Hot Tubs Are Not Just For Spa Days
Creating a year round hot tub facility in the home thanks to advances in hot tub and dedicated room technology. The importance of window and glass insulation.
The relaxation and medicinal benefits of hot tubs are much trumpeted, but for many, experiencing a hot tub only happens on a spa day or perhaps if they’re a member of a gym with steam room, sauna and hot tub facilities. Now though, thanks to the progress made in the design of hot tubs themselves and the outer rooms to site them in, more and more people are enjoying the benefits of installing one at home.
Hot Spring World, a leading UK hot tub manufacturer, has supplied over 12,000 hot tubs to customers so far, and BISHTA – the UK trade association for hot tub manufacturers – say well over 100,000 hot tubs are installed in homes throughout the UK and Ireland.
Types of Hot Tub
There are basically two types:
Inflatable
The more affordable option, they’re easy to set up and highly portable. The hot tub is simply inflated, connected to the pump heater, filled with water and – once optimum temperature is reached – ready for use.
They can be used in various areas due to their portability, so could be sited in a covered space or dedicated room in the colder months and moved outside when temperatures rise.
Rigid
The more permanent solution, they can be integrated with a garden by being built in or sited in their own dedicated space such as under a gazebo or in a conservatory-type room with insulated glass so they can be used year round.
They’ll require professional installation, and may form part of an overall ‘project’ when a dedicated hot tub room is constructed at the same time.
A rigid hot tub is ready to use at all times, and various models are available to different designs, sizes, specifications and finishes. Various enhancements are available such as aromatherapy options to release scents, relaxing LED lighting and dedicated sound systems.
Various manufacturers have chalked up several years’ experience in fitting a wide range of hot tubs to suit various circumstances including the 25 year old Hot Tub Company, 20 year old Essex-based Hot Spring World who claim to be the UK’s number one choice of hot tub, and Artesian who supply their products through a network of retailers throughout the UK.
Benefits of Hot Tubs
On a basic level a hot tub is very therapeutic, and a permanent type situated in its own room available all year round can easily form a part of a regular relaxation regime. The jets can help massage muscles and increase blood flow to them by helping open up blood vessels and improve circulation and more – not to mention the huge fun to be had pampering oneself in warm jets of water while sipping a favourite drink.
The Hot Tub space
To really make the hot tub an integral part of your home’s facilities, a suitable year-round space is a key consideration. A conservatory type space is worthwhile as it would be light and airy in the summer but – assuming the design has high enough quality windows with insulated glass – would also be warm and comfortable in the winter months.
Hot Tub Room considerations
It’s easily possible to have a dedicated hot tub room designed and built in a style that complements your property, but a key consideration is glass and door quality. Along with mechanisms that will help windows and doors open and close smoothly and reliably over a long period while handling temperature fluctuations year round, the glass should possess good insulation properties.
Most heat is lost through glass generally and this will be even more pronounced in a glassy space as a hot tub room is likely to be. Expert conservatory companies who build these types of outside rooms usually use windows and doors from specialist manufacturers such as Internorm, an Austrian company who have supplied windows and doors suitable for various applications including outside rooms for over 80 years.
Choosing a Hot Tub
It can be bewildering making a hot tub choice; if you’re having a dedicated room built then maybe your construction company can help advise. BISHTA, mentioned above, have a database of member manufacturers on their website, and another useful online resource is Hot Tub Chooser – an offshoot of ‘What Spa?’. Their website shows the specifications and prices of various hot tubs made by the leading manufacturers along with links to them so you can search and compare.
Chloe Cotton is editor-in-chief at The Happiest Homes, a leading UK digital home magazine.
