How to Choose the Right Hot Tub for Your Home

Buying a new hot tub is both exciting and a little scary. Before you spend thousands of dollars on this leisure item, you want to be sure that you’ve chosen the right one. Cost is an obvious consideration, but what else should you think about when making this purchase?

The following four points will help make sure you settle on the perfect hot tub for you and your family and friends.

1. Size

Hot tubs come in a wide variety of sizes, and bigger isn’t always better. Not only will bigger models cost more up front, but they will also cost more to run and maintain.

If you have a large family or want to entertain in your new hot tub, you’ll want one that is as big as possible. If you live alone or want to use your tub for therapeutic purposes only, you can probably get away with buying the smallest model. Most buyers will land somewhere in between these two extremes. Think realistically about how many people you expect to have in the tub at one time and filter your options based on that.

2. Placement

Hot tubs are most commonly placed in the grass in backyards, but they can be installed on decks, under gazebos, or even in your garage or sunroom. You probably already know where you want yours to go, but if you’re not sure, you should choose the tub’s placement before you choose the tub itself. You don’t want to take your new hot tub home only to find out that it’s too big to fit in the spot you’d picked out, that it’s too heavy for your deck to support, or that its colour clashes terribly with your outdoor decor.

To avoid this, you need to choose a hot tub that suits its intended surroundings. Take measurements, calculate maximum load weights if applicable, and maybe even bring a few colour swatches to the showroom with you. The more information like this that you have, the better equipped you’ll be to choose a tub you’ll be satisfied with.

3. Power

Hot tubs always have one of two different power requirements: 110V or 220V. 110V models are referred to as ‘plug-and-play’ models because they can be plugged into most standard outdoor electrical outlets. They are also more commonly stocked in stores.

The 220V models, on the other hand, can achieve much faster heating times – twice the speed of the other models, to be precise. This is not only convenient, but causes less wear and tear on your pump so you won’t have to replace it as quickly. However, these models are a bit harder to find, require special outlets to run, and cost a bit more in electricity fees each month. Think about whether these downsides are worth it to you before you buy a high-power hot tub.

4. Additional Costs

The sticker cost of a hot tub doesn’t reflect the full cost of owning that item. Don’t forget about additional charges like delivery and installation fees, as well as the cost of accessories (like covers and steps) and the chemicals needed to maintain the water.

If your hot tub doesn’t still fit into your budget with all of these extra costs added onto its price, you can’t really afford it and should consider choosing a less expensive model instead.

The Key to Hot Tub Happiness

In spite of their high cost, hot tubs are excellent additions to most homes. Choosing yours carefully will help make sure that you end up with one that fits your home, budget, and lifestyle. It will take you a little extra time to do the necessary research, but it’s worth it to find a hot tub that will provide you with fun and relaxation for years to come.