At Home Spa

Helpful Tips for Hot Tub Shoppers

Shopping for a home spa can be difficult and time consuming, especially if you're unaware of the functions and features associated with a high quality system. There are specific features and designs you should look for when shopping for hot tub or home spa, in order to ensure you purchase the best type of hot tub at the most reasonable price possible.

A few points you should keep in mind when shopping for home spas and hot tubs:

  • Personal preference is perhaps the chief consideration. Find a spa that fits your artistic, architectural, decorative and (of course) soaking needs.
  • The price range for fiberglass spas is a little higher than for wooden hot tubs.
    Concrete and Gunite spas usually cost more than fiberglass.
  • Acrylic and gel coat spas may be less natural-looking but offer a greater choice of designs shapes, sizes and colors. Gel coat spas are slightly less expensive than acrylic ones, but usually need to be resurfaced every 5 years.
  • Create a budget before you begin shopping in order to ensure you don't spend more than you can afford.
  • When using a hot tub, bathers sit upright on a wooden bench, but spas usually have molded seats. Some home spas have molded lounges for reclining.
  • Consider portability as a factor. Many hot tubs are placed on a deck or patio and can be relocated when you move. However portable home spas are generally the easiest to move.
  • Heat loss is also an important consideration. Wood is a better insulator than molded fiberglass, concrete or Gunite. Studies have shown that a hot tub with an insulating cover will drop only about 10-degrees Fahrenheit (6 Celsius) in 24 hours. A partially above-ground fiberglass spa comes with urethane foam insulation. Concrete and Gunite spas are prone to heat loss due to the heat-absorbing properties of these materials.
  • Most pool maintenance companies will tell you fiberglass spas with acrylic or gel coat linings are easier to maintain than wooden hot tubs and concrete or Gunite spas. Their non-porous surface makes cleaning a simple process and leakage is not a concern.

Following these tips will ensure you're happy with your purchase so you can relax and enjoy your new spa.