SPA Hot Tubs - The Basics

A Brief Overview Of Hot Tubs

Traditional hot tubs are made from wood and are large enough for two or more people to soak. Hot tubs are often used socially, for relaxation, hydrotherapy, reading or even meditation. Traditional hot tubs are frequently located outdoors, although they may be sheltered against the elements.

The traditional hot tub is constructed much like a very large barrel with wooden staves. The water within is usually still and circulated only for the purposes of heating and filtering. The tub is often situated within a wooden deck and is entry to the tub is from that deck. Seating within the hot tub is usually by wooden benches or a seat that forms a ring around the inner circumference of the tub.

The tub is filled with water at system startup and is then maintained in much the same way as a swimming pool. In simple designs, chlorine is used as a disinfectant. More sophisticated designs use an ozone generator, eliminating much of the need for purchased chemicals or manual treatment of the water. The tub is heated electrically or occasionally by natural gas, propane and rarely these days wood fires.

Spa Hot Tubs

This style of tub is quite different from the traditional wooden tub. These are often not so deep and are manufactured from fiberglass-reinforced plastic formed into shapes that provide a variety of seating arrangements within the tub. Each seat is usually equipped with hydrotherapy jets that allow a jet of water to be directed at various parts of the body. The water flow may also be aerated for additional effect and some or all of the jets may also automatically move or rotate, causing the changing pressure of the water on the body to provide a massage-like effect.

These tubs may be free standing or recessed within a surrounding deck. Free standing are usually entered by climbing a few steps and then stepping over the side of the tub onto one of the seating areas. A lot of people think that external plumbing is needed with hot tubs, when in fact most units today are self contained and only need filling with water.

Spas are manufactured by a wide range of mostly-boutique (small production) vendors. Jacuzzi who are probably the best known brand name of spas are actually made by a company called Sundance.

Spa hot tubs usually have a number of water circuits, with one providing heating and filtration and the others driving the hydrotherapy jets. Computer controls are now common on high end tubs which also boast features such as lighting, sound systems and even flat-screen televisions with integral DVD players.

Bath Style Hot Tubs

Smaller spas are now readily available for installation within a household bathroom. They are basically modified conventional bathtubs. They are filled fresh for each use as in a normal bath. Most don't contain any heating or filtration mechanisms and usually have just the one hydrotherapy circuit. These tubs are mainly designed for singular or at most double occupancy.