Owning your own personal hot tub is an exciting experience. Being able to relax in your own back garden beneath hot bubbling water and enjoy the company of your loved ones. Although, for first time buyers it can be quite intimidating if you’re unsure of the requirements. We’ve created a small guide for you to understand what the steps of your spa journey will be – from beginning to end.
Pre-Ownership
Researching
Before purchasing a hot tub there are a few things you must know: what type of spa you require, where you’re going to install it, how much it will cost, how to maintain your spa.
It’s vital that you do your research before diving into ownership right away. There are a variety of common misconceptions regarding hot tubs, such as the more jets it has, the better the spa. This is incorrect. The number of jets a spa has does not mean the spa is better. You must discover which spa has the correct jet placement and power to best fit your needs – especially if you’re purchasing for health reasons – otherwise you’ll be left feeling very disappointed.
If you’re unsure what will work best for you, then feel free to contact us at Scunthorpe Hot Tubs and we’ll be happy to help you!
Cost
Set yourself a budget for how much you wish to spend on your spa. Some companies, like us, will offer finance options to help you afford your dream spa, even if your budget is tight.
It’s important to remember there is a price for installation and maintenance that you will need to consider.
Installation
Before you purchase your spa, you must decide on where you’re going to place it. It’s important to measure your desired area and choose a spa that fits the space – you don’t want your dream spa to arrive only to discover it doesn’t fit anywhere.
Installing your spa isn’t as difficult as it seems. It’s very possible for you to install it yourself but if you’re unsure you can have experienced engineers fit it for you, to ensure everything is set up correctly.
Smaller spas, such as inflatable ones, are pretty straight-forward regarding installation, which is one that can be done by yourself; simply prep the area, set up the pump, inflate your spa, and fill it with water!
Although, if you decided on a grand seven-seater – like our Havana hot tub – it’s recommended that our engineers do the installation for you.
Remember, it’s vital that you add in your chemicals to ensure your water is at a healthy balance before you take a dip.
Caring For Your Hot Tub
Maintaining your spa is a lot easier than you may think. It may seem like a lot at first glance, but hot tubs are actually low maintenance. All it takes is a simple schedule that you follow throughout the year and the required chemicals and tools.
There are 3 important tasks that needs to be completed to ensure your spa is cared for correctly, which are Water Chemistry, cleaning your filters, and changing your water.
Water Chemistry
This is the key to a healthy spa. Although it may sound confusing, it’s actually very simple. This is a balance of the pH and Alkalinity levels – which can be tested via a testing strip – the value of which should range from 7.2 to 7.6. You can use increaser or decreaser to balance the levels correctly.
Cleaning Your Filters
Your filters should be cleaned every few weeks to ensure that they can protect your spa water from any bacteria or contaminants. This is done in three ways: rinsing with a hose, spraying with filter cleaner and rinsing, a deep chemical wash (Every few months). Failing to clean your filters correctly results in harmful bacteria and dirt entering your spa and affecting the user.
Changing Your Water
Every few months you must drain your spa and refill it with fresh water. With each use, the user leaves contaminants in the water and your spa can only hold a certain amount of chemicals before it becomes supersaturated. This means fresh water is required to ensure your spa is healthy.
This is also a perfect time for you to deep clean your spa’s interior and exterior.
What You Require
Here’s a list of chemicals you require to ensure your spa is free of bacteria and remains healthy to use:
- Sanitiser (Bromine or Chlorine)
- This is added to the water 2-3 times a week, depending on how often your spa is used, to kill bacteria.
- Shock/Oxidizer (Chlorine or Non-Chlorine)
- This is added once a week, which revitalised the sanitiser and removes remaining bacteria.
- pH increaser and decreaser
- Used to adjust the pH to balance with the Alkalinity for the perfect value.
- Alkalinity increaser
- Used to increase the Alkalinity and protect the pH from drastically changing.
- Defoamer (Optional)
- This helps remove foam from your hot tub water.
- Test Strips/Liquid Test Kit
- Used to ensure your chemicals are at the right level.
Check out our maintenance blog for a more in-depth guide on how to maintain your spa yourself, with a simple schedule for you to get started.
If you’re unsure how to maintain your spa, or would prefer a professional to do it for you, then you can select a maintenance plan that will fit your budget and give you peace of mind – from as little as £19.95 a month!
Ready to buy a hot tub? Scunthorpe Hot Tubs have been leading the industry for over 8 years and have over 60 hot tubs to choose from. Why not browse our full range of hot tubs now and see if the perfect hot tub might be just a click or two away.
Prefer to speak to someone? Give us a call on 0800 808 5396 or visit our showroom and we can help you choose the best spa for you.
Showroom Address: Unit 5, Scunthorpe Eastgate Park, Queensway Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe DN16 1AE
Opening Times
Mon-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 10am – 4pm