Its More than Just Relaxation

It can be a pretty daunting task to choose one from such a wide range of choices and the factors that come into play when choosing which one is best suited for you. One of the more important factors you might need to consider when thinking about buying a hot tub or a spa is what you will be using it for.

Sure, it is for relaxation and stress relief, but is it purely for that or is there another reason why you are purchasing one?

These hot tubs are often seen as a great way to build friendships and relationships since the relaxing atmosphere that it generates helps people let their guard down thereby enabling people tog get to know each other better because they are more comfortable and relaxed. If you are thinking of using your spa or hot tub for recreational or leisure purposes as well, then you will also need to factor that in to your reasons for buying one.

The Numbers Involved

Once you have established your general reasons for purchasing a hot tub or a spa, you will then need to consider the location of such a spa. This can be decided upon based on the reasons you have for purchasing one. If it is for personal use, you can have it installed inside your bathroom or outside your own personal living quarters on a personal patio or area that you can use for your alone time.

You can also use this kind of a setup for those times when you want to use the spa or hot tub with someone special. If you are, however, planning on having a spa or hot tub for recreational use that may include friends and family, it would then be advisable for you to have it installed outdoors, like in your backyard or on the back porch of your home. This consideration for the location of your spa or hot tub will also generate the question of the tub’s size and seating capacity.

For the more recreational friends and family tub choice, you may opt to choose the bigger tubs that can seat at least four people comfortably in its depths. If it is meant for personal comfort and relaxation, you are then better off with one with two seats for your bathroom or personal area. There are also single seat spas and hot tubs you can find on the market, however, these kinds of tube leaves very little room for other uses you might need.

When Price Matters

After all these considerations, the next most important selection obstacle is the price. While this may be a little less of a concern for people who have a surplus amount of cash, there are people who do have tight budgets when it comes to this expense.

Finding the right kind of tub for your exact purpose and your budget can be one of the most taxing parts of the selection process yet this is where you can further narrow the list down. Doing a little comparison shopping among the tub manufacturers that have the kind of hot tub or spa you want can help you further narrow down your choices to the few that you will eventually consider buying.

After you have narrowed down the choices, you can then call these manufacturers and ask them about installation. Is it free, are there additional charges, how soon can you have it installed and when can you expect to be able to use it once its installed?

These are just some of the questions you will need to ask to finally determine which spa or hot tub will have the honor of giving you that relaxing and rejuvenating soak.

There are many conveniences that indoor hot tubs offer a homeowner rather than an outdoor hot tub. Privacy would definitely be considered as one of them. You will not have to worry about your neighbors peeking at you while you are in your hot tub as long as you are indoors. You are not viewable by anyone at all so you will feel comfortable while relaxing in the indoor hot tub.

Have you ever been in an outdoor hot tub when it comes in raining? Obviously, it probably wouldn’t be much fun. The weather is another reason homeowners are purchasing indoor hot tubs instead of outdoor hot tubs. Outdoor hot tubs can really only be used during the summer months and maybe into the fall or spring. You will have to adjust the time you use your outdoor hot tub with the weather. However, with an indoor hot tub, you can use it every day if you wish, regardless of the weather.When purchasing an indoor hot tub, consider where you may be installing it and who will be using it. Most homeowners purchase an indoor hot tub in order to have a place of relaxation; therefore, you want to install the indoor hot tub in a place where you will not be bothered often. Make sure you install the indoor hot tub somewhere where you will not have to worry about tracking water all through the house. Make sure the surface around the hot tub is slip free so it’s easy to get in and out of the hot tub.

Indoor hot tubs are definitely more convenient for the homeowner; however, installation may be a bit harder than an outdoor hot tub. It’s not impossible, just a bit more complex. The indoor hot tub will be required to be installed in an area within your home that is well ventilated. The reason for this is that hot tubs create very high heat and high humidity. If you place your indoor hot tub in a small space, you could notice damage to different pieces of your home. Outdoor hot tubs are well ventilated being outside, so this is not a concern for those.

Because of the weight that indoor hot tubs can hold with water, which is about 2 tons depending on the size of the hot tub, you should check the foundation of your home before installing your hot tub. It’s very important to check the sturdiness to ensure that the foundation can hold the weight. It is best to reinforce the floor of the room. Another thing to remember is to make sure you have access to drainage for cleaning of the indoor hot tub.

Plan Ahead For Strength And Safety

No matter where you decide to place your hot tub you need to make sure that the location has a solid foundation. What this means to you is that the foundation must be a uniformly firm, continuous, and it must provide a level setting. The recommended foundation is a concrete pad with a minimum thickness of 4 inches with steel reinforced cross bars throughout.

When installing your spa on a wood deck or balcony, the same load requirements must be met. Total load may be as much as 90 pounds per square foot. Remember that your hot tub weights about 700 pounds on its own, then when you add water and people, it could have a total weight of up to 4,000 pounds.

Regardless of the location that you decide upon, you need to be sure that the hot tub is not within 10 feet of overhead power lines and that you leave access to the internal equipment.In order to complete maintenance or to make a needed repair, you will need adequate space to be able to reach the internal components. If your hot tub has external equipment you need to know that most city codes require that the equipment be at least 5′ from the tub, unless they are separated by a permanent solid barrier.Considerations For Indoor Placement Of Your Hot Tub

If you decide to place your hot tub indoors you need to understand that moisture will accumulate. Think about it, when the hot tub is being used, it puts off a great deal of steam. The steam that is created must go somewhere, and it will leave moisture on your walls, ceiling, floor, etc.

In any indoor location, you absolutely need to make sure that you have really good ventilation. The amount of moisture created will vary according to how frequently you use your hot tub. The ventilation not only helps dissipate the moisture and steam, but it also allows the chemicals to be circulated out.

The odor of the cleaning components can accumulate indoors and even create electrical problems, unless the area is well ventilated. The good news is that if you place your hot tub indoors it will probably stay cleaner and require less frequent chemical treatments.

Here comes the big news about installing a hot tub indoors; you should have some kind of drainage system in place! Experts recommend that you change the water in your hot tub every four months or so. And, the bucket brigade is not my idea of a Saturday afternoon well spent.

You always have the option of running sewage drains to your hot tub, and if you are placing your hot tub on an existing slab, you will need to dig up the concrete to build your drain system.

Another option that is a little less painful would be to get a small submersible pump. You can use the pump to push most of the water out of your hot tub, but pumps usually fail to move the last inch or so of water at the bottom of the tub.

Some manufacturers, build their hot tubs with a water hose connection inside of the cabinet at the bottom of the hot tub. This will enable you to hook a water hose to your hot tub, so that you can easily drain the water and move it to another drain or outside on the ground.

Additional Tips

No matter how well made your hot tub is, it is always possible that after years of usage, leaks can occur due to worn gaskets or seals. That water must have a place to go. Be prepared to deal with this if the situation arises.

Another obvious thought that may sometimes get overlooked is that you have to get the hot tub into your house. Measure to make sure that you have enough room to navigate it into your house and then measure again, after you do that, measure once more!

Many companies suggest that you spend the money to have a licensed contractor make sure that the local building codes are met, and the installation can occur safely, and that load requirements can be met.

Your Hot Tub Outdoors And Under The Stars

For many people, outdoors is the best location for a hot tub. A hot tub can be enjoyed on a warm sunny day or on a chilly night while you stay nice and toasty in your hot tub.

Being outdoors, there are fewer concerns for the hot tub. You do not have to worry about the steam and humidity or the chemicals affecting your home. Locating your hot tub outdoors though does mean that you may have to get a concrete pad laid down so that the hot tub has a proper foundation.

Other considerations with placing a hot tub outdoors include that it will get dirtier easier. Walking to and from the hot tub, your feet will get dirty and that will get in the hot tub. You also have to consider that leaves and such may end up in your new hot tub.

A cover is very important when placing a hot tub anywhere, but it is especially important when placing it outdoors. Always have a cover on the hot tub when you are not in it. This is a safety measure to prevent small children from falling into it and it also helps it to stay cleaner and keep insects out. The cleaner the water in the hot tub stays, the less frequently you have to treat the water with chemicals.

There are a wide variety of pictures on the Internet of hot tubs being placed outdoors in very creative ways. If you want to invest the money, a stand-alone deck can be built that encompasses the hot tub. The only limit here is your imagination and your budget.

Placing Your Hot Tub In A Screened In Room

Putting a hot tub in a screened in porch mostly resembles an outdoor installation. You have to consider some of the factors that go with both indoor and outdoor installations though.

A screened in porch will obviously allow for ventilation and the steam and humidity will not harm your walls.

You will still need a drain put into the floor of the porch though, if one does not already exist. If the manufacturer uses the water hose connection, this will not be an issue for you.

Again, you can find many creative pictures of hot tubs installed in screened porches on the Internet.

In Conclusion…

In the end, the placement of your new hot tub is completely up to you and your preferences. No matter where you decide to put it, be sure to plan ahead. The more that you plan ahead the easier it will be to install and to enjoy.

If you are not sure whether or not your chosen location is suitable for a hot tub, then you should seriously consider contacting a licensed contractor to review your location and make sure that it is suitable.

Finally, always take into account safety factors when deciding where to put your hot tub. As stated before, a cover should always be in place when it is not in use. Also consider the surface that you will be walking on when going to and from the hot tub. If the path is smooth concrete you may want to put some mats down to prevent slipping.

Now go out and enjoy your new hot tub and take satisfaction in knowing that your preplanning has prevented headaches and will help to prevent any future problems.