Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Hot Tub
Outdoor swim spas or spa pools can give you satisfaction like nothing else. Soaking in one can become one of the best pastime activities for you and your entire family and friends. It’s well deserved time for relaxation after a long hard day at work. Spas and hot tubs can be used as gentle recovery tools or inspiring exercise machines, and they can become a part of your day to day life, which is why you need to choose one that fits you. There are many vendors around Australia that offer hot tubs sourced from the best brands and are made with quality materials. Shopping for hot tubs is as exciting and daunting at the same time as buying a car or a home. There are many things you’ll need to factor in to ensure you get the right purchase. Asking yourself a few questions and finding the answers will help you narrow down your choice and eventually leave you with a few models that will work best for you.
What Budget Should You Set For Yourself?
Let’s face it, this is the first thing that we all think about when making any type of purchase. Swim spas and spa pools (spa pools and hot tubs are the same thing) can range in price dramatically, depending on the size, model and features. You’ll find models that cost anywhere between $5000 to $50.000, so you want to determine which features matter to you as you narrow down your choices to determine your target price. Round hot tubs are usually about 3x3m in size, but they can be even smaller to fit your patio, or much larger if you’re wanting to enjoy it with more family and friends. Many spas feature bench, loungers or armchair style seating on sides. Swim spas, on the other hand, are structurally larger (4-6m in length) and feature an extended seat free area at one end. They’re basically a combination of a spa and a swimming pool, giving you the best of both worlds.
What to Look for in a Spa Manufacturer/Retailer?
You need to find a spa manufacturer that ticks a couple of boxes to ensure you get the best value for your money and ongoing support after you make the purchase. How long has the manufacturer been around? Look for one that’s been in the industry for a while so you can have peace of mind they’re around to support you and their spas in the foreseeable future. Is the business Australian owned? This can be extremely important for getting technical spa support or replacement parts. Are the spas made in Australia? If they’re imported as a finished product, the company may not have much knowledge on how they’re built and what’s needed to support and fix issues. Are their spas energy efficient, and can they demonstrate the efficiency? Are the spas manufacturing using quality components and are they structurally sound? Does the spa come with a warranty? Does the manufacturer provide useful local customer support? All of these questions need to be answered with a sound yes.
What Size Spa Should You Get?
The price of a spa isn’t reflected by the number of people it sits or its size. You can get a larger spa with fewer jets, which can be cheaper than a smaller spa with lots of jets. Basically, the more jets a spa has, the more pumps it needs to power them, and the more pumps a spa has, the higher the cost. While there’s no specific way to categorise spas, many manufacturers and retailers categorise them as compact, family and luxury spas.
Compact spas are smaller in dimension, but that doesn’t make them less “powerful” than other types of spas. They can be packed with features such as comfortable recliners and powerful hydrotherapy with jets to give you a full body massage. These spas are typically 2 metres or smaller, and are best suited for a couple, or a family with younger children. The kids can easily share a smaller seat or bench seat with fewer jets, since they’ll probably be spending most of their time jumping around instead of relaxing anyway. These spas fit on backyards and patios with limited space.
Family spas are slightly larger, ideal for families with more than two grown-ups, so everyone can enjoy a recliner or seat full of therapeutic jets. This will ensure everyone is comfortable even with a full spa. Most family spas have undercut footwells or extra depth to provide more room for bigger feet and long legs. Most family spa models are over 2 metres, feature 2 pumps and around 60 jets. There are also round hot tubs that may be more appropriate for some spaces.
Luxury spas are generally much larger in size and are equipped with over 70 jets and 3 pumps. These spas typically come with more features and each set has enough hydrotherapy jets for stronger massages. The longers are longer, the seats are deeper and there’s more space overall.
