For many years, the purchase and installation of a luxurious hot tub, spa or jacuzzi has been a very popular way to add enjoyment to your home. Whether you create a spa experience in the master bath or place your jacuzzi outdoors for a peaceful retreat, these luxury baths are a great way to relax and decompress after a hard day.
With today's highly automated models, owning a hot tub, spa or jacuzzi is easier and more fun than ever before. However, choosing, installing and properly maintaining your new investment isn't without potential errors. Unfortunately, these mistakes are easy to make and can cost you a lot of money.
Thankfully, they're also extremely easy to avoid. All you need to do is put a bit of knowledge and forethought into your purchase, and then follow up with proper installation and maintenance techniques. In this article, we'll review the most common mistakes made by homeowners when purchasing, installing and caring for a hot tub, spa or jacuzzi. We'll also give you ways to avoid these mistakes, saving yourself time, headaches and money.
Common Mistake 1- Size and Usage Considerations
It's easy, when faced with a dizzying array of options at a store, to become confused about what you actually need. Many homeowners make mistakes when it comes to purchasing a hot tub, spa or jacuzzi because they fail to consider how and how often the item will be used. They simply pick the model that looks best on the sales floor.
Consider exactly how your new bath is going to be used. If it's going in a master bathroom, will it be used for regular bathing, or will the spa be a special treat? If your hot tub will be installed outdoors near your deck or patio, do you plan on using it as a gathering spot during parties, or will it be strictly for household use?
These considerations will go a long way in helping you determine what size tub you need, as well as which features you'll actually use and which ones would simply be expensive decorations. Light feature are a great example. If you plan on hosting pool parties that will end with a relaxing soak, then an underwater light show is something that will probably bring you lots of enjoyment, making it worth the extra cost. Likewise, it's hard to fit an entire party's worth of people into a tiny tub, making a larger model more sensible. Choose a model which fits your needs and wants (it is a luxury item, after all) to avoid the mistake of wasting money on features that will never be used.
Common Mistake 2- DIY Installation
Today's economy has homeowners looking to save in any way possible. However, installing a hot tub is absolutely not an area in which you want to cut corners. These items combine plumbing and electricity, two utilities you simply don't want to mess around with on a DIY basis. In fact, doing so can lead to a lack of insurance coverage and hefty fines, not to mention the potential for serious injury and damage to your home.
Hire a professional to install your new tub. After paying for such a luxurious item, there's no sense in costing yourself even more money by having to pay for repairs on a botched DIY installation, then paying for a proper installation on top of everything else. Play it safe and hire somebody with the proper credentials and plenty of experience.
Common Mistake 3- Failure to Account for Privacy
If your new tub will be placed outdoors, you'll probably want to invest in some type of privacy screening. Many homeowners make the mistake of ignoring this issue, only to find themselves feeling quite exposed when they realize that their neighbor's dining room window has a great view of their new tub.
There are many different options for screening your tub, with something for every decor and every budget. You can erect simple trellis fencing on the sides of the tub which face neighboring houses. Over time, plants growing up and over this type of fence can create a truly beautiful natural privacy screen. In the meantime, the trellis itself will provide adequate privacy. Some homeowners choose to create a completely natural privacy screen with fast-growing, dense trees. While this looks great, be aware that it will take a few years for even the fastest growing trees to grow high enough for full privacy. On the more expensive end, you can put up a no-visibility fence around your new tub. Let your needs and your budget be your guide.
Common Mistake 4- Ignoring Energy Efficient Brands
In today's world, nearly every single product we use can be found in a version which is gentler on the environment. This is true for hot tubs, spas and jacuzzis as well, but many homeowners don't realize this, and make the mistake of purchasing an older model which sucks much more energy than its contemporary cousins.
When you begin shopping for a new tub, whether it's in person or online, seek out energy efficient models first. In most cases, they offer every single luxury and feature as more inefficient tubs. These new models are a wonderful investment, off-setting their initial cost by saving you a great deal on your utility bills down the road. If you're trying to live a lifestyle that's healthier for the environment, trying to save on bills or trying to do both, don't make the mistake of ignoring these efficient tubs. They'll pay off in many ways, and you'll never notice a difference in enjoyment or quality.
Common Mistake 5- Poor Maintenance
Once you've invested in a hot tub, spa or jacuzzi, don't make the frighteningly common mistake of neglecting basic care and maintenance. Far too many homeowners either don't realize what needs to be done in order to properly care for a specialized tub, or they simply don't bother. Either way, this mistake will cost you in several ways. Not only can improper maintenance cause your tub to work harder and therefore draw more power than it should, but if you ignore basic cleaning tasks, soon you won't even want to get inside!
Cleaning is the most basic maintenance task, although it's different than cleaning a traditional tub or shower. Check with the manufacturer to see which cleansers are safe to use on your new tub - some chemicals are too harsh for certain materials, and can literally eat away at your tub's interior. Over time, this can cause catastrophic leaks which are not only huge hassles but, since electricity is involved, can be extremely dangerous as well. Use the cleanser which is recommended by the manufacturer to avoid this mistake.
Failing to clean filters and jets is another common mistake which can quickly turn a beautiful new tub into an unclean (and unsafe) place to spend time. Every model is different, and your tub will come with a booklet outlining exactly how to clean the jets, filters, and any other specialized features. You'll need to change the filters themselves on some models, where others simply need to be removed and rinsed. Perform a thorough cleaning regularly, depending on how often your tub is used.
Outdoor hot tubs often use chemicals to keep the water safe and free of insects. Standing water is an open invitation for insects to breed, so keeping them out is a must. Seek out insect repellents which are organic in nature; nobody wants to soak in a tub full of pesticides. Other common pool and hot tub chemicals, such as chlorine, are less harmful and should be mixed according to the manufacturer's directions. If you're dedicated to living a green lifestyle, you can find several brands of pool additives which are natural and intended to provide an alternative to chlorine. If your local pool supply store doesn't stock these, try checking with a natural foods shop for tips on where to buy. You can also look online.
Keeping your outdoor hot tub covered is another part of routine maintenance that's often ignored. These covers are designed to keep leaves and other debris out of the tub. If leaves do get inside, they're more than just an annoyance. If they get drawn into the tub's inner workings, they can cause clogs and other major issues which require professional attention. Cover your tub after every use to easily avoid this common error.
As you can see, the most common mistakes when it comes to hot tubs, spas and jacuzzis are very easily avoided. With a bit of consideration and proper maintenance, your new luxury investment will keep on bringing you and your entire household enjoyment for years to come.
Posted by: DianeSuggested Reading For You
