How to Buy a Hot Tub
It’s not difficult deciding that you would like to install a hot tub in your home. Perhaps you’ve seen a hot tub at a neighbor’s house, or at a shop, and you know already that you and your family could derive a great deal of pleasure from having one of your own. But when you start to seriously shop for one, you will quickly encounter a great many questions about your purchase. How should you proceed?
To begin with, determine how you will use your tub, and choose a tub that fits your lifestyle. Will you be using the tub alone, just with your spouse or partner, with the whole family, or do you hope to entertain around it? If you entertain, how many people do you anticipate would use the tub at the same time? Most common hot tubs for home use seat four adults comfortably, and this is adequate for most purposes. However, if you have a large family and want the whole family to enjoy your hot tub together, or if you love throwing large parties, then opt for something bigger.
Most hot tubs are installed outdoors, but under certain circumstances, an indoor hot tub might suit your purposes better. If you opt for an indoor installation, remember that you need to provide adequate ventilation. Moisture needs to escape, so be sure to install a bathroom ceiling fan and outtake venting. Also, the floor should have a floor drain, so splashed water can be quickly expelled, and a floor surface that can get wet but is not slippery. A textured ceramic tile might be most suitable. Finally, you must verify that your supporting floor structure is adequate to sustain the weight of your tub, filled with water (which weighs 8.35 pounds a gallon), plus the weight of however many adults you expect might be using the tub simultaneously. You may need the help of a structural engineer to make this determination.
Once you’ve narrowed down the size you want, then give a potential hot tub a test run. How comfortable is it? Test it while it’s full of water; a good dealer should allow you to do this. What is the torso depth when you’re sitting up? If you live in a cool climate or plan to use your outdoor tub in the wintertime, be sure you can sit or lean comfortably with your shoulders covered; you will quickly get cold if you can’t submerge your entire torso and shoulders comfortably. If children will be using your tub regularly, the tub should have multi-level seating.
Check the jets carefully. Some hot tubs may include a large number of jets, but if none of them are in the right places, then they are worth little to you. If you need jets to relieve lower back pain, for instance, then make sure the tub provides appropriately positioned jets. Ideally, the jets should feel soothing and pummeling; individual jets should be adjustable for position, and you should be able to regulate the pressure. If you have back pain, the best jet should be able to send water up and down your back in a regular, automatic motion.
A hot tub should be quiet, especially if your neighbors are close in proximity. There should be no audible noise when the water is circulating or filtering through the hot tub’s plumbing; the jets of course will make some noise when you are using the tub, but it should remain perfectly quiet otherwise, during its regular functioning.
If you notice that the hot tub that’s set up at your dealer’s smells of chlorine, or some scent intended to mask chlorine, the tub’s sanitizing system is outmoded. The best tubs use corona discharge (CD) ozone technology to control bacteria. With this system, the CD ozone is discharged into your tub through the jets, and it eliminates the need to use chlorine or other chemicals to keep your tub clean and bacteria-free. The ozone also breaks down the body oils that will accumulate in your tub’s water, so the water will appear much clearer. Also, filters should be top-loading and easily accessible for cleaning or replacement, and they should be sized appropriately for the size of your tub. Make sure that the filtration system provides for full coverage: that all of the water in your tub routinely passes through the filters.
In terms of controls, simplicity is usually best; a hot tub that is fully programmable for operations such as heating and filtration may have too many parts that can break down. However, if you’re going to use your tub in the winter and you routinely have freezing temperatures outside, then a programmable heating system is a must. If the heat can turn on and off at regular intervals, you can ensure that the water in your tub won’t freeze. You may be able to set up a sensor in the tub connected with an alarm system in your house, alerting you if the water temperature in your tub is approaching freezing temperatures.
The tub itself (the “shell”) is made of two layers: the understructure, which bears the weight of the water and bathers, is generally made of fiberglass or ABS plastic, while the surface should be comfortable to sit on and resistant to UV and chemical damage as well as cracking. Some shells have special coatings that are stain-resistant, or that have antibacterial compounds molded into the shell material. Your dealer should offer a warranty; seven years is generally best. “Lifetime” warranties may be bogus, as regulations in many states in the U.S. put a cap on what constitutes a “lifetime” for the purposes of a warranty.
There are many other variables to consider. What are the tub’s monthly operating costs? The most energy efficient tubs should have foam insulation rather than “peanut” insulation or no insulation at all. What is the manufacturer’s track record, and what is the dealer’s track record? Ask for references; talk to someone else who has bought a hot tub from your dealer. Check what the price includes, or does not include. You definitely need delivery to your home, and you need a tub cover. What about installation?
And where shouldn’t you buy a hot tub? You can do all your research on the Internet, but shop from a dealer, where you can actually test out the tub you want to buy. Carnivals and fairs are also good places to “shop around,” but not to actually shop. Hot tub pavilions at fairgrounds are set up for the quick sale, and this is a purchase you want to make slowly. And try to avoid big-box stores that sell everything from outdoor storage sheds to frozen fish sticks. Selection will be limited, sales staff will have only passing knowledge and experience, and service will be negligible. Buy from a dealer who sells hot tubs. Only.
Obviously, you have much to consider. But once your hot tub is installed and you’re able to enjoy it on a daily basis, all the trouble you took making the purchase will be worth it.
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