San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
LAID BACK LIQUID REJUVENATION
Hot tubs provide fun, therapy without breaking the bank
Like most everyone over the past year, you’re spending more time at home due to the pandemic yet looking forward to the near future when you’ll be able to entertain guests. You may have also harbored wishes of installing a swimming pool in your yard but had to abandon those dreams due to lack of supply and exorbitant prices.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a popular water amenity that can increase your home’s value, enhance your ability to enjoy the outdoors and add therapeutic relief to achy joints and muscles.
In short, perhaps a hot tub is in your future.
“Hot tubs improve your backyard and can offer numerous health benefits every day in the form of heat, buoyancy and hydrotherapy that can provide arthritis relief, improve cardiovascular health, decrease stress and lead to better sleep. Plus, many models are relatively affordable and easy to transport,” said Tracy Dick, vice president of marketing and Brand Strategy for Leslie’s Pools, headquartered in Phoenix.
Jen Rhodes, the founder and editor of Tubtopia.com in San
Francisco, notes that hot tubs create a relaxing opportunity to bond with family and — once the pandemic subsides — friends and neighbors.
“Families with kids, older couples and grandparents, and active people looking for post-workout hydrotherapy are especially good candidates for a hot tub, although virtually any homeowner can benefit from one,” she said.
But even though hot tubs are more compact and contain less water than a swimming pool, keep in mind that careful planning and regular maintenance are required.
“A spa or hot tub full of water can weigh more than 4,000 pounds filled, depending on its size and capacity. For this reason, it should be placed on a four-inch-thick reinforced concrete slab or an equally sturdy wood deck atop compacted earth that’s capable of holding 100 pounds per square foot,” Dick cautioned. “Never install one on a balcony or unsupported deck or set it on bare earth, as its weight can cause these bases to sink and collapse.”
When it comes to daily upkeep, it's recommended to circulate and filter the water, inspect the cabinet and cover, and take a temperature reading. Weekly maintenance includes testing the water's ph at least every other day and balancing as necessary with appropriate spa chemicals like chlorine or bromine. The ph should remain between 7.4 and 7.6, with a total alkalinity of between 80 and 120 ppm and a calcium hardness of 150 to 250 ppm.
“If you plan to use a hot tub often, it's strongly recommended to test sanitizer levels daily as well. Ideal sanitizer levels in a hot tub are 2 to 5 ppm for chlorine and 4 to 6 ppm for bromine,” Dick said. “You should also add spa shock to the water at least once weekly, air out the cover occasionally to prevent mold and mildew, clean the hot tub with a spa wand or battery-powered spa vacuum as needed and clean the filter cartridge at least once a week.”
The best location for a hot tub is close enough to your home that you can reach it easily in all seasons.
“This will maximize the use you get out of it,” Rhodes said. “Aim to maintain at least three feet of clearance on all sides of the tub for access, in case of plumbing or electrical repairs.”
Patrick Bertke, industrial designer for Barrette Outdoor Living in Galloway, New Jersey, recommends giving thought to privacy.
“You can surround your hot tub with dense foliage or decorative screen panels or privacy panels to prevent neighbors and outsiders from seeing you,” he said.
When shopping for a hot tub, think carefully about the size and capacity needed to accommodate your household. Smaller models fit two to four people, while larger units seat seven or more.
Standard options in most models include a pump, heater, underwater light and a spa-side control panel. Among the popular upgrades are extra horsepower, two pumps, a high-capacity heater, air blowers to add bubbles, extra LED lights, additional jets, an ozone or UV purification system and an audio system.
“The all-in-cost of adding a hot tub, including pad, installation, and electrical hookup, starts around $6,000 and can go well above $30,000 for deluxe models like a swim spa with jets powerful enough to allow you to swim in place,” explained Joe Raboine, director of Residential Hardscapes for Atlanta-headquartered Belgard.
Entry-level models are plugand-play, meaning you can simply plug them into a standard GFCI outlet. But the experts recommend buying a better unit that runs on either 120v or 240v electrical service (which requires installation by an electrician) so that you can run the pump/jets and heater at the same time and opting for a product that includes at least a five-year warranty.