With their health-giving properties, soothing hot temperatures and relaxing sociable properties, hot tubs are a great choice for a modern couple or a family looking for an all round, feel-good experience. 

Once an individual has decided to invest in this product to enhance their home and well-being, they will need to do their research thoroughly.  It is vital to consider the size and installation of the hot tub before making the final decision on which model to buy.

Hot tubs can take up a lot of space; it is important to measure the area carefully and to create the correct base in the home before selecting a product. Some forward planning and correct measurements are essential when working out how to choose the right size hot tub.  House owners will also need to consider access in their property before having the hot tub installed.  Whether it is for a decked area of the garden or an interior space, there are certain requirements that must be satisfied before a hot tub can be installed. A properly laid concrete base with room for drainage, that is at least three metres away from any overhead power lines, is required.  Consider access to the side and equipment panels of the hot tub, ensuring that there is plenty of working space.

As one example, a typical hot tub could be 2300 x 2090 x 900mm in size with an internal depth of 800mm.  Don’t forget that there are entertainment and even LED lighting systems that can also be incorporated into a hot tub package.

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There is a very wide range of hot tubs on the market today, from cosy little models for two to spacious models that are suitable for the whole family. The first step in choosing a hot tub is really to decide how many people you want to be able to fit into it. An average tub will take four to five people and measure 200cm square.

Of course, you may need to adjust your expectations depending on the space you have available.  Hot tubs will usually be located on a patio or decking.  The electrical supply and square footage available are the only relevant factors to consider here, as there will be no plumbing involved in the installation.

A quality patio base is needed to take the weight, which can be anything up to three tons. If placing it on concrete, this will need to be at least four to six inches thick, and the area needs to be a bit larger than the tub’s base.  Decking will have to be structurally reinforced to take the weight of a hot tub.

In terms of actually getting the hot tub to its final resting place, the tub will be delivered pre-fitted to its pad; if there are height restrictions such as low guttering or tight turns, a crane may need to be used in order to get it into place.  This may also influence your decision on the size of tub to buy.

Hot tubs are stand-alone and just need a handy water supply like a hosepipe to be filled easily.  Hot tubs will come with their own drain valve for hose connection and draining, so using and maintaining this luxurious feature should be relatively simple in any home.

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The chemical levels in a hot tub have to be checked and maintained on a regular basis, because if these become unbalanced the cleaning process will be made much more difficult, and in the long term could lead to serious problems.  A common water sampler from a local DIY outlet will be adequate for this.

The correct chemicals have to be used to clean hot tubs, as there are different varieties of ‘scum’ that can accumulate depending on the relative chemical levels of the water in the tub.  This ‘scum’, consisting of various foreign materials combined with elements in the hard water that subsequently stick to the tub, needs to be removed.  A local pool store or hot tub retailer can diagnose a sample of your particular water, and they should also be able to tell you what chemical to purchase.

Having identified the ‘scum’ type, drain the hot tub and apply the relevant chemical using a low-abrasion scrubber on an obscure area first to see if it works.  Once all the ‘scum’ is removed, rinse the chemical away before refilling the tub with fresh water.

Make sure the filter is cleaned on a weekly basis using a special filter cleaner, as this will greatly reduce the chances of bacteria and algae taking hold. Users can also rotate the current filter with a spare filter to ensure maximum cleanliness.

The amount of cleaning needed really depends on the amount of use, as the more that hot tubs are used the more frequently they will need maintenance.  Remember to switch everything off before starting to remove pumps or filters.

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Hot tubs are not a modern invention. Hydrotherapy is one of the oldest health treatments in the world and hot tubs have been used for millennia in Roman, Greek, Chinese and Native American cultures.  There is evidence of hot springs being used as a therapy in Italy from as early as 3000BC.

The Egyptians took therapeutic baths with infusions of essential oils, and the first known example of an actual hot tub goes back to King Phraortes of Persia in about 600 BC.  His tub was made of solid granite.

The Greeks and Romans regularly used hot baths for therapeutic purposes relating to the ancient theory of balancing the four humours of the body, and the ability of hot water to stabilise and restore the correct balance for mental and physical wellbeing.

Unfortunately, the barbarian hordes that overran the Roman Empire and contributed to the start of the Dark Ages did not have hydrotherapy high on their list of priorities, and so the ancient practice was lost.  It was only in the 19^th century that the practice was revived by the Germans.  There are still over 60 spa cities in Germany that use the original Kneipp Cure to apply hot water to the body.

Hot tubs became very popular in the mid-twentieth century in California. Initially they were made of wood, but these were soon to be replaced by fibreglass shells in the 1970s, and later by acrylic that is easier to keep clean and still used today.

The first modern hot tubs of the 1970s were still quite basic, but models now include jets, control systems, pumps and filters for the ultimate relaxation experience.

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When you look out in your backyard with an eye towards what it will take to improve it you really do have just so many choices today, and one of them is a hot tub.

So then with all the options that you have for making your backyard a better place to spend time in, just what is it in particular the makes a hot tub the best choice? As it turns out there are several answers to this question.

For one if you’ve been considering having of swimming pool installed, you may want to ask yourself how you plan on using your pool.  The odds are that if you’re like most people, you’ll probably end up spending most your time soaking in it. There’s just one thing you might not have considered, that is that a swimming pool is very expensive to heat, so you may be spending more time than you realise soaking in cold water.

A hot tub also has many other benefits over a swimming pool, and as suggested above it takes minimal expense to keep hot tub warm 24 hours a day if that’s what you want. You see a hot tub also comes without the major maintenance commitment that a swimming pool brings, which is another big plus.

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For home entertaining, a spa in your backyard for sure kicks up the fun factor considerably, and there is no doubt about that. It’s just one more reason for your friends to show up for the party. Drinks are just so much more enjoyable when you’re sharing them with a group of friends in a lively, bubbly hot tub on a pleasant night after a long working week. Remember in order to have a hot tub party you need to have hot tub.

They also look great sitting in the backyard and there are so many different styles to choose from now, so you’ll have no trouble finding one to fit in to the landscaping of your garden. State-of-the-art weatherproof materials also mean that you don’t have to keep your hot tub set up against the side your home or on your patio either. You’ll also be surprised at how well these new materials capture the look of natural wood and stone too.

With home values and sales figures finally back on the rise, if you’re looking for ways to dress your home up to make it more enticing for a potential buyer a backyard spa makes perfect sense. It will make your home look like a fun place to live, takes only about an hour to install, and with easy financing you can do it with minimal upfront out-of-pocket expense.

Finally whether you put a hot tub in your backyard or anywhere else in your home there are quality-of-life issues to consider as well. This is because even if you never have anyone over for a party, the time you spend relaxing and unwinding in the warm water of a home spa is always quality time. Time well spent just letting your mind wander while you bask in total relaxation.