How To Purchase A Spa For Your Home

How to Purchase a Spa for Your Home

Now that the warm months of summer have passed and the season has turned, you still can enjoy the pleasures of recreational water by installing a hydrotherapy spa. Having your own personal spa is a lot easier than many first-time buyers think. Since knowing what’s involved with placing a spa at your home is a bit of a mystery for many, I wanted to post this blog as a good starting point for you to get the information you need to finally get that spa you’ve always wanted.

Ownership is actually quite easy. And when you work with a reliable company that has experience in selling, installing, maintaining and warranting spas, you can be confident that once you have your home spa installed, you will have little more to do than relax and enjoy the many benefits of spa ownership.

Here are some of the considerations you need to have in mind when making your decision:
1.    Site planning
2.    Water, Power and Permitting
3.    Setting the temperature
4.    Operation, Cost and Maintenance
5.    Getting the Most from Your Spa
6.    Warranty

From site planning to water maintenance, these guidelines will help make your spa the stress-free environment that it was meant to be.

Site Planning

The first thing you’ll want to do to prepare for your new spa is to find the optimal location. You’ll want to consider the convenience of accessing your spa from your house as well as the view you’ll enjoy when relaxing in its soothing waters. Take the time to sit in a chair on the spot where you imagine placing your spa. Ask yourself whether you have enough privacy, if you're away from unwanted distractions.

You want your spa close enough to your house to make it easy to get in all year. Where I live in northern New Jersey, we have cold days in the winter. It’s one of life’s really great sensations to sit in the hot, massaging water while looking out over a beautiful winter scene with a light snow falling.

Wherever you place your spa, the ground will need to be level. You’ll want to be sure you have a well-supported pad on which your spa will rest securely. A good spa pad can be a level patio area, a concrete pad poured specifically for the spa or a pre-fabricated spa pad. Wood decks typically require additional reinforcement before placing a spa on them.  Your spa company or a reliable contractor can help you with this necessity.

It’s a good idea to keep the path to your spa on a walkway so you don’t end up getting unwanted dirt in your tub. You’ll also want the area to have proper drainage so that nothing interferes with your access.

Water, Power and Permitting

When it’s time to fill your home spa, you need nothing more than a garden hose. There are no extra plumbing requirements. A home hydrotherapy spa is considered portable because it’s completely self-contained. It does, however, require a permit in most communities in our area. You should check with your local building department to inquire about what is required in your community.

You will need to have the proper electrical power to operate your home spa. For most of today’s spas it will be necessary to run a dedicated power line for your spa. You’ll need a licensed electrician to install the proper sized circuit and GFCI protection as required. If you don’t have your own electrician, an established spa company will be able to assist you with both the permit and installation.

Operation, Cost and Maintenance

Once your spa is installed, you’ll want to know what it will take to maintain it. If you purchase a quality spa, it will use only a modest amount of electricity to operate (averaging less than $1 per day). The other part of owning a spa is making sure you maintain the proper cleanliness and chemical balance of the water. Today, manufacturers have made meeting these requirements simple, and in some cases nearly automated.

Water sanitation is key to maintaining a healthy and beneficial spa. Eliminating microorganisms that can thrive in warm water is essential to getting the greatest enjoyment out of spa ownership. By using the latest technologies available for water treatment, you can keep your spa sparkling clean while reducing the amount of harsh chemicals needed. Consider adding an ozonator or an ultra-violet purifier to reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine necessary to keep your water clean. Whatever method you use, be sure to remember to check your water balance regularly no matter how often you use your spa.

Keeping your spa in tip-top shape does require you to perform some regular maintenance—but it’s just about as easy as maintaining any other major household appliance. Once a year, you’ll need to change your filters—more often if your spa gets a lot of use. (Isn’t that why you bought it?) Your pumps and heaters should last for years, and most have warranty coverage for a reasonable period of time.

Getting the Most from Your Spa

In order to receive the maximum benefits from your personal spa, you need to use it appropriately. Today’s spas have their maximum temperature preset by the manufacturer. This safety feature will help keep you from entering a tub that is too hot. Once you’re inside, the therapeutic benefits of hot, massaging jets on tight muscles can bring quick relief to your tired body and mind. In the best-quality spas, jets are ergonomically placed to put the massaging power right where it can do the most good. Whether you like deep tissue massage or reflexology, many spas have ways to direct the water pressure precisely where you want it.

Having your spa placed in the right spot on your property will give you a fantastic place to watch the night sky. From the comfort of the warm water, you’ll be able to watch the seasons change, relax comfortably in all sorts of weather, commune with nature, and even listen to your favorite music while being massaged by your hydrotherapy jets.

A spa is a great way to spend quality time with those you love. Everyone in the family can enjoy the benefits of soaking together.  It’s the perfect spot to talk about all the things nearest and dearest to you and your loved ones. The relaxing waters ease everyone’s personal tensions and open the way to meaningful communication.

Warranty

Purchasing your spa from a reliable, established spa dealer is your safest bet—especially if your dealer is a manufacturer warranty center for the spas they sell. Check to see if they will take care of your spa maintenance after you’ve made your purchase. You’ll want a company you can rely upon to provide necessary supplies, teach you how to keep your spa in tip-top shape, and deal with any problems that might arise over the course of your spa’s lifetime.

Conclusion

Now you’re more informed about how easy it can be to get a hydrotherapy spa placed at your home. There’s nothing more soothing and relaxing than being able to step outside your door into the peaceful waters of your own personal retreat. Truly, a private spa will be one of the finest investments you make for yourself and your loved ones. You’ll have years of enjoyment.

Visit B&B Pool and Spa Center’s website: BBPoolandSpa.com, where we’ll keep giving you more information on how to get the most out of your spa.