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What to Look for When Buying a Hot Tub
There's a lot to consider when purchasing a hot tub. Not all hot tubs are created equal. It probably goes without saying, but some are better than others, and your personal preferences and needs will have an effect on which hot tub is the better choice for you.
When you’ve decided that purchasing a hot tub is the right decision for you, it’s wise to take some time to look at the different types of hot tub and figure out exactly what you want from yours.
For hot tub advice, whether you're deciding between bromine or chlorine, or what hot tub would work best for you, you can contact a member of our team here, at 1st Direct Pools!
Consider how many of you will likely be using your new hot tub. Are you a family of four, six, or a child-free couple? Or perhaps you and your ten housemates are all chipping in?
So, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with the standard hot tub sizes.
• Small hot tubs will usually fit 2-4 people.• Medium hot tubs will usually fit 5-6 people.• Large hot tubs can fit 7+ people.
Think about what kind of seating is most ideal for you. After all, the recommended maximum time for a hot tub session is around 45 minutes, so, you’ll need to be comfortable!
There are a few different seating types to think about when browsing for hot tubs. Some of the most common are:
A common seating style in many hot tubs is lounge seating. These are designed to emulate the comfort of a chaise longue.
This is probably the most common seating style. Bench seats will have you sat upright with your feet firmly on the floor of the hot tub. Usually, bench seating allows you to move freely between seats.
Different seats sometimes offer different jet formations, which in turn provide varied hydrotherapy. This can be an added bonus when it comes to ultimate relaxation!
If your primary motivation for purchasing a hot tub is for therapeutic purposes, definitely consider one with therapy seats. They work by strategically locating the jets to give you a full back massage. During a ‘wet test’, take note of where the jets hit your back, and whether or not it’s comfortable for you.
Most in-ground and above-ground hot tubs will be no deeper than 94cm (37 inches) for safety purposes. However, some could be 78cm (31 inches) which is the typical industry minimum. Anywhere between these two measurements is considered ideal for a hot tub.
It’s useful that, during the ‘wet test’, you consider any ‘float’. This is exactly what it sounds like. Check to see if the seat height is good, or if it causes you to float off, (i.e. not be firmly placed on the seat). As you can imagine, this would get very annoying.
Be sure to check the water capacity in comparison to the number of seats. Sometimes, a hot tub will promise to seat, for example, 8-10 people. However, when put into practice, there may not be enough water to cater for this amount of users.
So, a great way to measure is to assign 225-250 litres of water per seat. Times this by the number of seats to ascertain the ballpark capacity. So, a four-seater hot tub will ideally hold 900-1000 litres of water comfortably.
Again, this is specific to you and the effects you desire from your new hot tub.
If your goal is purely for relaxation and social purposes, you don’t need to worry too much about targeted jets. In this case, a larger number of jets is ideal.
Many manufacturers will aim to impress with large numbers of jets, while others will focus more on efficiency and targeted massage. If you’re purchasing your hot tub to maximise its health benefits, then it’s best to look for the type of jets, rather than purely the number.
You may see a hot tub for sale that boasts 100 jets. But, it’s absolutely crucial to check the number of pumps. A high amount of jets powered by a low amount of pumps will result in poor water pressure, as there’s unlikely to be adequate power to maintain a good standard of pressure.
Predictably, a hot tub with more jets and pumps will provide a better massage than a hot tub with fewer jets and pumps. A good benchmark is 20 jets per pump. Any more and the pumps may be stretched too thin.
Look for a filter with a larger surface area. The larger the surface area, the more efficient the filter will be in catching unwanted debris. Additionally, two-stage filters are hugely effective in removing firstly the larger debris, and secondly the smaller pieces which will inevitably slip through the first filter stage.
Observe where the filter is located in the hot tub - you will need to clean it from time to time, so the easier to access, the better.
Check your chosen hot tub has a dedicated circulation pump. A good circulation pump will continually move water through the hot tub filter. This, combined with a high-quality filtration cycle, will usually ensure adequate filtering throughout the day.
Don’t forget the all-important skimmer to collect the floating debris from the surface water.
The most popular method of keeping your hot tub clean is chlorine tablets. They work by slowly dissolving over time which means consistent dosing.
However, do check your chlorine levels with a test strip, making sure the level does not drop below 3-5ppm.
Chlorine tablets are typically reasonably priced and considered one of the best ways to target unwanted bacteria in your hot tub.
Taking care of your hot tub is hugely important, and with a little know-how, you’ll have it down in no time.
Now’s the time you can really make your hot tub your own. There are hundreds of fancy features to further boost the already substantial appeal of your hot tub!
The finishing touches are important for those extra conveniences you might like. Of course, these can be purchased at a later date when the needs become clear.
Hot tub safety rails, steps and parasols can all come in handy. Plus fun extras like floating bars and hot tub crystals to spice things up!
So, while there seems like a lot to consider, it’s wise to familiarise yourself with the different aspects of a hot tub. A little effort, then you can truly sit back and relax. Our guide will hopefully have you browsing through hot tubs with absolute confidence.
