Photo: Andrei! / Flickr

If you thought that a hot tub was just for summer, think again – hot tubs have long been enjoyed in colder climates as a way of relaxing in the outdoors even when the temperatures drop! If you’re thinking of installing an outdoor hot tub, you can rest assured that it can be a feature that you use all year round. Find out more about hot tubs and how to use them to get the most out of them from summer through to the coldest winter months.

What is a hot tub?

What’s the difference between a ‘spa’, a ‘hot tub’ and a ‘jacuzzi’? Well, they all let you stay warm, but the name ‘hot tub’ suggests that it’s an outdoor installation. You might also hear a hot tub referred to by the name ‘home spa’. Hot tubs generally have jets of water that’ll massage you while you soak, in a similar manner to massaging shower heads. By definition, a hot tub has room for more than one person to use it at a time – but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy having it all to yourself.

Getting it installed

Photo: rasears / Flickr

When choosing where to install a hot tub, consider the fact that you’ll want it to be sheltered, both in terms of privacy and in terms of the weather: choose a spot that’s safe from prying eyes and from wind and the elements. Remember that a hot tub is a large piece of equipment and consider whether you’ll be able to fit it through doorways and other gaps to get it to the spot you’ve chosen before you bring it home. If you’re not very experienced at DIY, you’ll probably want to get some help from the hot tub manufacturer to get it set up.

You’ve got the energy

Using a spa will help you to relax and leave you feeling re-energised, but consider the energy that the hot tub is using: find out about your hot tub’s energy efficiency before you make a purchase. This will depend mainly on the insulation used in the spa, but you can also help out in saving energy with your hot tub by simply keeping it covered while it’s not in use – this can reduce energy loss and heating costs for your hot tub by up to three-quarters.

Making the most of your hot tub in winter

Photo: alistairas / Flickr

If you want to use your hot tub to stay warm in winter, look for one that has auto heat, freeze protection, or a timer. Keeping a hot tub running twenty-four hours a day is costly and wasteful, but you’ll need to get it to turn on periodically while it’s not being used to stop the water in it from freezing. A word of warning for those who don’t plan to use the hot tub in winter: you’ll want to drain it while it’s out of action for the winter months.

As is the case with all appliances, you shouldn’t underestimate the value of reading the instructions – armed with knowledge about your hot tub, you’ll be able to enjoy it through summer and winter.

Tags: hot tub, winter