Having a home spa or hot tub is more than a mere passing craze as the benefits of having a private place to de-stress and relax becomes increasingly important for today's hectic lifestyles. They are more cost effective to maintain and run as you may imagine and one of their biggest assets in terms of costs is the ability to take them with you should you decide to move home.
Portable tubs are far more robust than their past counterparts, with modern design techniques in the manufacturer and materials used for construction. Despite this having a tub or spa in-situ may be a hot selling point for your home which enables you to perhaps purchase a larger, newer model when you re-locate!
One of the great advantages of having a portable tub is the ability to place it virtually anywhere you want in your garden. However you should give careful consideration as to where you place it in terms of stability, privacy and ease of maintenance. Although it may be lovely to have a tub placed under trees to give you a real 'back to nature' feel, remembering that leaves from deciduous trees fall in autumn may mean that it may not be such a good idea after all as you will spend you life cleaning the water and removing the debris!
You will want as much privacy as your garden allows for. If you are overlooked by neighbours it may be wise to have a gazebo styled construction in which to place your tub. This will still give you a natural surrounding but will also prevent prying eyes from watching you! Spas and tubs are about relaxation and unwinding in a natural way, if you are aware of constantly being observed the tensions the tub is reducing will return and you may find that you are reluctant to use your tub as often as you wish too.
Of course if you are of the disposition which doesn't give a hoot you will have no worries as to where you place your tub! However, you may find you suddenly acquire many new 'friends' as your neighbours may just wish to join you in your tub! Check with the suppliers as to the best place to position your tub, they are the experts and will advise as to the most stable places, along with the ease of putting in the wiring etc.
As spas and tubs can be used throughout the year, opt for a thermal cover which will not only help reduce the amount of energy you use, it will also help prevent debris from falling into the water and are an essential requirement if there are children within the household, as a lockable cover will help to reduce the risk of children climbing in unsupervised.
There are a number of different covers available, from a polyurethane styles to hard covers which have hydraulic operating systems which enables them to be opened and closed by one person. Opting for a hard thermal cover which is lockable is also a good idea to help reduce the risk of having people use the hot tub univited when you are not at home!
