When you first decide to buy a portable hot tub or home spa, you will end up up against a dizzying array of features, specifications, designs and accessories. It could be quite daunting to research all of these possibilities and see the very best configuration to meet your needs. The world wide web is a great tool for finding literally thousands of sources of information, but it will add towards the confusion start by making it problematical to understand which sites offer objective insights and which internet sites are thinly masked sales pitches for a specific manufacturer.
Begin with the basics
The first step is in understanding the many different names you will read while looking for here is how to purchase a portable hot tub or home spa. Here are a few popular terms:
o Home spa – generally made with an acrylic shell; surrounding cabinet could be made of wood or artificial materials; enables you to describe an above ground, in-ground, indoor or outdoor spa.
o Hot tub – name originally presented to the primary spas which were typically round, made from wood, and discovered outdoors; might be commonly used interchangeably using the phrase ‘home spa’.
o Portable hot tub/portable home spa – name for any hot tub/home spa that’s pre-assembled and sits above ground; actual size featuring of a portable spa vary widely, from small tubs that weigh just a few hundred pounds and are quick to set up to large tubs that weigh thousands of pounds and need specific installation methods and wires.
o Jacuzzi® spa – Manufacturer Jacuzzi® is a well-known manufacturer of home spa systems; jacuzzi is often utilized as a plain mention of any home spa or spa
Think of The needs you have
When you do more research into portable home spas and jacuzzis, you’ll find there are many sizes and has available. Here is merely a partial list of common offerings:
o 4 to 6 person, 6-8 person, 8 to 10 person sizes
o Lounge, bench and therapy seats
o Power, circulation, foot or therapy jets
o Adjustable jets
o Electronic or pneumatic controls
o Water purification systems
o Single or dual filtration
o Ozonator systems
o Automatic spa covers
o Fountains
o CD/stereo systems
As you have seen, there are many choices for configuring a portable home spa. Remember, though, the best hot tubs do not necessarily have the most or fanciest features. What’s most critical is basically that you select a spa that has the options most suitable on your own needs and preferences.
Think of Costs
Expense is a crucial consideration when you choose to acquire a conveyable spa. The initial investment may range from $3,000 around $20,000, depending on the size, construction, boasting of the spa you choose. Equally as important, though are the ongoing costs of operating your house spa.
Initial Cost
o Understructure construction – sized interior wood frame materials (2×4, 1×2, 2×3, etc.), pressure treated base
o Insulation – basic single layer polyurethane, low-density packaging foam, multi-layered high density foam
o Cabinetry – natural wood, synthetic wood, metal, removable walls, access panels
o Shell construction – quality and thickness of fiberglass, quality and robustness of the manufacturing process
o Number/type of jets – standard amounts of jets, customizable variety of jets
o Hot spa heater – wattage, power used, speed of water heating
o Controls – electronic, single or dual, pneumatic, remote control
o Number/type of pumps – single, dual, or triple pumps
o Electrical requirements – 110v or 220v
o Surface/pad requirements – dirt, gravel, concrete
o Accessories and other features – fountains, water fountains, CD/stereo, lights
o Spa covers – standard, custom, high-density, without or with automatic lifter
o Delivery and/or installation costs – shipping from distant supplier, delivery by local pool or spa supplier, labor to place spa in desired location, initial spa setup
Ongoing Costs of Operating a Hot Tub:
o Chemicals – what chemicals are suggested, where would they be obtained, simply how much can they cost, what quantity will probably be needed
o Filters – capacity, recommended amount of time between changes, price and availability of replacements
o Electricity – cost per kwh from your utility, features and insulation in order to save power and preserve heat
o Water – cost per gallon whenever spa is filled, pH of water to determine quantity/type of chemicals needed
o Repairs – local repair technicians, accessibility to pumps and motors, warranty length and coverage
o Upkeep and upkeep of cabinets and shell – cleaning, staining, preservation
Generally, it is best to put your money into many of the ‘hidden’ features that produce your home spa stay longer and price less to use. For example such things as effective insulation, quality heaters and pumps, good water purification systems, and so on.
Take into consideration Maintenance
Another essential consideration when buying a moveable spa or home spa may be the maintenance that will be required. This includes not merely any repairs which might be needed as time passes, but ongoing upkeep and maintenance to keep your tub as well as pleasant to work with.
Below are a few areas to take into account:
o Water maintenance – could be the chemical and filtration system robust enough to help keep water clean for the degree of usage you expect? This will have a big influence on both regular water sanitation activities as well as the frequency of full water changes. Ideally, your spa should require minimal daily attention as well as a minimal number of time-consuming full water changes.
o Cabinet maintenance – if the cabinet is made of wood along with the portable spa is situated outdoors, plan to re-stain the wood at least once a year. If your cabinet is made from artificial materials then periodic spraying having a hose and/or wiping off dirt is generally sufficient.
o Repairs – pumps wear out, heaters stop heating, as well as other mechanical problems inevitably surface. Read and comprehend the manufacturer’s warranty prior to buying, looking for tips like coverage of parts, labor along with other materials. Also, try to find hidden fees along with other costs you might incur if, for instance, a repair technician has to travel from on vacation to access your region or if the neighborhood supplier does not maintain a specific part available. Some warranties on portable home spas even specify that certain forms of warranty repairs have to be done with the spa factory, requiring you to buy shipping from the factory.
Summary
Investing in a hot tub is definitely an investment that should stop taken lightly. Invest time to research and gather information, and check out many different spa manufacturers. Careful shopping and collection of a house spa pays off in the end, though, while you end up with a portable home spa that can present you with numerous years of enjoyment.
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