Buy the Best Hot Tub

With so many brands and styles of portable hot tubs on the market, how are you sure that you are going to get the best hot tub for you? As you shop for your hot tub, you will notice that there are a myriad of choices to make all at the same time. For instance, what size, shape or color do you want - or what voltage requirement?

These are just a few of the many questions that you will ask yourself before you buy. But if you want to make things simple, just keep my 6 simple questions for hot tub shoppers in mind. These 6 questions are the key points that will make sure you're making the right investment.

There are dozens upon dozens of portable hot tubs available - and how ever much you are willing to pay, a salesperson is ready to sell it to you. But before you settle for someone else's recommendation, you need to figure out what is right for you. For the sake of keeping this hub from turning into the "we're better than them" sales pitch you hear all of the time, for my examples I am just going to refer to the hot tubs made by DreamMaker. These are the hot tubs I am most familiar with and they are a diverse enough line that I'd rather compare and contrast them that pit two manufacturers against each other. The same basic principles will apply to your hot tub shopping, no matter what brand you are looking at.

Some people want a hot tub that their whole family can use, relax and have fun together. For athletes strained muscles or other injuries, they are looking for a hot tub to improve their circulation to promote healing and rejuvenation. Is your hot tub going to be the focal point of parties or a spot where you seek solace and relaxation after a stressful day at work?

Here's the main things you need to consider to make sure that you are going to get the hot tub that has all the features you want and best suits your lifestyle.

• 1-2 People: These are the personal or couple's hot tubs. They are perfect for a soak after the gym or as a setting for a romantic evening.
• 3-4 People: These are the family hot tubs. They are ideal for visiting kids and grandkids or for taking time out to relax with the whole family.
• 5-6 People: These are the all-around fun hot tubs. They are made for those people who have alot of friends and family and want to share the fun with everyone.

Don't Let Your Social Life Suffer: Before you add up your family members for the answer to this question, remember that the hot tub is to cook-outs and get togethers what the kitchen is to dinner parties. If you notice, everyone usually ends up in the kitchen, and with a hot tub, you will find that everyone ends up wanting to have a turn in the water. If this sounds like you, then it might be wise to pick a larger hot tub like the 6-person Odyssey spa which comes with 5 seats and a lounger (though many people will fit two people on the lounger and have room for 7!)

Keeping it Zen: You might be looking for a quiet, meditative retreat from the rest of the world. Plenty of hot tub owners like to devote some time for themselves to unwind away from the television, cell phone and pattering of little feet. If this sounds like you, you would most likely benefit from a smaller hot tub. The Fantasy spa is perfectly sized to take some time out of a busy day, and features two spacious seats positioned side by side (one seat for you and one for your honey).

When you are shopping for a portable hot tub, you have to keep in mind how much space you have to work with. Sometimes the toughest part of choosing your spa is deciding how best to balance the number of people you want to accommodate with the amount of space you have available.

Deck - Be sure that the area you designate for your hot tub has been reinforced before you fill the spa with water. The average deck construction can nut stand up to the weight of a hot tub full of water and people.

Patio - Concrete patios usually provide a flat, sturdy base for your hot tub.

Yard - Certain types of hot tubs can be placed directly onto a leveled spot in your yard, whereas other will require owners will pour a reinforced slab of concrete over crushed stone just for their spa. DreamMaker spas do not require a concrete base, but be sure that the part of the yard you choose has good water drainage, is free from rocks or exposed tree roots or has been leveled off.

Indoors - Portable Hot Tubs can be used indoors as well as outdoors. Sometimes the easiest solution to keeping your hot tub running all winter long is to bring it inside once the weather gets cold. Make sure that the floor you put your hot tub on is extremely solid (ideally concrete). Ventilation is very, very important in order to keep the humidity from causing mold and mildew problems throughout your home. Running a dehumidifier in the room should take care of a lot of the moisture.

If you don't have a spot picked out for your hot tub yet, here's some tips for choosing a location:

• Water Source: Keep in mind that you want a close proximity to a facet (or at least be aware of how long your hose is)
• Easy Drainage: Remember that you will have to drain your hot tub on a regular basis, so make sure that run off water won't be flooding low points in your yard.
• No Outlet?: Make sure that electricity can potentially be run to the hot tub location
• Power Source: Keep the location of the hot tub within 150 feet of your home's main breaker panel to avoid voltage drops that could affect your hot tub's motor. If this is not possible, consult an electrician.
• Indoor Noise: To reduce the amount of pump and motor noise that can be heard indoors, make sure that your hot tub is not too close to exterior walls or windows.
• Privacy: Make sure you are comfortable with the amount of privacy you have from the road or neighbors. Creating a small privacy fence is a good option it you don't have an obscured area on your property.
• Good View: Keep an eye out for the spot with the best views from the hot tub. Rather than starring at the electrical meters ticking away or the garbage cans, you might want to face a garden or other attractive setting.
• Wind Shelter: A location that has a wind breaker will help keep the water temperature steady on colder days.
• Overhead Trees: If you place your hot tub beneath a tree for shade, remember that you might have to spend more time cleaning out leaves and other debris.
• Accessibility: Be sure to leave yourself some room if you would need to get into the hot tubs motor or maintenance compartment.
• Getting It There: Are there any obstacles in the pathway when you move your spa to its intended location?

It is important to make sure that your hot tub works well with your exterior house color and landscaping. For many, choosing a color is based on personal taste - but if you are confused, sometimes it is best to keep it simple. Neutral tones like tan, beige or grey are often easier to integrate into your existing landscape.

For some, owning a hot tub is about having fun and relaxing with family and friends. Others use hot tubs for their therapeutic qualities. People who have chronic discomfort from health conditions or surgeries, joint pain and insomnia find that regular soaks in a hot tub can work wonders. The term "Hydrotherapy" is used to describe the clinically confirmed benefits that hot tubs have to offer. The combination of warmth, water massage and buoyancy can be used as a therapy to help alleviate high blood pressure, stress and anxiety, muscle strains and cramps-and even a specific type of diabetes!

Though it's nearly impossible to pick out a hot tub that *isn't* fun, if you are looking for relief from specific conditions, there are some elements to look for.

• Stress The side effects of stress an unmistakable: headache, backache, muscles cramps, clenched jaw, weight gain/loss, irritability and relationship conflicts. An ideal way to deal with stress before it begins to interfere with your life is to spend some time clearing you mind and relaxing your muscles everyday in a hot tub. To promote a peaceful state of mind, almost all of the DreamMaker spas have color changing waterfall, so that you can relax to the sounds of gently flowing water and watch the shifting of calming colors.

For Stress In Particular, you will want to have jets that are concentrated around the lower back and neck where stress-induced muscle cramps are most common. The DreamMaker X-500 is an example of a hot tub for stress relief - it not only has several different jet configurations in the seats, but also has a lounger, where you can lean back and let your stress melt away.

• Arthritis Arthritis can make even the simplest, everyday tasks painful. When you are addressing arthritis, there several ways that hydrotherapy alleviates the pain. The heat from the water increases blood flow which brings down swelling and inflammation. The jets gently massage stiff joints and muscles, allowing greater mobility. The buoyant sensation you experience in water removes 90% of the pressure that your weight puts on your joints, which give you're a feeling of weightlessness.

For Arthritis In Particular, you will want to find a hot tub like the DreamMaker Fantasy Spa which has jets that target arthritis prone areas like the wrists. The Fantasy spa also gives extra leg room so that you can slowly stretch out as the warm water massage gently loosens up your joints and muscles.

• Insomnia For many people, falling asleep and staying asleep is nearly impossible. There is a long list of risks associated with inadequate sleep, including short term memory problems and impairment in making decisions-not to mention a higher chance of getting in a car accident! A scientific journal devoted to sleep health published findings that a drop in body temperature can ease you into a deep, less disturbed sleep. Spending some time in a hot tub before you go to bed can mimic the body temperature drop that reflexively causes you to sleep soundly.

For Insomnia In Particular, you will want to look for a hot tub that doesn't have too many distracting features but can offer warmth and an comfortable sitting position (lounging can confuse your brain and make it hard to transition into a sleeping position in your bed). The DreamMaker X-100 hot tub does not have the lighted color waterfall that the other models have, which could be distracting when you are preparing for sleep. The X-100's Softly molded seats allow you to find just the right spot to sit back and start counting sheep.

• Post Workout For those sore muscles from the gym or other physical exertion like lifting heavy objects, nothing helps speed up your body's natural healing like a hot tub. The warmth of the water increases blood flow, which helps to mend strained muscles and aid cells in clearing out waste products (which cause that familiar ache after work outs). The massaging jets soothe and rejuvenate muscles, helping you find your second wind for the rest of the day or comfortably slip into a state of complete relaxation.

For After Work Outs In Particular, when you shop for your hot tub, you will want one like the DreamMaker EZ-Spa which has 10 stainless steel Eurojets to offer a thorough massage and strategically placed cup holders so that you can rehydrate.

• Type 2 Mellitus Diabetes This type of adult on-set diabetes causes insulin resistance, insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Though it may seem too good to be true, the New England Journal of Medicine published proof that hydrotherapy can help improve this particular type of diabetes (along with an exercise regimen). Patients who spend 30 minutes in a hot tub 6 days per week found that in a little over a week they were able to reduce their insulin doses. They also experienced weight lost and decreases in plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin.

For Type 2 Mellitus Diabetes In Particular, you want to find a very comfortable hot tub that you can use on a regular basis. Any of the DreamMaker hot tubs will work for improving this particular type of diabetes. The key is to have all of the aspects of hydrotherapy - warmth, massage and buoyancy - and to be consistent about spending time in the spa almost everyday. (Always consult your doctor before starting any new therapies for your condition.)

• Alternative Healing Alternative medicine is often used as a complimentary medicine in conjunction with mainstream medicine.

1. Reflexology is an ancient Chinese healing technique that involves massaging pressure points on the feet. Reflexology has been gaining popularity in America since its introduction back in 1913. The DreamMaker Eclipse spa has jets that are strategically placed in the foot well on either side of the hot tub. By sitting in the seats opposite one of these jets, you can rest your foot against the jet and experience some of the benefits of reflexology.
2. Chromotherapy incorporates the therapeutic use of color to lighten and improve your mood. DreamMaker hot tubs employ this therapy technique by adding light and color to the water in their hot tub models. The spectrum of hues that are used help you to relax, distress or revive.
3. Watsu is a form of shiatsu massage that is practiced in water. The combination of body movement and pressure points in the weightless environment created by water offers many of the same benefits of shiatsu with some added benefits. In order to practice this healing art, you need a larger hot tub like the DreamMaker Odyssey spa.

When you initially purchase your hot tub, often there are optional upgrades available. Even though you might be working within a tight budget, it is usually worth considering some of the upgrades available when you first buy.

Though it is sometimes hard to know which ones you will need and which will never get used, if you keep to the basics, you rarely can go wrong. If the upgrades cover the basics like prolonging a warranty, upgrading your steps, or discounting starter kits for hot tub water chemicals, it is worth the extra money.

If you were to buy these same upgrade items separately, you most likely would end up spending more, plus you know that you can't go wrong with the basics. But, if they are selling upgrades for secondary needs, like cover cradles, water blankets and matching plastic flamingos for an addition fee, you might want to think the offer. You may find that you didn't need these items after you've had your hot tub for several months.

Jets: The number and type of jets in your hot tub can determine how thorough of a massage you will get during a soak. Look for jets that target the back and shoulders as well as the footwell of the tub. For those with arthritis, you may want to see if jets near the arms can be positioned to massage your wrists and hands. Look for jets that are made out of durable materials like metal as opposed to plastic ones. Adjustable jets are also an advantage, because you can customize your massage.

Eurojets: This is a type of jet that is used to move large amounts of water and produce most of the massaging quality of you hot tub water. The smaller adjustable and hydrotherapy jets compliment the Eurojets and create a very soothing sensation.

Heat: Depending on your climate or overall hot tub usage, the heater can be a very important element. Most standard hot tubs come with a heating element that warms the water before expelling it through the jets. More state of the art techniques include water friction and recycled heat, which use the motion of the water and the heat recycled from the jet motor to heat the hot tub 2 degrees per hour and up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (just like tubs with heating elements). One advantage to the water friction and recycled methods is that they don't require the maintenance that a element-heated hot tub does. The heating element is usually the first part of the hot tub to corrode and stop working.

Lights and Waterfalls: If you plan to use your hot tub in the evening, lights and other aesthetics touches like waterfalls can really enhance your hot tub experience. These features are pretty straight forward and really help to create the perfect mood during your soak.

Ozonator: Many hot tubs come with or "ready" for ozonators. Ozonators use the same technology employed in purifier drinking water, and help to keep your water bright, clean and clear without the use of extra chemicals. This added feature can greatly reduce the amount of time and chemicals you put into your hot tub. There are two main types of ozonators - ultra violet lamp ozonators and corona discharge ozonators. The second of these two types tends to be more efficient at cleaning the water in your hot tub, though both provide the benefits of ozone water purification.

Filtration and Skimmers: Most all spas come with a filtration system that reduces the amount of water changes and maintenance your hot tub requires. The filter is often replaced one per year and can be cleaned periodically to keep up its performance. Skimmers are little basket-like strainers that help to collect larger debris before it hits the filter.

Pump: The jet pump moves the water in your hot tub. Most pumps are 2 speed designs and are appropriately powered for the size of the hot tub in which they are installed.

Voltage: The amount of voltage you hot tub uses can determine how it handles colder temperatures in the winter. The usual 110 volt outlet in your home is perfect for 110 volt hot tubs, so you don't need any additional electrical wiring. For colder climates, you may want to select a 220 volt hot tub in order to better keep up with water heating. For more information about the pros and cons of 110 volt and 220 volt, see my hub about 110 Volt Hot Tubs.