What to Consider When Buying a Hot Tub

There are not too many ways that are better to unwind and fully relax your muscles, than the warm massaging water of a hot tub. This could be one of the greatest additions to your home. The days or weeks before you buy a hot tub, there are several things you should consider before you make the big purchase.

The most desirable hot tubs are taller and can be a little difficult to climb into. To help alleviate this issue, in ground installation might be the perfect option for you, especially if you have a patio or deck area that could fit and incorporate a hot tub. If there is no option for in ground installation at your home, condo or vacation house, focus your search on models that include hot tub steps and maybe add a hot tub handrail.

In order to promote safety for your family and neighbors, we suggest features such as automatic shut off and a strong, locking cover, which are standard on all the hot tubs from Spas And Stuff. Some cities might actually require you to have a gate or fence around the hot tub as well, so make sure you check your local regulations.

Make sure you consider the location of your hot tub near required utilities and hook ups that you need. Also, research hot tub options so you are aware of the cost of the particular spa and style you are looking for. Sometimes a major expense for a first-time hot tub purchaser is site preparation. Even an empty spa can easily weigh close to 1,000 pounds. Be smart and consult with a qualified contractor or structural engineer to make certain that whatever the support structure, it will be sufficient to carry the spa’s load size. If you need a simple pad for your ground and you do not want to use concrete, see our Spa Pads.

The health benefits of hot tub use are also an amazing bonus factor to consider. Joint pain relief, detoxing, increased blood flow, and better sleep are all benefits of hot tub use and hydrotherapy.

Hot tubs are a great addition to your home and are an amazing place to bring friends and family together. Spas And Stuff offers a great selection of hot tubs and hot tub accessories at low prices with free shipping. Our customer service reps can help you select the best hot tub choice for you.

Adding a Hot Tub as a Home Improvement

Including a hot tub in your next home improvement project just might be the best thing to increase your home value. When you look around your house, you think of a million things you might want to update or change. Is a hot tub on your list? What is the best way to add a hot tub to your home? We have the answer.

Hot tubs are great for bringing people together and relaxing while entertaining with friends and family. A hot tub has many benefits including physical relaxation as well as providing a great atmosphere for social gatherings. And because a hot tub is heated they can be used all year round.

So where should you put the hot tub to increase the value of your home and make sure it gets the most use?

The Outdoor Hot Tub in the Backyard. Many people love adding a hot tub to their backyard or patio. Since they are heated and can be used all year around, they can be used in all different climates, including snowy vacation homes. With the many different shapes and options, adding a hot tub to your backyard is a great option. If you have the room, you can also add a cabana to surround your hot tub, making it a backyard sanctuary.

The Indoor Basement Hot Tub. Many homes across the nation have basements that are the perfect place to upgrade with a hot tub or spa. These basements are normally slightly colder than the main levels of a home, since they are underground. Plus, basements can be made into entertainment central, with movie rooms, bar features and a relaxing hot tub in the corner. When you are having a get together, many people flock toward the basement in a home since it is designed for entertainment in many instances. What better addition than a spa?

The Bathroom Hot Tub. Some friends of mine decided to upgrade their abode in a major way by adding an amazing hot tub right in the bathroom. They designed the room around this amazing feature, and it was one to remember. Everyone who goes to their home mentions how perfect it is to relax in your hot tub in the comfort of your own home, and how convenient it is to have it right in your bathroom! This might be a great option for you if you have a large bathroom and want to create a relaxing sanctuary.

What other interesting places can you come up with for a hot tub? If you are thinking about some home improvement options for your home, adding a spa to the house or a hot tub in the backyard might be the perfect answer. Visit Spas And Stuff for many perfect hot tub options, including saltwater hot tubs and saltwater hot tub conversions. They offer all different shapes and sizes to fit exactly what you are looking for.

Cooling your Hot Tub for Summer Fun

The temperatures are rising and the heat of summer is on! With high humidity levels in many areas of the mid west and east coast, and skyrocketing temperatures of 120 in some parts of the west and southwest, a warm hot tub might not sound appealing during the dead of summer.

Spas and hot tubs can make the perfect mini pool if you only have a small deck or patio, or if you don’t want to deal with the maintenance of an above ground pool. Hot tub owners can go into "cool water mode" by turning the temperature down as low as possible so the heater will not come on. This will allow you to enjoy cooler water in the hot, hot heat. Once you remove the hot tub cover and turn on the jets, the spa will begin to cool immediately. Make sure you have any air and waterfall type features on, as this will assist in cooling the water. To keep the spa cooler, you can put the cover back on so the sun doesn’t reheat the tub. You can also try leaving the cover off at night, where the cooler ambient night air can help cool the water. Important to note thought that it is very difficult to get the water below the actual ambient air temperature.

Having a hot tub gives you the perfect soaking tub/pool that is easy to maintain and a great size for those who don’t have a lot of room. Another great benefit is the cost savings that comes from cooling down your hot tub. You don’t have to pay for heating during the warm summer months. This reduces your operating costs for many months, saving you money while still allowing you to enjoy your spa.

If you have small children, cooling down your hot tub will be perfect to allow them to swim without having to invest in a full size pool. They can splash around, enjoy some lemonade, and have the perfect place to spend your warm summer months. Kids love pools during the summer and a small pool is perfect for you to be able to watch the kids in a small space while allowing them to blow off some energy splashing in the water.

SpasAndStuff.com has the largest selection of spas and hot tubs in many different shapes, sizes, styles and price points to fit your needs and exactly what you are looking for. Being able to use the hot tub all year is an added bonus for the family. So what are you waiting for? Get your kids and family the gift of a hot tub that will keep on giving, even all summer and all winter long!

Hot Tub Daily To Help Holiday Stress

The hustle and bustle of shopping, traveling and the joy of the holidays are here, surrounding us with noise and stress at every turn. With all of the pressure of finding the perfect gift and making sure you get all your holiday baking done, there has to be a place you can enjoy and go to for relief and relaxation. Stress accumulates when you are way too busy to get everything done, or cannot find an extra minute to just relax. If the holiday stress is becoming too much to bear, we have the perfect answer for you...a hot tub of course!

Relax in a hot tub daily to help relieve stress and allow yourself to actually enjoy the holidays this year. You should make time everyday for quality time with friends and family in the hot tub, as well as help relieve stress and improve your health. Here are some creative ways to use your hot tub during these crazy holiday months:

New Years Eve Party...in the Hot Tub
The most amazing way to ring in the New Year is in a hot tub with your closest friends and family. You will be starting the New Year on the right track for health, relaxation and quality time with friends and those you love most.

Family Get-Together...in the Hot Tub
There are so many different activities pulling your family in so many different directions that you barely get to spend enough time together. Allow your family a hot tub get-together to catch up, relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Turn on the Romance...in the Hot Tub
Grab your guy or gal and head to the hot tub for some TLC. Leave a sexy note for your love and have them meet you in the hot tub. Have some romantic music on in the background and light some candles to set the mood!

Muscle & Joint Therapy...in the Hot Tub
Warm water helps soothe tired muscles and joints. A hot tub is an amazing way to reduce swelling and help soothe any sore muscles. This is a perfect option for people affected by arthritis or fibromyalgia. You can also use water as resistance to help you build up your strength.

A Man Alone in His Thoughts...in the Hot Tub
Taking a moment for yourself to think and enjoy stargazing and relaxing is one of the best things you can do for yourself during these stressful times. A moment of complete solitude in the hot tub, allowing you to get away and just relax.

Slow down and enjoy one of the creative options above to just relax and enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from www.spasandstuff.com, your factory direct hot tub source.

Hot Tubs with your College Logo - Now THAT is School Pride

It started with hats and sweatshirts. Then bumper stickers, license plate frames and key chains. Now it has moved to grills, car wraps, flags you hang on your house to even hot tubs. Yes, hot tubs. College logo hot tubs are popping up all over the nation, bringing a whole new meaning to hot tub tailgating before the game. These logo spas allow die-hard fans to really show their school spirit, with new social get-togethers that involve watching the football game while sitting in a hot tub covered with your teams colors and their logo sprawled out across the side.

College football fans can be complete maniacs. Painted faces, season tickets handed down from generation to generation, and tailgating gear that makes even the party hardy college students look like beginners. Some of these guys are professionals, established with a family, but still ready to bleed their college school colors each time the football hits the turf. And boy do we have the next toy to introduce you to.

Everyone will want to hang out with you once you have one of these logo hot tubs in your backyard….or even better, if you can figure out a way to get this to the parking lot of the stadium legally.

College logo hot tubs are suddenly all the rage. With a limited number of only the die-hard college sports team getting the honor of one of these, hot tubs with college logos and names belong in every die-hard sports fan’s backyard, basement or limo headed to the next football game. These LogoTubz are portable, making them easy to move and set up a many different locations. When drained, they only weigh about 120 pounds. They are easy to install, easy to maintain and energy efficient. Sounds like the next best birthday or Christmas present for the sports fan in your life.

Head over to SpasAndStuff.com for the best deal on your LogoTub portable hot tub, and let us know if you want to see a hot tub with your team’s logo on one next!!

Salt Water Hot Tubs are more Popular than Ever.

Salt-water hot tubs are all the rage!! This very popular and growing trend is virtually chemical-free. Many clients ask us questions about the difference between salt-water hot tubs and regular chlorine hot tubs. We are here to clear the fog about these hot tubs, and why they might be the right choice for you!

The following are some of the differences between a salt-water hot tub and a conventional, chlorine-based tub:

• Our Salt-water hot tubs use Bromine instead of chlorine, which has fewer odors, a more neutral smell and tends to be less harsh on the skin and eyes. 
• The water feels better. Saltwater spas are much like soft water and it seems they may be less drying to the skin.
• Salt-water can actually be better for your spa since you do not have to use powders to clean it. Since the Bromine keeps it clean and bacteria free, fewer harsh cleaning agents are required for regular upkeep.
• Hardware on chlorine hot tubs may face more risk of corrosion when exposed to sunlight, than on Bromine sanitized spas. This occurs in only certain conditions if the unit is placed in a sunny area, please keep this in mind.

A few skeptics have compared salt-water hot tubs to the ocean. The salt in a salt water hot tub is only 1500 to 2100 ppm of sodium, while the ocean has tens of thousands of ppm of salt.

SpasAndStuff.com offers the Gecko in.clear® salt bromine generator that uses sodium bromide to produce free bromine in spa water using a chemical reaction similar to that used in a saltwater chlorine generator. A big feature of the bromine salt generator is that the salt content in the water is much less than a salt chlorine generator. With the in.clear® system, it is around 1,400 ppm, compared to a salt chlorine generator system, which is more than 2,000 ppm. The lowered salt level is an important benefit because not only is it a less expensive option, but it also reduces the potential for corrosion, which is a concern in saltwater environments under certain conditions.

So if you're planning to buy a saltwater hot tub, saltwater spa, check out our options at Spas And Stuff, where every day is a Sale!

Enjoying Your Hot Tub in the Rain

Spring showers bring fun adventures in hot tubs, as long as your hot tub is equipped to be enjoyed during the weather elements. One of my favorite moments in a hot spa tub is to enjoy it in the rain, without a cover. I know, I know…what about my hair? But who worries about their hair in the hot tub?

Whenever I see the rain clouds, I secretly smile as I know my afternoon will have the ultimate of relaxation in store for me. As it begins to sprinkle, I climb into the portable hot tub, allowing the cool, soothing raindrops to fall on me as the hot tub keeps me warm and cozy. At that moment, life could not get any better.

Many of you probably find comfort in the sound of rain, but would not enjoy the rain splashing in your face as you try to relax with some hydrotherapy in your home hot tub. For those of you who fall into this category, there are a plethora of options to protect you from the elements while allowing you to enjoy the soothing sound of raindrops. With April showers upon us, hot tubs and rain go hand and hand as both provide the calming sounds and feelings of relaxation.

Hot tub enclosures can be great for those with extremely bad weather elements as well. Spa umbrellas are a perfect accessory for your SpasAndStuff.com hot tub. While under the umbrella, you can still enjoy the sound of the rain without having to get your hair wet! Remember…a hot tub can turn any day, rain or shine, into a relaxing and enjoyable experience right in your backyard.

Building Cheap Hot Tubs for Sale - Part 2

We offer this list, because as the saying goes, price is remembered only for a while, quality is remembered forever.
(click here to read Part 1)

Helpful Hint: check out a company by searching their name along with the words rip off, or perhaps scam. You may be glad you did.

Car or Marine Stereos instead of Proper Spa Stereos
Car stereos and most marine stereos are not suitable for hot tubs because they have cooling vents in the chassis. These vents can let moisture in that will ruin the stereo (an outdoor hot tub is a moist environment). But these stereos are attractive to cheap factories as they are very inexpensive. A common practice is to tape over the vents and hope the stereo does not overheat in the hot tub. Spas And Stuff uses proper hot tub stereos, designed for spa installation, with a sealed chassis and heat syncs for cooling.

Extruded Acrylic instead of Cast Acrylic
Continuous Cast acrylic is the industry standard for the best hot tubs. Less expensive brands use extruded acrylic to save money. Although they appear to be the same from an aesthetic standpoint, extruded acrylics are much thinner than cast acrylic. They are also prone to crack easier and will fade over time. Spas And Stuff hot tubs use cast acrylic.

Frame Construction
For best quality, a hot tub frame should be made from construction grade lumber, as ours are. We also use pressure treated lumber on all parts of the frame that would come in contact with the ground. Lesser brands will use cheap 2x2’s that are commonly used for strapping in construction and not for structural purposes. 2x2’s are generally cut from the center of the log and are more prone to warping. Some companies market steel frames. Although they look nice, they are made from a very thin steel. Properly built wood frames are stronger than steel and will not bend or rust.

Screws (non-coated or capped)
Our screws are coated to JS500 hours salt spray exposure standards to ensure that they will not rust. Many manufacturers use coated deck screws that will rust in a short period of time, and that will look terrible on your hot tub cabinet. We also cover our screws with a decorative cap to ensure that they match the hot tub cabinet.

Heater Element
Our heating elements are made form an 825 incoloy element to resist corrosion from chemical imbalances in the water and reduce the chance of calcium build up on the element. Incoloy heater elements last longer and operate more efficiently than standard heating elements.

Hot Tub Cover Quality
An area that is often overlooked when purchasing a hot tub is the quality of the "free cover." Check the specifications to ensure the hot tub cover has a vapor barrier, adequate skirt length, thick marine grade vinyl, at least a 1.5 lb foam density, and that it is tapered to provide for water runoff. Even a well insulated hot tub can cost more to heat if the cover isn't good quality.

Plumbing Shortcuts

1. Smaller piping - allows for okay pressure if the hot tubs are built with smaller jets, but you may not have nice water flow overall.
2. No clamps on jets - Just gluing the water hose to the back of the jet mount.
3. No glue on jets - Just clamping the water hose to the back of the jet mounts...our hot tub factory both glues the hose on and then clamps it, to prevent water leaks.
4. No silicone on spa jet mounts - fast method, use only preformed silicone rings to seal the jets mount to the spa shell. Our spa factory uses both liquid silicone and silicone rings. It takes longer, but practically eliminates the chance of a leak.
   

Hot Tub Water Testing
This is very important, especially if you are buying factory direct hot tubs. Our factory water tests every hot tub to ensure it does not leak and that everything works correctly. That means when you start up your new spa, it should work properly. In contrast, lower quality mass production factories may only water test every 10th or 20th hot tub.

Spas And Stuff offers great discount hot tub prices every day. Please also see our beautiful, quality outdoor kitchens for your backyard, as well as our very popular indoor infrared saunas.

Hot Tub Spa Installations

Two common questions when talking with people who are first time hot tub buyers are; where can I install one, and how difficult are they to install?

HOT TUB SPA LOCATIONS
A hot tub needs to be placed on a strong, flat, level surface. Strong for obvious reasons, level because otherwise the water will look crooked in your spa, flat because you don’t want your spa warping under pressure, which could cause problems over time. If you don’t have a sturdy deck or concrete slab, and you want a simple solution, you may consider our spa pads. They can even be easily moved in the future, should you decide to move your hot tub to a new location.

There are a lot of creative options when it comes to where you can install a hot tub. Just remember to think about the potential need for service. A portable hot tub has all of the equipment contained inside the cabinet. That means a hot tub service person would need access to the sides of the hot tub in order to perform a service call. Some hot tub manufacturers insist the homeowner leave eighteen inches of clearance on all sides of the spa, so a service person can have easy access.

Having offered those service related precautions, Spas And Stuff can proudly state that we have been selling the same brand of hot tubs for over four years, and we have had to schedule fewer than twenty warranty service calls for our customers.

At Spas And Stuff, we tell owners they may place their spa as they please, but if they block access, it will be their responsibility (and possible expense) to make the spa accessible. That may mean draining it and sliding it away from a wall. You can also pre-plan for situations like this. For example, if you plan to mount your hot tub flush into a deck, plan for service person access either with comfortable access under the deck, or perhaps removable deck panels around the hot tub. In general, our spas have most of their equipment on the same side that you find the topside electronic control panel. Our BellaGrande SLT (hot tub with built in TV and stereo), is a bit more elaborate, with major components on at least two sides of the spa. You can see many different examples of how our customers have located their portable hot tubs in our customer hot tub pictures section.

HOT TUB SPA INSTALLATION
The simplicity of installing a portable hot tub is often a surprise to many people. As mentioned, they are completely self-contained, so all they really need is to have the electrical connection brought to them. We realize many people like do-it-yourself projects, but we must recommend having a licensed electrician connect the 220 volt line to your new spa. That is unless you are purchasing a 110 volt spa with an attached GFCI cord that plugs into any typical home outlet…then you have a plug and plug and play hot tub. The factory takes several steps to ensure they are manufacturing the best quality hot tubs, including the fact that they fill every hot tub with water, and run it through several hours of quality control tests to ensure all operations function properly and there are no leaks. So once in place, connect the electrical line to your hot tub, use your garden hose to fill it with water, and then let it heat up and enjoy your hot water hydrotherapy.

Let Spas And Stuff help you create a personal paradise in your own backyard, at great discount prices. Please also see our beautiful, quality outdoor kitchens for your backyard, and our very popular indoor infrared saunas, including the Canadian red cedar models with the latest technology in carbon fiber heaters.

Outdoor Kitchens Add to Your Hot Tub Experience

Hot tubs can address a variety of settings. Resting in your spa after work may be one of your favorite things to do. While others may enjoy the company of their loved one in the hot tub after the day is through and the night has come. Sharing your tub with family and friends is yet another alternative.

Outdoor kitchens make a wonderful addition to a hot tub setting. Rather than running in and out of the home grabbing food for famished friends and family members, with an outdoor kitchen, you won't have to move far.

SpasNStuff offers a variety of kitchen components so you can replicate a kitchen experience right there next to your hot tub spa. We offer grill cabinets, sink cabinets, tables, multi-door cabinets, and more! Many people enjoy their hot tub purchase so much, they wish they did not have to take occasional breaks due to hunger - now they don't!

The great thing about our piece-by-piece item selection is that you don't have to worry about spacing - you can purchase a few pieces you see fit or purchase an entire kitchen set for your outdoor setting!

Along with tables, chairs, and bar stools, which are all supplied by SpasNStuff, you can practically build an entire new room outside of your house to complement your hot tub purchase. With all of the options presented by SpasNStuff, you won't have to spend so much time away from the relaxation of your spa!

Hot Tubs and Spas Need Accessories

Congratulations! You are either thinking of purchasing a hot tub or have purchased a spa and would like to know more about the associated accessories. Many people are satisfied with their hot tub alone, yet are pleased to find how much they can expand on their spa experience by purchasing some 'extras'.

Consider the following hot tub accessories:

- Spa umbrellas will help keep the sun, debris, and light rain out of your hot tub enjoyment. Have you ever noticed some people propping an umbrella on the beach? Some people enjoy the beach, yet do not like the sun beating down on them all day. The same sentiment is shared in regards to a spa umbrella; a person may want to relax in their tub, yet desire a break from the sun. A spa umbrella will help!

- Hot tubs require some maintenance to ensure optimal health and aesthetic pleasure. A spa vacuum is a quick and easy way to maintain your hot tub. Spa vacuums are light, portable, and easy to use on a daily basis!

- A spa or hot tub needs to rest on a solid, even base for proper usage. A spa pad is an affordable option as an alternative to pouring concrete. Spa pads come in separated pieces, so you can form them in any shape desired. More padding can be added to increase the breadth of the desired, padded area and to ensure a non-slip area is secured around your tub.

- Hot tubs are for big and little kids. Spa steps can be situated at the threshold of your hot tub to ensure a safe entry and exit into the spa. Spa steps can be added and taken away, so there is no aesthetic displeasure associated with their presence. Their purpose can be for practical purposes only.

- One practical oversight may be placement of towels. Drying off some before exiting the hot tub can facilitate safety and help users brace for outside temperatures. Hot tub towel racks offer a place to hang towels as well as come with a hand rail to help with entering and exiting your spa.

Should You Purchase a Portable or Permanent Hot Tub Spa?

There are a few major and some minor factors to consider when deciding to purchase a hot tub spa. One of the major things to consider is whether you want a portable hot tub or have one permanently placed in-ground.

Indoor hot tubs are usually placed in a bathroom or in an enclosed sun-room (or something comparable). Indoor spas are considered portable because though they are securely attached to plumbing and electrical house outlets, they can eventually be taken away.

Outdoor hot tubs can also be portable as seen on an owner's deck or above ground in the yard. Outdoor hot tubs can also be permanent (meaning they are fixed in-ground like an in-ground pool). Yes, eventually you can also take the in-ground spa away, but this would be much more of a project than one settled above ground.

Many in-ground pool owners decide to supplement the pool with an in-ground hot tub spa. This way, owners can enjoy the cool waters of the pool and then warm their bodies in the hot tub or vice versa.

When deciding on an outdoor above-ground hot tub, the alignment of plumbing and electrical ports to the house may be a factor. Some portable owners move the tub around the yard by season depending on the position of the sun.

Permanent hot tubs are going to cost more than portable hot tubs due to the issue of placing it in the earth. In addition, portable tubs supplemented by such things as spa bars, patio furniture, gazebos, and the like can also cost a bit more because of the added elements.

Hot Tub Buys - Don't Cheat Yourself Going Cheap

The word "cheap" can adopt several meanings. When buying a hot tub, it is hoped to get a great deal, but you do not want to sacrifice quality.

Many online suppliers offer sales and spas at affordable prices. It is very easy to peruse a few different sites to get a good idea of a "general price". Unfortunately, sometimes people access online platforms such as Craigslist or Ebay looking to find something at an unparalleled price.

Again, many hot tub suppliers offer great deals - but those looking to get something for nothing are going to get what they paid for.

The following suggestions are offered to help the hot tub shopper:

- In addition to an affordable price on a spa, look for other extras the supplier may provide such as free shipping and no sales tax

- Look for online hot tub dealers. Many times, online suppliers can offer better prices because they do not have to factor salespeople into the equation.

- Buying a used hot tub may save you money, but like used cars, you sacrifice getting a "lemon".

In-ground or Portable Hot Tub?

A consumer who is in the market looking for a hot tub must decide whether they would like to purchase an in-ground or portable tub. The following post highlights some of the major considerations in purchasing either.

Hot Tub Tip 1 - In-ground
An in-ground tub can rest idle or be attached to a pool. There is not a lot of options with its location, once it is in, it is permanent. The tub can be molded of concrete or a material matching that of a connected pool.

The heater, jets, filter, and pumps associated with the in-ground tub can be more powerful than that of a portable tub because its connection to an adjoining pool. The necessary equipment most likely will be out of view (being underneath, enclosed in a remote unit, or built within the tub itself), so the sounds of operation can be less audible.

There is a trade - the hot tub can be more powerful - but the energy bill may be as well.

Hot Tub Tip 2 - Portable tub
A portable hot tub grants its owner more choices in regards to location. The location does need to be sturdy in order to hold the weight of the tub and occupants. Portable hot tubs come in many sizes ranging from two-person tubs to those that can fit up to ten people.

The pump, filter, and heater are smaller for a portable tub in comparison to an in-ground hot tub. Portable tubs are usually made of fiberglass or acrylic material. This enables options in regards to shapes and colors.

Though a portable tub is free standing, its owner can really create an ambiance around their hot tub. Many hot tub accessories are available for a portable tub. Hot weather can be avoided by a spa sun umbrella; patio benches or a spa bar can decorate the perimeter of the tub; or, spa steps can be instituted to ensure safe entry and exit into the hot tub.