Relax & Get Fit
How to select, set up, and enjoy your hot tub or swim spa
By Debra Maurer
Life’s busy schedule and daily stresses often lead to common complaints we all share: “Getting to the gym is such of a hassle.” “I don’t know where all my free time goes.” “I’m overdue for a vacation, but my last one wasn’t even relaxing!” Is there a way to break this vicious cycle? One innovative solution to ease your concerns and improve your lifestyle is to invest in a popular multipurpose item: a hot tub or swim spa. Both of these well-established aquatic havens provide a convenient place to work out and an ideal spot to unwind—without ever having to grab your keys, book a plane ticket, or make excuses.
As you contemplate canceling your gym membership and ditching your masseuse, you may wonder how to become a hot tub or swim spa owner and start reaping the benefits. Read on to discover the best uses for these products, as well as type, location, and installation options that will fit your lifestyle.
Enhancing Your Lifestyle
Hot tubs and swim spas both provide a space to ease sore muscles with warm, bubbling therapy jets. Even if your free time is scarce, all you need is a 15-minute soak to clear your mind and help to enrich your health. In fact, studies have shown that you can reduce chronic pain, relieve sore joints, improve blood circulation, and get a better night’s sleep—simply by sitting in a hot tub! If you’d like to be more active, you can perform strength-training exercises with resistance bands and water weights in your spa. Exercises done in water are more challenging, due to water’s resistance, yet safer because there is less risk for injury.
Because swim spas are larger and deeper than hot tubs, they allow for additional exercises like rowing, water walking, and even using an underwater treadmill or bike. The major benefit of swim spas is that you can swim in place against a current. This makes them an ideal choice if you’re a swimmer who doesn’t have the space or budget to install a pool, or if you simply want to become more active (and avoid purchasing another piece of exercise equipment that’ll end up sitting in your basement, untouched).
Pick Your Type
Now you’re ready to explore which type of spa and model is best for you. An average-sized hot tub seats five people, has about 50 jets, and is approximately 36 inches deep. Ranging in price from $6,000 – $12,000, this size is common because it allows room for you and several guests. Two- and three-person models are typically shallower and less expensive (starting at $2,000), ideal for couples and those with small backyards. Luxury models can have over 100 jets, seat eight to 10 people, and cost as much as $30,000. To enhance your enjoyment, leading manufacturers also offer options such as music systems, LED lighting, and water features on many of their mid-range and high-end models.
If you’re also interested in lap swimming, a swim spa is for you. Compact models start at $15,000 and usually include a bench seat at one end of the swim spa with a few therapy jets where you can relax after a workout. Deluxe models, ranging from $25,000 to $33,000, have molded seats in a designated therapy area with plenty of jets. These units feature two thermostats so several people can be soaking in the hot tub section, while one person swims against the current—they truly provide the best of both worlds!
Choose a Location
Compared to a swimming pool, hot tubs and swim spas are compact in size and can be installed in variety of places. By placing the spa just outside your back door, you’re likely to use the spa often (and you’ll appreciate its close proximity during chilly evenings). A spa pad or concrete slab must be placed beneath the spa to create a level surface on the ground. You may also place your spa on a deck or patio, but the foundation must be able to support more than the filled weight of your spa. Swim spas typically require at least 200 pounds per square inch (psi), while hot tubs require approximately 150 psi.
If your deck or patio has a roof, canopy, or screened walls, be sure that outside air continues to circulate above and around the spa. If you wish to install your spa indoors (such as an enclosed sunroom, gym, or basement), the room will require a special ventilation system and floor drains to prevent moisture damage; spa dealers recommend speaking to a licensed contractor for proper indoor installation.
Installation
You also need to decide if you’d like your spa to be aboveground, partially recessed, or fully inground. Aboveground installations are the simplest and quickest, but some owners prefer the look and feel of an inground spa. You’ll just need to factor in the added cost and time of excavation.
Before your spa is delivered, be sure to have an electrician or your spa dealer install wiring for a 240V hookup. Some economy hot tubs will plug into a standard 120V outlet, but most hot tubs and almost all swim spas run on 240V. You’ll also need to measure all doorways to see if the spa can be carried through the house; most swim spas cannot fit through standard doorways and need to be lifted into place by a crane. Some owners opt to build an enclosure or deck around their hot tub or swim spa after it has been installed.
Once the unit is in place, the filtration and heating systems are hooked up, and the spa is filled with water and chemically balanced, it’s ready for use. Now it’ll be easy to make staying fit, healthy, and unstressed a part of your daily routine.
Photo courtesy of Master Spas