Hot Tub Shopping Tips
When you start shopping for a spa or hot tub, you’re likely to be blown away by all the options on the market today. You can spend as much or as little as you’d like to get the hot tub you want most. Less expensive hot tubs typically come with fewer options – a cheap hot tub may only have room for two or three people with just a few standard water jets. As a hot tub’s price tag climbs, so does its list of options. Higher-end hot tubs usually have multiple types of water jets, built-in padded seating, advanced filtration systems and built-in lighting. That said, there’s no need to spend $6,000 to buy an enjoyable hot tub. You’ll find that most hot tubs and spas are extremely effective at providing a relaxing experience.
Find Installation Help
Some hot tubs can be installed without help, but many hot tubs may require professional assistance to ensure proper installation. Some stores offer free installation when buying home hot tubs or spas. If the store you buy from doesn’t provide installation help, then you can consider hiring a home contractor to install your new hot tub. Some portable hot tubs and smaller spa units can be installed without professional help. Even if a contractor isn’t needed, there’s a good chance you’ll need to hire an electrician to run electrical wiring from your wall to your new hot tub. Unless the hot tub literally plugs into the wall, we recommend hiring a contractor to handle all of your electrical work.
When installing a hot tub, also be careful with where you choose to place your unit. Some decks, patios and floors are built strong enough to handle the weight of a hot tub, but some floors and platforms would buckle under the weight of a hot tub unless they’re properly reinforced beforehand. Buying a hot tub can be the ultimate relaxing experience – but there’s nothing relaxing about a damaged deck or floor.
Hot Tub Covers and Safety
Investing in a good hot tub cover is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a hot tub owner. A high-quality hot tub cover will help insulate the water in your hot tub, reducing the need to continually reheat the hundreds of gallons of water in your spa every time you want to use it. Cheaper hot tub covers tend to be made of foam, but high-end hot tub covers are made from other materials that don’t crack over long periods of time. In addition to preserving the heat inside of your hot tub, some covers are sturdy enough to protect your hot tubs from debris such as falling tree limbs.
Hot tub covers are also the most important safety features of hot tubs. Many hot tub covers come with straps and fasteners that keep small children from removing the covers, which likely prevents hundreds of accidental drowning deaths each year. Hot tub cover fasteners are also sold separately in case you buy a cover that doesn’t come with that safety feature. You’ll find your hot tub is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about it being an unnecessary safety risk.
