When it comes to luxury outdoor relaxation, nothing compares to a hot tub.
What was once a luxury unobtainable to all but the wealthiest of homeowners is now much more affordable, with quality hot tub options available to suit all budgets.
Whether you are looking for a wallet-friendly inflatable tub, or a more premium in-ground spa or hard-shell hot tub, doing your research is key to finding the perfect addition to your outdoor space.
Hot tubs aren’t all flashing lights, and massage jets (although these are certainly most welcome!) and there are several essential factors to consider before you take the plunge.
Here at Bubble Box, we are Scotland’s leading provider of hot tub spas and have put together this guide to exactly what to consider when investing in a hot tub.
What to consider when choosing the perfect hot tub
What is your budget?
Nowadays, you can find inflatable Hot Tubs for sale Glasgow in many supermarkets for just a few hundred pounds.
If you are looking for your tub to be a permanent feature of your home for years to come, however, and enjoy all the fancy features offered by a bespoke home spa the cost will steadily rise into the thousands.
The first thing to do when starting your hot tub search is to calculate exactly how much you have to spend.
This will allow you to narrow your search perimeters significantly and set realistic expectations of the features you will be able to have installed in your tub.
Although it can be tempting to go for one of the cheapest tubs on the market, be aware that inflatable tubs are far less durable than their hard-shell equivalents and may be unable to operate in freezing temperatures, limiting your use.
What space is available?
The last thing you want is to find the perfect hot tub only to realise that it cannot be installed in the area of your garden you had in mind.
Here are some of the most important things to consider when selecting the ideal location for your tub:
Surface
Hot tubs must be installed on a flat level surface such as concrete, gravel, or brick. Decking is another popular option but make sure to check with a professional that yours is able to take the weight.
Drainage
Hot tubs need to be drained several times each year. When choosing a spot for your tub, make sure there is suitable drainage nearby or ensure that drains can be installed before proceeding.
Electricity access
Depending on the tub you choose you will either need to power it through a wall outlet or by connecting it directly to your property’s central circuit breaker.
Before buying a hot tub, check which one is required and have a qualified electrician make any required adaptions such as installing an outdoor plug socket.
If the location you have chosen for your hot tub is too far from the home, powering it may be impossible and a rethink is required.
Aesthetics
Hot tubs are made for relaxing and locating your tub in a pleasant environment to sit and enjoy is just as important as any practical consideration.
When scoping out potential locations for a tub take a moment to look around and think about what sitting in a hot tub there would be like.
Is there a nice view? Is it nice and private? Is it far enough away from neighbours to avoid disturbing them?
How much will it cost to run a hot tub?
The installation and initial purchase cost are just one of the financial considerations attached to hot tub ownership.
As with any appliance that requires electricity, and water from your plumbing system, a hot tub will have certain running costs attached.
Hard shell and In-built hot tubs are designed to keep the water of your tub at a certain temperature 24/7 to maximise durability and prevent you from having to go through the costly and time-consuming task of fully heating the water to your desired temperature every time you want to use it.
On average a hot tub will cost you around £1 a day to run but this number can vary widely with poorly insulated tubs costing significantly more and the latest most energy efficient tubs slightly less.
To avoid extortionate energy bills which will certainly challenge your ability to relax in your hot tub, make sure to do your research and select a tub with excellent energy efficiency ratings.
Purchasing a tub with an energy efficient cover is a great way to keep running costs at a minimum as far less heat will be able to escape, and it will take less electrical energy to heat the water to your desired temperature.