Let’s be honest, everyone loves the idea of owning a hot tub. A soak in your own personal hot tub is like taking a mini vacation any time you need one. But in addition to easing away the tension and eliminating your aches and pains, a hot tub is also a great way to bring the whole family together. Most of us are overworked and rarely have the energy to do something special as a family. But a personal hot tub can offer an escape without having to leave your home.
Sure, a pool can work too, but it’s just so much work to install one, and you only get to use it for a limited time. Whereas an indoor hot tub is available to use every time of the year. Plus, hot tubs are much safer for families with small children. So, if you have the space and means, there are many reasons to splurge on a hot tub. But since you’re going to be sharing it with your family, it’s important that you make the right choice for everyone. And to do so, you need to consider the following things.
Shape
Hot tubs are available in a variety of shapes. Rectangular, round spas hot tubs that are shaped like a heart or diamond – there’s no limit to the shapes you can choose. But although an unusual shape does look interesting, it may not feel as comfortable as hot tubs with standard shapes. Rectangular and round spas hot tubs can allow everyone to spread out their legs comfortably, without any awkward angles. What’s more, in the case of round spas hot tubs manufacturers can usually fit a greater number of jets due to the lack of corners. And this in turn, can create a more enjoyable experience.
Size
But whether you’re browsing the range of rectangular or round spas hot tubs can also differ in the number of seats they offer. So, think about how many people will be using the spa and add an extra seat for greater comfort. Although smaller hot tubs are more compact and affordable to run, a two or three-seat hot tub won’t offer enough room for the whole family. On the other hand, although buying a huge tub for eight or more people may seem ideal for entertaining, consider that it will come with higher costs of running and ongoing maintenance.
Safety
When purchasing a hot tub for the whole family, choosing a safe model is crucial. Especially if you have small children. Although hot tubs are much safer for children than pools, you still want to make sure that your child can stand upright in the tub without the water level being higher than his/her neck. With that being said, if you have a toddler, the hot tub shouldn’t be deeper than 80cm. In addition, installing a tub with a high frame (more than 1m from the ground) or getting a hot tub cover can prevent small children from accidentally falling in. Besides increasing safety, a hot tub cover is also very convenient as it prevents dust and dirt from accumulating in the tub when it’s not in use.
Filtration & Hygiene
Considering how small children can easily swallow some of the water, the hot tub should be clean at all times. Although children may be at greater risk, dirty hot tubs can also be dangerous to anyone that uses them. If it’s not properly cleaned, a hot tub can be home to bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa which can cause a skin infection known as hot tub folliculitis. With that being said, it’s important to choose a hot tub with a powerful filtration system that will prevent dead skin cells and other debris from accumulating. In addition to this, hot tubs treated with a Microban coat can provide some additional antibacterial and antifungal protection, reducing the risk of dangerous bacteria growth. It’s also important to use the right cleaning chemicals and perform regular checks on the water’s pH levels with test strips.
Efficiency
Considering how it needs electricity and water to run, operating a hot tub can be expensive. So, even though you may afford purchasing one, it’s also important to consider that it will also cost to run. And since as a family you already have many other expenses to worry about, you don’t want a hot tub to significantly affect your finances. With that being said, it’s important to choose an energy-efficient model. Make sure to check the energy rating of the hot tub before you proceed to buy it.
Entertainment
If you want your hot tub to be able to entertain your family, choose one with a built-in entertainment system. Some hot tubs come with MP3 players, a surround sound system, subwoofer, iPod docking station, phone chargers and even a 1GB hard drive for your music collection.
