A hot tub is a  great investment. You can try out a number of models before you choose one. Wear a bathing suit under clothes when you go browsing. Many dealers maintain filled display tubs in their showrooms, and they will be happy to let you hop in and try it. Move around and experience the different seats. Think about your family, and decide if it would be a good match.

If you find one that interests you, make sure the warranties are sound (typically 5 years on the finish and cabinet, and 1-3 years for the pumps and filters). A pump can be an expensive thing to replace, so it pays to shop around and find the best warranty. Read more »

Ok, you’ve bought a hot tub (or you’re in the process of buying one), but maybe you didn’t think about an enclosure for it at the time. If you want to use your hot tub year around (and you will… trust me, I’ve been a spa owner for years, and I’m out there soothing my aching muscles almost every day!), an enclosure can really help. You may be thinking you can rough it (hot tub enclosures? We don’t need no stinking hot tub enclosures…), but it’s not very fun sitting out there in the rain. Again, trust me: I live in the Pacific Northwest. Putting a roof over our hot tub was one of the first priorities. And if you live somewhere it snows… well sitting in the hot tub in the snow is actually kind of fun. But rain… rain is a definite fun squelcher. So, what are your options? Read more »

Some people likes to install hot tubs indoors to obtain more privacy, and, also, they can use their hot tub all year round. If that about you, there are a some things to consider before you decide to install a spa in a room in your home.

First off, you need to consider where it’s going to go. You need to find a room (or remodel a room) that can stand up to dampness, both from people getting in and out of the hot tub, and from the perpetual humidity of the steamy water. Read more »

Hot tub rash is a skin infection caused by the germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The germ is microscopic, so you can’t see it with the naked eye. It comes from swimming or bathing in contaminated water, such as you might find in a poorly maintained hot tub or pool. You can also get it from lake water. However, it is more prevalent in hot tubs and spas because the water is warmer, which means chlorine and other disinfectants break down more quickly. Read more »