Things to Consider when Buying a Hot Tub or Jacuzzi Tub
We recently purchased a new Hot Tub and Gazebo from Cal Spas in Minnesota. The purchase was not something we planned, just something that caught our eye when visiting the Minnesota State Fair. As a result we learned a few things that would have made our purchase smarter. In the end we're pleased with the decision but its easy to say now that all the work is done. In this article I'll outline the information I wish I had considered when making this purchase. I hope it helps you in your decision.
The Tub
This isn't going to be a detailed rundown on what to look for in a good tub or who to buy it from. I'll leave that to the other articles out on the internet. There are two points I'll make of things I may have changed. We purchased the top of the line system, the only thing it lacked was an LCD monitor and DVD player.
So what would I change?
Well after using it for a season I find that the multitude of jets is irrelevant for me. I am more of a soaker and actually prefer that the jets aren't all blasting. Its too much noise and I don't like the splashing. So I would look for something at a better price point and give up some of the fancy jets in favor of more common ones.
A friend of mine paid 1/2 of my cost for a more basic unit and he couldn't be happier.
So where would I put this money?
I would ALWAYS splurge and get the stereo and speakers built into the tub. My wife insisted on this and it added quite a bit to the price but I wouldn't want it any other way. The tub uses a marine radio/CD player with water proof speakers and a remote controller on the top side of the tub. You can easily hear the music and I even ran a TV in through the Auxiliary so we can hear the TV through the tub speakers. My friend who didn't buy this feature is left with setting up elaborate wiring and remote control extenders to get his stereo to play outside.
Another feature I'd suggest is fiber optic lighting. There are a bunch of small lights around the top of the tub that change color. At first glance it looks like this would just be to make it fancy. Try the tub at night and you'll find they provide a great deal of light which makes the tub much easier to use. It also helps when messing around outside the tub with CD's Drinks Towels, Chemicals etc.
My friend again, is stringing rope lighting.
So in a nutshell on the tub, consider the stereo and fiber optics and if necessary go with less jets to cover the cost.
Gazebo Information
My wife insisted on a Gazebo surrounding the tub and for years I put off the purchase because I didn't want to spend another $7000.00 on a Gazebo. Once we took the plunge I'd say that for the Minnesota winters I'd have it no other way. I have neighbors that freeze climbing in and out and maintaining their spa. Ours is like another room in the house and is quite warm in the winter due to the heat from the tub.
Now a word of advice.
My buddy purchased an 8x8 Gazebo that basically encloses the tub with no extra space. They climb up stairs and go through the windows of the gazebo to get in the tub. On a showroom this looks like a fine arrangement. Well this winter his wife climbs in, closes the windows to keep the cold out and finds herself trapped in the gazebo. They had to damage the windows getting it open due to the condensation that froze the window shut. My smart wife insisted we purchase a larger gazebo. We went with a 12x12 that had racks and storage for chemicals and towels. It also has built in lights which are a bonus.
The important thing to note about this decision is that I enter the gazebo through a sliding door, not the window. If anything freezes it will be the windows by the tub not the ones opposite the room and the sliding door. Additionally its just nice to have a new room on the house and the cost relative to the benefits isn't bad at all. Plus we have room for a bar and stools in there.
Preparation and Additional Costs
Here are a few things to consider in your decision they either provided additional cost or hard work on my part.
Electrical: You'll most likely need a dedicated 50 amp circuit with a breaker box in plain view of the tub. In our case this meant digging a 36 inch deep trench from the garage to the gazebo (50 feet) so the electrician could run the conduit. The cost of the electrical work was about $1000.00 and I had to dig the trench myself. My buddy did his own electrical and still spent $500.00 in parts so keep that in mind.
Cement: I also needed a new cement slab to accommodate my tub and gazebo. We put in a 14x15 slab to accomplish this. What I did not consider was that cement has gone way up in price since my last 10x10 slab. We spent almost $2000.00 for the labor and materials to have this poured. What I also did not consider was the work of removing the grass from that area. This took three days of exhausting work cutting strips of sod and hauling them to the disposal site.
Gazebo: What I did not consider and was not told by the sales rep was that immediately upon erecting the gazebo, we'd need to stain it to seal the wood from the weather. This is a 12x12 structure I hadn't considered staining. Let me just say it was a day of hard work which will need to be done at least every other year.
Additional Items to Consider
A few additional items you may want to consider purchasing.
Cover Helper: The covers of these hot tubs are not easy to move around by yourself. This is especially true in a Gazebo. They sell cover helpers which are lever type devices that life the cover mechanically and put it behind the tub. Unfortunately for me my wife wants the tub against the wall so we're stuck either using 1/2 the tub or man handling the heavy cover. This is my pet peeve about tubs. So if you have the room or consider making the room, this will make your spa much more enjoyable.
Portable Utility Pump: Tubs have a gravity drain at the bottom but these can take all day to drain a tub. My neighbor was smart and purchased a utility pump or sump pump at the local Home Depot or Menards. This drained the tub in about an hour and let us get to work cleaning and refilling fairly quick. After borrowing his I went right out and picked one up for about $70.00 For those of you who've drained a waterbed without a pump you'll know why this is a good investment.
Hose for adding water: Just like with my waterbeds, I prefer to purchase a special hose for adding water to the tub. I keep it inside so it stays clean and not frozen. Tubs evaporate water at a surprisingly fast rate so plan on adding water once a month or so.
In Home Jacuzzi Tubs
When we built our house we splurged and added one of those large two person Jacuzzi tubs with six jets. I thought we'd be in heaven and was reminiscing of nights spent in the Jacuzzi suites in a hotel. What I didn't consider is the following and because it these things, it functions more as an ornament to make the bathroom look grand.
Filling: These things take time to fill, by the time its filled do you still need or want that bath?
Hot Water: Filling these will drain your water heater down unless you've planned for extra capacity. I find that the water for my pre bath shower isn't very warm once I've filled the tub.
Cleaning: Ok so I'm lazy but just like a hot tub, you have to clean the tub and jets and the larger the tub the more work it is just to keep the dust out.
I hope my thoughts have given you something to consider and plan when making a large purchase such as a spa or gazebo. All things considered I'd do it again if I moved but I'd be a little smarter and save money and effort.
About The Author
John Gall is a full time IT Manager and IT Consultant in Minnesota. He runs several websites as a hobby featuring content similar to that in this article.
http://www.sandalspictures.com
http://www.napavalleypictures.com, http://www.winesilove.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:55:22 GMT Ore. man completes flight of fancy _ in lawn chair - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - CAMBRIDGE, Idaho (AP) - Using his trusty BB gun to help him return to Earth, a 48-year-old gas station owner flew a lawn chair rigged with helium-filled balloons more than 200 miles across the Oregon desert Saturday, landing in a field in Idaho. Video: Ore. Man Uses Balloons and a Lawn Chair to Fly Believe it or not, he's lounging on air Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:50:31 GMT McCain Battles a Nemesis, the Teleprompter - New York Times
New York Times - Mary Altaffer/AP By MARK LEIBOVICH LAS VEGAS —Senator John McCain was performing relatively smoothly as he unveiled his energy plan. McCain Campaign, in Relaunch, Seeks Tighter Message Focus McCain Campaign on Obama and Iraq Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:31:52 GMT Smallest planet shrinks in size - BBC News
BBC News - The smallest planet in the Solar System has become even smaller, studies by the Messenger spacecraft have shown. Data from a flyby of Mercury in January 2008 show the planet has contracted by more than one mile (1.5km) in diameter over its history. First Results From Messenger's Mercury Flyby Mercury is shrinking, NASA craft finds; a cool clue: 'lobate scarps' Publ.Date : Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:45:26 GMT Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy - Reuters
Reuters - By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he ... Obama struggles to thread needle on Iraq Obama Refines the Blame on Iraq Miscue Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:08:23 GMT Hippie Arrests Draw ACLU’s Attention - New York Times
New York Times - By AP CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union said on Saturday that it would investigate the actions of federal officers who had arrested five members of the Rainbow Family in western Wyoming during the group’s annual gathering. ACLU plans to investigate Rainbow Family treatment ACLU to investigate Rainbow Family treatment Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:40:38 GMT Analysis: McCain struggles to regain footing - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain calls himself an underdog. That may be an understatement. The GOP presidential candidate trails Democrat Barack Obama in polls, organization and money while trying to succeed a deeply unpopular fellow Republican in a year ... Rural voters lean to the GOP Neither Obama nor McCain meets Energy Party standard Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:40:55 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT Add RSS Feeds to My Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a... Read More Have you been wondering how to free up space in... Read More Light fixtures are something not many of us think about.... Read More If you're planning to show your home mainly during daylight... Read More Even though most of the houses are well lighted with... Read More Roofs are an integral part of the house. The design... Read More Many people dream about a log home in their future... Read More A swimming pool with attached spa has just been installed... Read More When it comes to home water filters and water purifiers,... Read More Double glazing reduces heat loss through your windows. You can... Read More A router bit is a tool for woodworking giving a... Read More In the last five years a new type of clear... Read More Why does big business have all the fun? We fix... Read More In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we... Read More "Company's coming and my place doesn't look right?"You know how... Read More A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your... Read More Isn't it funny how people shelve projects for the new... Read More The installation of a new bathroom vanity and countertop can... Read More Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is... Read More Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in... Read More Colors contain underlying psychological meanings and evoke particular feelings when... Read More If you'd like to try your hand at candle making,... Read More Common knowledge states that hardwood floors are a great investment... Read More If you are looking for unique seating inside or out,... Read More Housing and smart houses. I believe that we could have... Read More
Adsense
websites
Trading in Corporate Office for Home Office
How To Give Your Home More Space
What Are Light Fixtures Used For?
Selling Houses: Payback of Window Treatments
Your Candles Are Killing You and Your Furniture - Substitute It!
Discovering Fiberglass Roofing Panels for Your Roofing Needs
Log Homes - Is a Log Home In Your Future?
Pool Supplies Should Also Contain Safety
How To Choose The Right Home Water Filters and Water Purifiers For Your Needs
How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK
Router Bits Basics
Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles
Why Cant We Kill Too?
There Is Always Something To Improve Or Innovate For Comfort
?5 Fast Ideas to Freshen the Look of your Room
Design Elements
Planning Permission Tips UK - Free Design Advice In The UK - How And Where To Get It
Installing a Bathroom Vanity and Countertop
Save Time & Money Doing Your Own Basic Electric Wiring
Reviewing and Evaluating Laminate Floors
Home Remodeling: Colors and Temperature Perception
Candle Making 101
5 Easy Steps to Protect Your Hardwood Floor From Disaster
A Fabric Hammock is Comfortable Casual Chic
Housing and Smart Houses; Energy Self Sufficient Possibilities
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Dual Pane Window Glass Repair
For the past few weeks, I have been explaining how... Read More
Measuring For Your Vinyl Replacement Windows
Let's say you're tired of those old wood windows, and... Read More
Grandfather Clocks Bring a Sense of Awe?Theyre So Tall
Standing tall and big are the stately grandfather clocks. They... Read More
Upholstery Fabric Will Give Your Furniture a New Look!
Upholstery fabric will put some new life into your old... Read More
What Does It Take To Be An Interior Designer?
When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for... Read More
Learning Interior Design
Learning interior design can be a simple or complicated task... Read More
Colour Your World With Art
When you buy art, you may think you not consciously... Read More
Lighting and your Kitchen - How to Design a Lighting Plan that Cooks!
Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home,... Read More
Refining Your Area Rug Choice
As a Managing Partner of www.exquisiterugs.com, the question... Read More
Building A Pair Of Heavy Duty Saw Horses
Start out by measuring and cutting all your stock according... Read More
So Youve Decided to Finish Your Basement!
When a family decides to finish a basement space, there... Read More
Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring
1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want... Read More
Deck Building Basics
In my previous article, "planning for a new deck," I... Read More
Chimney Cap Checklist: Four Quick Ways to Evaluate Your Existing Chimney Cap
While you are cleaning leaves out of your home's gutters,... Read More
Interior Design Simply Means Personalizing Your Interior Environment
Interior Design today is all about customizing your built environment... Read More
Ridding Your Home of Geopathic Stress
Just as there are solar magnetic stresses that come from... Read More
Imported Tools vs. Brand Name - Are They As Good?
So you are looking for hand or power tools on... Read More
Get Everything Done Quickly Using Your Basic Tools
No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But... Read More
Basement Dehumidifiers
Basements are the most common location for dehumidifiers. Because of... Read More
Can You Buy Luxury Home Brands Online and Save - Worry Free?
Are you frustrated with the high prices you've been quoted... Read More
Roller Blinds
What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it... Read More
Planning Permission Tips UK - Rights of Light to Adjoining Neighbours Windows - What You Should Know
Rights of light - What a minefield this topic is... Read More
Building a Backyard Play Structure
A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More
Poster, Print or Painting - Where Are You Going To Put It?
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More
Securing Your Castle
In the world of today, we no longer employ the... Read More
Home Improvement |