Tag Archives: tips on buying a hot tub

Fall for Outdoor Hot Tubs

The fall season is the perfect time to enjoy a hot tub out on your deck. It’s not too cold, but it also isn’t uncomfortably hot. Hot tubs, unlike swimming pools, can be used year-round. But how do you even go about shopping for a hot tub? What features and benefits should you be looking for? Our list should lead you in the right direction.

  1. Always measure the space where you think the hot tub will be installed. Proper dimensions are the most important step in making sure you choose a hot tub that will actually fit.
  2. Speak with your home insurance agent. There are rules and regulations regarding how close your hot tub should be to your house.
  3. Research jets and pumps. The more jets you have, the more powerful your pumps will need to be.
  4. The cover you choose for your hot tub should be very thick and sturdy. Many come with locks.
  5. Not only should you closely monitor your hot tub’s filtration system, but you should also consider buying two. This way you can easily rotate when one needs to be cleaned.

Outdoor Environments has plenty of experience installing hot tubs in Kansas City and Overland Park. Call us at 913-897-2706 to speak with us about your outdoor hot tub needs.

Image from Houzz

Tips on How to Purchase a Hot Tub

Hot tubs are gaining popularity. Unlike the pool, a hot tub can stay open year round. But before you purchase your hot tub, there are a couple of things you need to consider.  Let our list below help you make a more informed decision on buying a hot tub.

  1. Make sure you properly measure the space available for the hot tub to determine the size you need. Whether you are looking to accommodate 2 or 10 people, you need to calculate the area first.
  2. Contact your insurer to find out how much space you need between the hot tub and the home as well as the edge of the property.
  3. The shell of the hot tub, usually made of acrylic, fiberglass and resin, must be at least 5 millimeters thick. Microban technology is used in certain finishes to prevent the spread of bacteria.
  4. Make sure all four panels of the hot tub are well insulated.
  5. Choose which type of skirt, a wooden structure surrounding the hot tub, you’d like for the hot tub. The skirt is usually made of cedar or resin. You’ll need to preserve the skirt with a water-repellent treatment. You’ll want to make sure that parts of the skirt can be removed in case you need to get to a part in the hot tub.
  6. Choose a pump that best suits your needs. If you want a more therapeutic massage two pumps might be necessary. The more jets in a hot tub, the more powerful the pump needs to be.
  7. You’ll want to make sure the light and control panel for the hot tub are within easy access once you are sitting in the tub.
  8. The cover of the hot tub must be at strong enough to support the weight of a small child and we recommend getting one with a lock.
  9. The filtration system should be closely monitored and we recommend purchasing two filters so you can rotate them during cleaning.
  10. The water heater must have an output of at least 5.5 kilowatts.

Below are some of our hot tub enclosures, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.