Safety is the very first point to be made.  Because of the risk of drowning in a hot tub, if you are going to have one, you must invest in a locking cover.  Children cannot fall into a hot tub is there is a locking cover on it.  A cover will also do two more things; it will keep the debris that is in the air, whether the hot tub is indoors or outdoors and will lengthen the life of the filters but it can also act as a heat-keeper of sorts.  By placing a cover on the hot tub when it is not in use, in many cases, the heat will not be able to escape and it will be much easier to maintain a balance in the water temperature. 

Hot tubs of today are much more energy efficient than they have been over the past 30 years and what used to take a sizeable amount of money to keep heated and operating now takes a fraction of that cost.  The other option for heating a hot tub is in the solar powered models.  Because these tubs are heated by the sun’s own power, the use of electricity is not needed and will not impact your energy bills whatsoever.

Hot tubs are self-contained and once they have been filled with water, they will reuse that same water until it is drained and refilled.  That being said, it is important to keep the water clean in your hot tub.  Water is pulled through a drain and then is processed through a filter and eventually makes its way back into the tub.  Therefore, filters are very important to this process and must be maintained regularly and it is even suggested to physically remove filters and wash them off with a hose until they are clean on a weekly basis.  If the filter doesn’t seem to be getting clean, there are filter cleaners that can be used, but with the weekly maintenance, that should not be needed.  Filters do wear out eventually and a complete filter change every three to six months should keep your hot tub clean.

Along with the filters doing their job to keep things clean, a hot tub owner must understand that there are always particles that will end up in the tub, no matter how clean you are, and if not treated, they can cause harm.  So, what do you do about them?  The hot tub will need a chemical treatment that will consist of chlorine tablets and an anti-foaming agent that is important for the extended use of your hot tub.  If you live in an area where the water is considered hard, it is best to add an anti-scaling chemical which will help prevent the build up of calcium deposits that could permanently stain your hot tub.

The first item is not something that should NEVER be brought into a hot tub but it is something that should be monitored and restricted and that is alcohol.  When someone sits in a hot tub and consumes alcohol, as they sweat their sweat is replaced not with water but with alcohol and the effects can be devastating if they are not paid close attention to.  Numerous accidents have been documented because people were in a hot tub, stayed in longer than recommended, drank alcohol and passed out.  Passing out or falling asleep in a hot tub is not as hard as you may think; in fact it’s quite easy and if you drift off to sleep while relaxing in a hot tub, it’s in your best interest to have a clear head if this kind of thing happens.

If you are going to have some alcohol in the hot tub do yourself a huge favor and don’t use glass.  Use plastic cups and it will save a lot of anguish and headache if it were to fall and break.  At least with a plastic cup there won’t be shards to worry about.

This point may sound like a no-brainer but it is worth saying and that is it is not advisable to have any type of electronics near the hot tub.  Let’s face it, electricity and water do not mix well and there could be fatal consequences if something that was plugged in fell into the water.  Avoid the tragedy all together and only use batter operated items, if at all.

It is another big fat mess if you bring one other common item and mix it with a hot tub, especially one with hydrotherapy jets; bubble bath.  It only takes a few spoonfuls to cause a serious overflow of the bubbly and it can wreak havoc long after it has been cleaned up.  Bubble bath on wood makes for a very slick surface and a slick surface near water could pose a danger with little effort.  Because of the design of an above ground hot tub, there may be hard edges that could cause quite a bit of damage if someone were to slip and fall into them.

In order to be able to enjoy the benefits of a hot tub soak it is important to know what NOT to bring into the tub and why they are dangerous.  Don’t learn the hard way.

In the same manner of thinking, every year improvements are made on the effectiveness of the massaging jets and if you’re already in a hot tub and enjoy the benefits of massaging jets, can you imagine how much better your experience will be with the updated/upgraded options?

There is always the reason for changing your hot tub because you’ve changed your lifestyle or your decorating style has changed.  There is no reason to have a gorgeous room that is modern-looking and beautiful only to have an out-of-date, out-of-style hot tub lurking in the corner.  The hot tub addition to a room should always be to enhance the room, no detract from it.  Meaning that if your style has changed, why not change your hot tub in order to continue the improvements?

Each year when the newer models are unveiled, an improvement that is worth thinking about trading up for is the ease of the maintenance for your hot tub.  Where hot tubs of 30 years ago were mainly made of wood, they were much more difficult to keep clean and if you didn’t refinish the wood yearly, they would eventually just rot because of the exposure to the elements and the exposure to the chemicals that keep a hot tub clean and clear.

Probably the best reason for upgrading your hot tub is that when the new models come out, there is almost always a form of energy savings and efficiency that has been addressed and improved.  If you’re finding that as the years pass it is costing more and more to keep the hot tub at a maintained temperature then it is definitely time to investigate the cost savings to compare to the upgrade cost and determine if the upgrade makes the most sense.

This article is not to suggest that each year there is a new and improved hot tub model that you should go out and buy a new one, that’s silly and it would be like trying to keep up with computer technology so that you are always guaranteed to have the latest and greatest computer on the market.  There really is no way to keep up but with a hot tub, they do last years and if you find you are putting more money into its repairs than you should be, maybe it’s time to trade-up.

Also know that most dealers offer a trade-in deal where they will remove your old hot tub and you don’t have to worry about its disposal.  It is a good way for you to feel less guilty about trading up when you don’t have to be responsible for what to do with the old tub.  You really can’t go wrong by upgrading your hot tub every ten or so years.

Seriously, it sounds almost magical, doesn’t it?  Is it the steam from the hot water that grabs hold of the tension in your body and then floats it all away that does it?  Is it like the feeling you get when you walk into Disney World, for the first time (or for the first time on one visit) and your eyes get HUGE when you look down Main Street to Cinderella’s Castle and you realize that you’re standing in the most magical place on the planet?  It doesn’t matter if you are 5 years old, 60 or 102; that feeling is there and it is a wonder to comprehend.

The thing is, there aren’t any magical answers, there are just tried and true, scientifically proven reasons as to why, when you step into a hot tub at the end of a long day, that you are able to release all of the days worries and tensions.

All day long we walk around and our bodies are pounded, with each step we take, by gravity.  We wouldn’t notice it unless we were concentrating specifically on the force of gravity and how it affects every step we take; but it’s there, and it is constantly putting a huge amount of pressure on your entire physical self, every single day.  So, what does that have to do with the wonders of a hot tub?  When you sit in a hot tub, your body becomes buoyant and you are relieved of up to 30% of the natural gravitational pull that stresses your physical self all day long.  As if that weren’t enough, because we could all spend a couple of minutes in a swimming pool for that effect, but there’s more to a hot tub’s wonder.

As you submerge your tired old self into the hot water, your body naturally begins to warm and warmth brings about relaxation.  It all happens because your blood flow is in high gear, while your veins and capillaries are also in a relaxed, not tense, state of being.  So, it all works like this; blood does the flowing, your heart works better, and you are not being driven to the ground by 100% force.  Is that all there is to it?  Well, basically yeah, that’s the tip of the ice berg and the basic understanding of why, after a day spent totally on the hamsters wheel, all it takes is a soak in a hot tub to completely rejuvenate the body and mind.  Amazing, isn’t it?

Just for kicks, what extravagant options would you build into this dream of a hot tub?  There are so many options available today by manufacturers that your choices are nearly limitless.  Would you go with an in-ground model or one with a deck? 

The designing of a hot tub always begins with one question: How am I going to use it?  Who will be spending time in it?  How many people do I expect at any one time and would like the room for?  Okay, so you figure you’ll treat yourself to the biggest hot tub around, which can hold up to 10 people!  You equip the unit with as many massaging jets as possible, a few reclining seats, a few where you sit straight up where there are jets that force air and water up from the bottom of the hot tub to do one job; keep your feet happy.

Do you need to build a structure to house this extravagant hot tub?  Will you have the walls without any obstruction so the air can move freely right through it?  Will you have walls and doors and windows for that extra privacy?  Again, the choices are unbelievable right now, for the options available to the hot tub buyer and/or owner.

One of my favorite options that are available for today’s extravagant hot tubs is the use of light and LED screens.  There are waterfalls that are built into the unit that are lighted with color changing features that can change colors with the rhythm of the music, if you’d like.  Some of these high end, extravagant hot tubs come with stereo systems and surround sound that most of us don’t have in our homes.

What about movies?  Is it a dream for you, like it is for me to be able to enjoy the benefits of a hot tub while watching a movie?  It may be a movie you’ve seen a thousand times, or for the first time.  There could even be a TV attachment, where you can watch your favorite programs and relax in the hot tub at the same time.

One of my favorite options is the one where there is a remote control device, so you can check and adjust the temperature of the outdoor hot tub before going out into the inclement weather.  Picture it; you’re in your warm fire-place heated cabin in the mountains and there is snow on the ground.  Earlier in the day you cleared a path from the back door to the hot tub and you decide it’s time to hit the hot tub for a little relaxation.  Do you walk out, through the snow, hoping that temperature will be warm enough in the tub that you can just get right into it?

What if you walk outside, in a bathrobe and warm slippers only to find that the heater isn’t working and you need to get back indoors as quickly as possible?  That kind of thing never has to happen with the most extravagant hot tubs; just rely on your remote control to check the temp ahead of time, make heating adjustments if needed and head out for an experience like no other, by sitting under the stars, on a snowy night, enjoying your hot tub.

It’s not just about relaxing, either, because there are athletes and trainers who have been using the whirlpool effect with hot water to soothe athletes for years.

How many times have you seen the nightly news only to see a story about an athlete who is feeling sore in a specific area and we can see him in the background, sitting next to a big aluminum-looking tub with whatever is ailing him submerged in the water?  Coaches and trainers have known for years what the medical community is just now advocating; by allowing submersion in hot water, a healing can occur.  No medications, no drugs, no shots, just some hot water.  Go figure.

Aren’t we just amazed by what professional athletes put their bodies through?  Watch one game on Monday night football to gain a respect of what those guys put themselves through for the sake of the game, that’s all you’ll need to start to understand that if they find a healing property in hot water, why shouldn’t we?

I remember the movie North Dallas Forty from many years ago which is about the Dallas Cowboys’ football team.  I remember a scene where the camera angle was as close to the real thing of being in the place of the player and for just a few moments, as the audience, could experience what it must be like to play that game as a pro.  It was incredible!  Men weighing more than 200 pounds, wearing cleats on their feet were actually stepping on one another to get that football, it was painful to watch.  Immediately after the game, it did not show the players at a bar, enjoying a beer together or at home with their families.  What we saw was probably a lot more like the reality of players; they were bandaged up, moaning because of their sore muscles and they were neck high in a hot tub because they knew, without a doubt, that by sitting in hot water they could reap some of the benefits of healing without the need for drugs.

Maybe I read too much into the movie, but the point is, the trainers and coaches of great athletes have been using the hot tub-method for healing for centuries and it is today, in the 21st Century that the medical community has hopped on board and backed the findings that sitting in a hot tub will help to heal sore muscles.

Today the medical community is using the idea of hot tubs for healing for all kinds of medical problems; people with diabetes have been known to reduce their blood sugar with a consistent use of a hot tub, people who have suffered a stroke have been able to have that almost-normal feeling they had before their stroke when they are in a hot tub.

Maybe it has taken a long time for the medical community to endorse the use of hot tubs for healing, but the bottom line is they have come to the conclusion and that’s progress.

Somewhere along the way there began to be a murmur about the wonderful health benefits that people who were using their hot tubs on a regular basis were achieving that the medical community began to take notice.  Their findings were nothing shy of a paradigm shift in the ways people could heal.  The possibility that allowed patients to have medical benefits without necessarily the use of medication, were almost hard to believe, but patients were showing signs of physical improvement from simply soaking in a hot tub.

Once this information became common knowledge, a new, improved, affordable option became something that many more families could enjoy.  From then on, more and more manufacturers were coming up with ways for the average American family to be able to have their own hot tubs, without the extraordinary purchase cost.  They were even improved upon the cost of running a hot tub, and the maintenance came down considerably in price, too.

Today there are so many options when it comes to buying a hot tub that more and more people who could not afford them a few years back are now able to reap the benefits of a soak in a hot tub.

There are hot tubs available today that will accommodate two people or ten.  The hot tub designs have become unique, too, and they are not a one-size-fits-all option but they can be customized to blend into the décor-style of the individual buyer.  There are options for color, material it’s made from, whether it runs on electrical power or solar power, and so on.  People can even opt to have customized enclosures built which range from the bare minimums of a roof and support beams up to something that will resemble what a Zen garden would look like right up to an oasis of anything the imagination can conjure up.

There is no doubt that the people who are able to invest in a hot tub and spend 15-20 minutes a day simply relaxing in it will not only enjoy themselves but will be able to enjoy the health benefits a hot tub can afford.

With the evolution of the hot tub, gone are the days when only a small percentage of people could afford them and we are now all able to afford the purchase cost and the cost it used to take to operate a hot tub has gone down drastically, too.  There are models that are made to be energy-saving and the extra stretch on the electric utility may be no more than a $20.00 increase.  Not a bad price for what you can get from it.

What began its life as a luxury for only a small percentage has come full circle and has seen its price accommodate whoever will benefit from its healing properties?

The first thing to consider when you’re looking into purchasing a solar-heated hot tub is understand that this is a unit that will need to be outdoors. If your idea of the perfect hot tub setting is in a room of your home, there is likely to be an absence of sunlight that you will need to heat your tub.  That said; the other consideration is the area where you live.  If you live in a region that sees little sunlight then the solar-heated hot tub is not something that would work.

Let’s say you live in an area that will sufficiently accommodate the solar-heated hot tub and you are comfortable with the idea of having it outside of the house, what next?  Do you fill the hot tub and wait for the sunlight to heat it up?  What about when the sun goes down, what happens to the heat that has accumulated during the daylight hours?

It is recommended that instead of having to wait for the sun to come out in order to enjoy a hot temperature of water, there are types of solar heat equipment that will allow you to store the heat that is solar generated in order to be used later when it is time to enjoy the benefits of the hot tub itself.  It may appear to be an expense that is not worth it and it is an up-front expense, but the pay off is that by having the solar heated unit; you will never have to plug it in and further drain those resources.  In the end, the cost saving measures that a solar heated hot tub will allow, far out weigh the need for electrical energy or propane gas.

Solar heated hot tubs, like their electric and propane powered counterparts will always benefit from the use of a safety cover that is designed to contain the heat generated, rather than having to waste time and money waiting for the water to heat up itself.

If you are considering an eco-friendly option for a hot tub, the solar heated hot tub is where you want to look.  Keeping in mind that it will need to be outside, that indoors is not an option; you live in a region that is sunny enough to properly heat up the hot tub and you know ahead of time that there is the possibility of the cost for the solar heater, by all means, go solar.  Know that you’ll be able to reap the benefits of the use of a hot tub and you will be doing your part in the effort to protect the environment.

With just a few steps, your hot tub can last for years, and any effort to keep it around for a few more years is worth any time that is needed to assure the longevity of your hot tub.

If you have a hot tub from a few years back, or one that is new but made of wood, the most important thing you can do to stretch its life longer is to spend time, once a year, refinishing the wood surfaces.  If you live in a climate with varying temperatures and weather patterns, you probably already know how much damage can be done to wood, when it is left unprotected.  The skirt which covers the outside of your hot tub is no different and a quick trip for some supplies to your home improvements store will be well worth the effort when you tub lasts for years, and still looks good, too.

One part that is common in every hot tub is the filter and that should be cleaned with a hose every three to four months.  It will normally just need the water from the hose, but if you find that it’s not coming very clean, there are filter cleaning solutions that you can use that will take care of that for you.

Another feature on a hot tub that needs your attention is the safety cover.  An inspection each month of the cover will ensure that you are aware of any wear and tear that may need to be addressed, which is a big safety issue, especially if there are children around.  The other maintenance required of the safety cover is to be sure to wash it down, at least, once a month.  Again, the longer your hot tub lasts, the more you’ll get out of it and by these few ideas of cleaning and maintenance, you can be sure that it will be around for a long time.

As far as draining and refilling the hot tub itself, the best advice is to be sure to read any directions that come with the unit and/or talk to the dealer where you purchased the product, they will always provide important information that should be read over or followed, pertaining to the re-filling of the hot tub.  Depending on the size of the hot tub and how diligent you are about keeping the chemicals balanced will also play into the time frame of when to drain and refill the tub.

It’s imperative to remember to perform a quick water test before each use of the hot tub, and to have on hand the supplies you may need to balance and most manufacturers recommend using some kind of sanitizing or chlorine tablets once a week.  That will keep everyone safe who is enjoying the hot tub and is one more small way you can stretch out the lifetime of this great resource!

Inflatable hot tubs come in just about every size to allow you to choose one that will always afford the room you’ll need for the number of people who will be enjoying their time in it.  If you are planning for the hot tub to mainly hold up to two people, then a smaller size will work just fine, but if you’re thinking of using the hot tub for bigger events where more than 2 or 9 people will need the space, they have inflatable hot tubs just for that purpose, too.

Let’s say you own a summer place on a lake in New Hampshire that you visit every weekend but you don’t keep the house open all year round?  An inflatable hot tub could be an option to investigate because it can be set up early in the season, even if it’s still a little chilly in the mornings and nights and at the end of the season it can conveniently be deflated and stored away until the following year’s season begins.  This is a benefit because all during the off season there will be no need for the expense in electricity that is needed to continuously heat the water and there is also no need for the monthly maintenance that is recommended for hot tubs.

Because these inflatable hot tubs are to be set up and taken down as en as needed, they are made out of a very durable material that can withstand being placed right on the ground without there needing to be a platform or other construction built.

One caution would be to consider that there will be a certain amount of wear and tear on an inflatable hot tub that there wouldn’t be on a permanent model and that just the process of putting it up and taking it down will cause its own stresses, find a material that is heavy duty and built to last.  The inflatable tubs that are being manufactured today are almost all made from a military-endorsed material that is reinforced to last; just make sure that the hot tub you choose comes with a warranty.  There are so many more things that can go wrong with an inflatable hot tub that it’s best to be prepared rather than to be caught without protection of your purchase and a damaged hot tub in your possession.

It is an amazing fact that there are such things as portable, inflatable hot tubs that we are able to enjoy today and no matter what your concern; whether it is about the space you have allotted for the hot tub or if you are thinking of bringing it with you when you travel, the inflatable, portable hot tub is a great option to have!