If you’re interested in adding a hot tub to your home you’ll need to decide what size is best for your needs. For some people this may be easy since they have to install the tub in a certain area and the size of the space will dictate the size and shape of the unit. So there’s not much point in buying a model that holds eight people if you’ve only got the room for a four-person tub. And if your space is round, you’ll be looking for a round-shaped tub rather than a square one. However, if you have a lot of freedom when it comes to the installation area there are several things you should take into consideration before you can answer the question what size hot tub should I buy?
How many People?
A lot of hot tub owners choose the size of the unit based on how many people they plan on putting in it. If you plan on having relatives and friends over or you have a big family then you’ll likely be in the market for something that can hold up to eight people. You may also want to consider just what you’re going to use the tub for. Will it be for exercise, entertaining, recreation, hydrotherapy or a mixture of these? Knowing this will help when it comes to choosing the seating configuration and design of the unit.
Test the Tub
If you’ve got your eye on a specific tub you should really test it out before laying your money down for it. Most dealers will allow customers to try the tub out with their friends or family in a private area of their store. This will allow you to get a good feel for the comfort, size, and design of the hot tub. In fact, you should probably try out a few tubs to compare the differences. You should take note of the legroom, depth of seating, overall comfort level, the armrests, and the placement and size of the filter.
Hot Tub Depth
Deep-water spas are pretty popular these days, but you should make sure the tub isn’t too deep for you. It’s generally recommended that the water level should be just above your shoulders when you’re relaxing in the lounger or seat of the tub. This makes the dimension that runs from the seat tread to the tub’s water level as being an important one. Some tubs enable taller people to lie back or slide forwards on the seat and keep the water level just above their shoulders.
Size and Operating Cost
Most hot tub buyers want to know what the relationship is between the size of the tub and the operating costs of it. In general, a larger tub will cost more to run. However, a tub which can hold 50 per cent more water won’t cost 50 per cent more to operate. It will usually be between about 15 and 20 per cent more to run. The operating costs will generally be more affected by the heater efficiency, pump size, and the tub’s insulation.
What Shape is best?
If you have the room for any size and shape of hot tub you may want to consider which shape to go with based on the size of unit’s footwell. It’s important that there’s enough legroom for all users at the same time. This is one of the reasons that circular tubs aren’t as popular. In general, a square-shaped tub with no loungers and open seating will offer the most interior room. Just remember, if the seats need to be moved inward for any reason, the size of the footwell will shrink.
Does Material affect Size?
Manufacturers can be a little more creative when it comes to the size and shape of hot tubs depending on the material they’re constructed with. For example, acrylic typically allows for more freedom in the design. In addition, acrylic shells are designed to withstand any type of chemical attack due to the strength of the material.
Most-Popular Sizes
It’s probably safe to say that the most-popular sizes of hot tubs are the seven square feet models and the two-person units. The two-person tubs are ideal for singles and couples who want to use the tub for personal hydrotherapy. Swim spas are becoming quite popular as well as you can use them as a traditional hot tub as well as for aquatic exercise purposes.
Try one out today
International Pool and Spas has hundreds of makes, models and sizes and can help you find the perfect hot tub for your family. We have locations across Ontario and have hot tub experts to answer all of your questions.
