If you want to add a water luxury product to your outdoor living space, you have three options to choose from: hot tubs, swimming pools, and swim spas. Each has its own appeal, health benefits, and maintenance recommendations. Here are the differences between the three outlined, to help you choose which one is right for you!
What you Need to Know About Hot Tubs
A hot tub is a portable, completely self-contained vessel that can be installed above-ground, below-ground or half-in and half-out. Once you’ve found the best model to suit your needs and lifestyle and have it installed, simply fill it with water from the hose and treat it accordingly with hot tub chemicals. It can be easily drained for cleaning and moved to a new home if needed.
Hot tubs are often chosen for the benefits that they can provide your lifestyle, from a place to relax and rejuvenate, to the perfect environment for entertainment and recreation. While hot tubs are often geared toward the needs of adults, children and teenagers can enjoy the jet-driven water as well, with some temperature and seating adjustments – of course!
Hot Tub Health Benefits:
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Relaxation
- Improved sleep
- Relief from joint pain
- Muscle relaxation
- Cardiovascular benefits
Hot Tub Maintenance:
There are three main aspects to hot tub maintenance:
- Maintaining good water circulation: This will pass the water through the hot tub filters and keep it free from contaminants.
- Sticking to a cleaning schedule: The water should be tested and treated with hot tub chemicals once a week to ensure that the water remains safe and balanced. You should drain it completely every three to four months, or more often if it is being used very frequently. The filter and cover can be cleaned on the same schedule, which should include rinsing with water from the hose weekly and a deeper cleaning monthly. Your filter should be replaced every 12-18 months, depending on the quality and frequency of hot tub use.
- Balancing the water chemistry: Keep all the necessary chemicals on hand. These include pH increaser and decreaser, alkalinity increaser, chlorine or bromine sanitizer, non-chlorine shock, and test strips. Using a shocking agent will release oxygen into the water. This serves the same purpose as chlorine and sanitizes the water by killing bacteria.
Swimming Pools 101
Adding a swimming pool to your outdoor space is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and entertain friends and family. Swimming pools come in a wide range of designs, shapes, and sizes to suit both your backyard and budget. Here at National Pool & Spas, we have vinyl, fiberglass, concrete, and above-ground options.
Swimming Pool Health Benefits:
- Low-impact exercise
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Builds endurance
- Improves muscle strength
- Helps maintain a healthy weight
- Keeps heart and lungs healthy
- Provides a full-body workout
Swimming Pool Maintenance:
- Maintaining good water circulation: Running your pool pump at least 10-12 hours per day will help keep your water clear and free from algae. Regularly backwashing your filter will also help with water circulation.
- Sticking to a cleaning schedule: Use a pool brush and net skimmer to remove any debris that has fallen into the pool. A pool vacuum is ideal for removing debris and keeping the pool walls clean. This can be done weekly. A pool vacuum is most convenient because it can clean your pool automatically and it won’t scratch the bottom of your swimming pool.
- Balancing the water chemistry: The three most important parts of pool chemistry are maintaining an ideal pH level of 7.4 to 7.6, maintaining an alkalinity level of 100 to 150 parts per million, and maintaining a proper level of sanitizer. Every once in a while, you will also need to add pool shock. This should be done at night and the pump should be run for at least eight hours to allow it to circulate.
Swim Spas: Features, Benefits & Maintenance
If you’re looking for a completely new approach to health and fitness, swim spas can provide a solution that you can use for exercising, relaxing, and entertaining all in the comfort of your outdoor living space. If you’re an athlete, swim spas can also help to improve your stamina and boost your performance.
Health Benefits of Swim Spas
- Swim training benefits
- Cardiovascular benefits
- Improved fitness
- Hydrotherapy
- Improved sleep
- Relaxation
- Athletic recovery
Maintenance of Swim Spas
- Maintaining good water circulation: This will pass the water through filters found in swim spas and keep them free from contaminants.
- Sticking to a cleaning schedule: Test and treat the water in your swim spa with chemicals once a week. This can help to ensure that the water remains safe and balanced. Drain, clean, and refill your swim spa every three to four months, or more often if it is being used very frequently. The filter and cover can be cleaned on the same schedule, which should include rinsing with water from the hose weekly and a deeper cleaning monthly. Your filter should be replaced every 12-18 months, depending on the quality and frequency of hot tub use.
- Professional swim spa service: To ensure that your swim spa operates effectively and for many years to come, schedule professional service and maintenance with a professional. Whether you are looking for regular care or a one-off appointment, our experts at National Pools & Spas in New Jersey can assist you.
National Pools & Spas in New Jersey
We hope you found this information helpful. Our team at National Pool & Spas is always on call if you have any questions about our hot tubs, swimming pools, and swim spas. You can also find more information about service and repair and pool renovation on our website. If you want to learn more about maintenance tips and the health benefits of owning a spa, pool, or hot tub, you’ll find our blog very informative. Contact us today to arrange a consultation and discuss how we can help you find your dream swim spas, hot tubs or swimming pools.
