Hot Tubs - School me

Have reached that point in life where it's not a luxury but a necessity. Looking at going inflatable for the learning curve but the Arizona sun eats up anything thin and plastic. I don't want to burn up 25% of what a "real" hot tub would cost.

So the scenario is:
1. Really just the wife and I
2. Hot tub is for therapy - we aren't party swingers or anything crazy
3. Already have a swimming pool so 120v and 240v are close by
4. Small covered patio with 5 to 6 feet of room to spare
5. I know pool chemistry inside and out but I'm told higher temps and higher bather load to water ratio make hot tubs a little harder.
6. Live in the Greater Phoenix area - so from June to August our pool is nearly hot tub temps.

What am I not considering? What am I not thinking about? Hard-fought lessons that you had to learn?

 

@tcjacado might know a little about them.
I think he was/is a pool guy.

 

This process got real easy last night.
The wife told me to pick out the spa - thus started my quest here.
When I told her what I learned yesterday in research and where I was leaning, it became obvious that I wasn't reading her mind and wasn't going to pick out the spa she wanted me to pick when she said "You go ahead and pick the spa."

So I have been instructed on which spa I will be picking out.

 

From experience: forgo the bells and whistles and get the most basic. After 6 months, you'll never use the fancy waterfall, special jets or pretty lights. You can buy a boom box that is both better, cheaper and longer lasting than built in stereo. Also, second time buyers NEVER get a lounge seat. They just take up seating space, and you'll rarely use it.

Use spa frog or something similar to reduce maintenance hassles. I replace a stick every 4-5 months, and rarely add anything else. I haven't even tested the water in about 2 years. I only have to drain and refill once a year. Don't bother trying to clean filters, unless you're really a tightwad. It never seems to work like a new one and is a real pain-in-the-ass. I change mine every 6 months.

Get the dealer to throw in a couple of filters and the steps. I also bought a grab handle, which I would recommend.

Mine is a Hot Spot, manufactured by Hot Springs. Same pumps, heater, etc. but shorter warranty. I've had it 10+ years now.

 

We had a Coleman for 7-8 years and liked it. We bought a 2-year-old floor model that was heavily discounted. Ours was a basic 6 person tub which was about right for 3. We used ours more in the winter. Have pics somewhere with us in it at +4 degrees. A lightning strike fried the electronics, and we just decided it wasn't worth fixing. Wife posted a come and get it for free ad on Facebook and someone hauled it off for us.

I may replace it someday with an even smaller one. But right now I have other things more pressing.

 

You say you got 5-6 feet of room for a spa? That will limit the type and size. They make 2 person spas. You’re looking for not so much the jets but the pumps. I have a 2 pump tub but it’s 92” square. The me of them has a 2 stage and the other is flat out. Now after looking into pumps and all that we mostly use the spa to soak with no jets. This is key for loosening everything up. Don’t jump in and crank the jets. Sit and soak in the hot water for atleast 10 minutes before hitting the jets. The wife and I find we are plenty loosened up with no jets at all and it’s quieter and more relaxing sometimes. But if you want jets research the pumps and sizes. Also go to a showroom or 4 and sit in one. Don’t get a hot tub sight unseen. Go sit in them and see what works for you. Most lounge seats feel cool but you wind up floating when the jets hit you so regular seats. The more the better. For hydrotherapy you want to move around to different spots to get all the kinks out.

 

I only use the lounger seat. I’ll never own one without. However I don’t like to run the jets much. I set them on low or off for my seat. Hot Spot brand for the win.

 

Eww. Just ewww!
A hot other people's bath. Eww!

 

Anyone have experience with the wood burning hot tubs?

 

Well as per instructions I have a Coleman SaluSpa for 4 to 6 people (that I hear in the reviews will fit 2 to 3) on the way for a Tuesday Delivery.
Wife says we will use it and learn on it and when it dies, if we are spa people, then we get a real spa / hot tub.

 

I did a lot research on the inflatable ones prior to purchasing a home that had an in ground pool and spa. I have a few friends who run the inflatables and love them, and few who ultimately ended up "not being spa people". From the friends who were successful with the inflatables, their notes were mostly about insulation during the cold months in order to try to retain heat (I know AZ is HOT, so not sure what season you're trying to use the spa). Placing the hot tub on the sheet foam insulation from the home improvement center was the biggest game changer for them so that the colder ground didn't suck the heat outta the spa as quickly. The other things were just standard spa stuff, ie just keep the cover on it when not in use, etc...

 

Bones hurt 12mos a year.
AZ is warm to hot 6 mos a year.
Even Phoenix gets snow on occasion and I've seen 28F here in the valley of the sun.

I need heat therapy for the aches and pains when I drink coffee in the AM and Tequila in the PM.

Probably drain and clean / put away from June to October.

Was thinking about the foam like you mentioned. Definelty doing it now.

 

I remember when you could buy a hot tub made of redwood? I always wanted one of those.

 

Good news for you:


I guess it's not redwood, but close... right concept anyway.

 

I had the inflatable one up here in Show Low. It last about 5 years. I would pack it up for winter and just have it out in the summer. I am in the market for a real one now tho. I want it out for winter after I get off the mountain. The inflatable one did not hold temp at all with a foot of snow on the ground.

 

Does this one come with a pizza oven built in?

 

The Costco in north Scottsdale on Hayden frequently has spa's on display. I think Bullfrog is the vendor, but don't quote me on that. I know they're all about $9k and up.

Find a size you prefer. From there prices increase by the amount of jets, led color options, integrated music playback features and filtration options.

You'll probably need to hire an electrician to run power.

 

I have mine in one of those enclosed gazebo things made for hot tubs. I have been in it when it is subzero temperatures (you keep as much of yourself submerged as possible), and the clouds of vapor that rise off the surface of the water literally turned to fine snow and fell back on me.

I turn the temp down to about 85 in summer and use it to cool off.