool Hot Tubs.
3. Deciding what size and style of Jacuzzi you want?
The size and shape of a hot tub are a very important consideration when choosing and purchasing a hottub. The size factor obviously relies on the available room in your house or back garden for the spa to reside. Don't forget if putting the tub in the back garden to allow room for other things such as your garden furniture or maybe even a patio heater. try not to clog your garden up too much.
Spa size also relates to the number of seats that you wish to have in your tub. A 2 person hot tub is always going to be a smaller size than a four or six seated hot tub. The number of seats also has a large bearing on the style of the hot tub. If you want the comfort of bucket seats then the spa will generally be bigger than one with bench seats.
Will your spa be a permanent fixture or a portable blow up hot tub which can be easily deflated and moved to a new position? The permanent options are in ground, sunken hot tubs or above ground hot tub enclosures. How would you like your tub to be powered? Do you want your hot tub to run off the mains electricity supply or would you prefer a greener option such as a solar hot tub?
4. Keep an eye on the construction of your hot tub.
It is important to note that if you are choosing a permanent outdoor hot tub then the construction materials should be highly durable and require little or no maintenance whilst standing up to the elements. The good news is that there are many different enclosure styles available that can fit in with your garden and personal tastes whilst enhancing the look of the hot tub.
It is also important when choosing an outdoor spa that a model is chosen that includes full insulation, ensuring maximum retention of heat and obviously cutting the running costs that come with hot tubs. A great way to take this further would be with the use of outdoor wood furnaces. They are a great cheap and green option for heating your outdoor hot tub.
5. Consider upgraded jets, air blowers and entertainment systems
Different types of Hot tub jets are available on the market that offer different types of massage so if you feel you can splash out then these are the type to go for. My personal preference is jets that have no moving parts but this is from a maintenance and safety perspective.
Air blowers add that therapeutic aspect to your hot tub experience through aromatherapy. If you include an air blown aromatherapy system in your hot tub it infuses your hot tub with millions of sweet smelling air bubbles that explode in to life at the surface, allowing you to enjoy fabulous fragrances as well as relaxing massage.
Additional features such as spill over fountains and waterfalls, surrounded by beautiful lights all add to the romantic atmosphere that can be created in a hot tub. If within your budget, you can always look at entertainment systems and features for your hot tub.
6. Test Drive your choice of hot tub before buying.
Don’t be afraid to go into Spa and Hot Tub dealerships and ask to try the product as they normally have different models set up at different times. A wet test means that you get into the spa when it is full of water and consider certain points: Are the seats comfortable? Do they provide good back support and keep you immersed in the water to shoulder level? Do you float off the seat due to it being too narrow? Do the jets massage the correct places? Can you get to the controls whilst you are in the tub and can you hold a normal level conversation comfortably when in the hot tub?
7. Installation
It’s always worth checking to see if the spa installation is included in the retail price but this is usually not the case. The dealer may however offer you a discount on installation but it’s always worth shopping around. Never be afraid to ask though.
8. Check for cheap discounted Hot tub bargains online
Once all your choices are made, it’s often worth seeing if you can find a cheap or discounted hot tub online. It’s always worth checking out with dealers locally so you can see the product with your own eyes and test drive it but everyone now that there is always a bargain to be had online and hot tubs are no exception.
Why not start choosing a hot tub today?
