Calming Soaks, Bubbling Options
From seating types to installation options, get to know your choices in hot tubs and spas.
By Nicole Janda
If you’re in the market for a hot tub or spa, there are many questions you must consider before you buy: How many people do you want it to seat? Will you be using it for recreation, therapy, or both? Where would you like to install it?
With so many models and options to choose from, deciding what’s best is a matter of personal preference, space, usage, and cost.
Benefits, Seating & Cost
Owning a hot tub or spa is a rewarding investment. Hot tubs not only provide a great setting to relax and entertain family and friends, but they also offer a multitude of health benefits. In fact, numerous studies have found that the heat, buoyancy, and massage elements of hydrotherapy improve blood circulation, reduce stress, relieve arthritis pain, and improve sleep.
Whether your reason for buying a hot tub is for health, entertainment, or personal relaxation, there are a variety of sizes and seating configurations to suit your needs. Hot tubs range from small models that seat one or two people to large models that can fit 10 or more. A variety of seating types are available.
Bench seating, typically used in economy models, is easy to move around in and offers maximum seating, making it great for entertaining. Most mid-range to high-end models have molded seating, in which each seat is designed to serve a specific purpose and to fit the contours of your body. A captain’s chair is slightly reclined to support your back and has adjacent armrests and a headrest. Lounge seats allow you to fully recline. Small cool-down seats sit closer to the water’s surface, providing a convenient place to cool off before exiting. For ease of conversation, some models have reversible, double lounge seats that face each other. Others may include a bench-like love seat on one side.
Most manufacturers offer models with a variety of molded seating combinations. For example, you may prefer a five-person spa with four captain’s chairs and one cool-down seat vs. a four-person model that includes a lounge seat.
The price of your model will depend on its size, brand, and features. Small economy models with limited features start as low as $2,000. A well-equipped five-person hot tub costs about $6,000 – $7,000. Larger models with additional jets and seats can be $10,000 – $15,000. Mid-size and luxury models typically have more available extras, such as music systems, lighting, and automatic cleaning systems, which can drive the price higher.
Installation
Hot tubs and spas can be installed indoors or out, and either aboveground or inground. Some homeowners place their spa on an outside deck or recess it partially in the ground and build a deck around it. Others invest in a gazebo or enclosure to provide shade and nearby seating. Outdoor applications are most common, and thinking about how you’d like to use your hot tub can help you decide the best place to put it. If entertaining and convenience is your goal, keep it close to the house. If you’d like to use your hot tub to relax and escape from daily stress, place it in an area where there’s privacy from neighbors and little noise.
No matter where you decide to install it, you’ll need to create a flat base that is structurally sound. (When filled with water and occupied by several people, a hot tub can weigh over 4,000 pounds!) For aboveground applications in your yard, spa pads, concrete, gravel, and paver stones will provide adequate support. If placing your hot tub on a deck, you’ll need to determine the deck’s maximum load capacity to ensure proper support. Adding braces to pre-existing decks will help prevent damage such as sagging and cracking.
Installing a hot tub fully or partially inground creates a more natural appearance; however, recessed hot tubs cannot be removed as easily if you decide to move. These installations are also more complex than aboveground applications. They require the construction of a pit with a concrete base, as well as a concrete or wood retaining wall to prevent dirt from eroding and falling into the tub. Proper drainage is necessary to prevent rainwater flooding, which could cause damage to both the support material and hot tub. Additionally, you’ll have to make sure one side of the spa can be accessed for future servicing.
An indoor hot tub offers maximum privacy and allows you to enjoy it any time, regardless of the weather. Indoor installations require many additional preparations. You must check the foundation of your home to ensure adequate support for the spa; you may need to reinforce the floor of the room where you plan to install it. The flooring should have a non-slip grip, and a floor drain is recommended. Because hot tubs can create a lot of humidity and build-up of chemicals and gases in the air when enclosed, the room must be well ventilated. To avoid mold, unhealthy air, and any structural damage to the room over time, consult an HVAC contractor about proper ventilation.
Maintenance & Materials
Before you buy, you’ll want to understand the maintenance involved and your choices in water care systems. Bromine is the most common chemical sanitizer for hot tubs because it is effective at higher temperatures and pH levels. Though it burns off easily in sunlight, this is rarely a concern with spas because they are covered most of the time. Bromine comes in the form of tablets or granules and is distributed through a floating dispenser or a built-in cartridge system. Some hot tubs also come equipped with an ozonator, which automatically injects ozone into the water.You can also consider mineral purification such as an ionizer, which uses copper and silver ions to disinfect the water. (Note that ozonators and mineral systems still require a small amount of bromine to effectively sanitize the water.)
A hot tub’s interior surface, or shell, must be able to withstand the use of chemicals over time. Acrylic is most commonly used because of its durability and easy maintenance. It provides a hard, nonporous surface that prevents the build-up of dirt, resists stains, and can endure the use of any sanitizer.
For the exterior, real wood is rarely offered on today’s models because it requires staining and sealing at least twice a year. Instead, most manufacturers offer synthetic wood cabinetry—in numerous colors and styles—because it can be easily cleaned with a hose.
With the variety of design and installation options, you’re sure to find a hot tub that fits your lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to entertain your family and friends or create a relaxing oasis, a hot tub is a great addition to your indoor or outdoor space.
Photo courtesy of Bullfrog Spas