Hot Tubs for the Outdoors - By: Allan Michael Taylor

Concepts of hot baths have historically existed in the form of Roman and Turkish baths as well as the Japanese bath, which is a more comparable example to the modern version. The modern hot tub actually evolved from a wine cask that cut in half and then filled with hot water. Later incarnations had hot tubs that had the hot water circulated with jets and pumps and could fit anywhere from two to four people. Typically, today's hot tubs are made from either fiberglass or concrete and can either be situated on the ground or built into it. Although the above-ground version is usually referred to as portable, the actual size of them make them a bit challenging to move about. Another style of hot tub though, called a softub, is compact in size and easier to move around for installation anywhere.

Hot tubs can be made from fiberglass, wood, concrete, and even plastic, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A common feature from the basic, all the way up to high-end models is that they all circulate heated water. Commonly, hot tubs can be found outdoors, either situated as part of an in-ground pool, or as water features in the yard. The incarnation of the portable hot tub brings the possibility of an indoor spa a reality, as some of them can be fit through standard doors. This is a great opportunity for people who want an indoor hot tub, but either have too many space constraints or just can't fit a large tub through their doors. Generally, portable hot tubs do not require andy additional support wherever they are installed due to their lighter construction and smaller size. However, it is always a good idea to at least check your local building codes to see how much weight your floor can support without additional reinforcement.

Hot tubs are all about comfort and relaxation. But they do require more maintenance than a typical tub because there are more parts to worry about like the jets and pumps that are responsible for circulating heated water. Any installed hot tub filters should be cleaned out with filter cleaner while putting a spare in its place. This ensures that there is always a filter available for the hot tub to be in continuous use. A shocking agent, which is included in the chemical kit should be used to shock the hot tub either weekly for heavy usage, or bi-weekly if it isn't used as much. The pH and chlorine levels should be tested everyday. The water's pH level should ideally be in the 7.2 to 7.6 range while chlorine should be between 3mg to 5mg on the chlorine test indicator.

About the Author

Pam Ramchkin is an avid hot tub enthusiast, she has been searching for the best portable hot tub for years and feels like she has finally found a place that list the information she seeks at http://www.a1hottub.com.

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