In-ground swimming pools and spas require a lot of permits from the city, or county before you can have them installed. Out in the country at your vacation home, none of those problems apply. You can bring some city luxury to the country, especially during the winter season, by getting an inflatable hot tub set up.
Inflatable hot tubs come in a wide array of designs, styles, colors to fit the outdoor ambiance. Check out this blog post to see some of the different models available. Best of all, you don’t need any permits or permissions from anyone to install one.
There are a lot of ways to bring luxury along with you when you head out to the woods without breaking the bank. Follow along and we’ll outline some of them for you.
Installation
Inflatable hot tubs are far less expensive than an in-ground one. From beginning to end you’ll save money every step of the way.
- The difference in the initial purchase price is significant. According to the experts, depending on what part of the country you’re in, a custom spa will cost anywhere from $15,000 – $20,000, whereas a pre-made one will run $3,000 – $12,000 plus another $3,000 – $5,000 for installation. Most inflatable hot tubs are under $500, with some of them going as low as $325. That alone should convince you to take a second look at them.
- The set-up is a separate step that can get quite messy with an in-ground spa. Construction works will need to get into your backyard and dig a huge hole in the ground. This “dirt work” is loud, time-consuming, and yes, dirty. Even if you don’t track dirt into the house after you go out to inspect it, there will still be dust on your patio, windows, doors, and so on. An inflatable hot tub can go up in a single afternoon. There’s no digging or pouring concrete. Often you don’t need any tools beyond what comes with the tub.
- Once the hot tub is installed, filling it and heating the water to the right temperature is the same whether it’s an in-ground one or an inflatable. You’ll be filling it from your garden hose in all likelihood, and it carries the same volume of water regardless of which type you have.
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the water temperature in a hot tub should never exceed 104ºF. The heaters will usually have to heat the water for at least one full day before it reaches that point and can be used.
Maintenance
The amount of maintenance, including chemicals and pH testing equipment will be the same for either type of hot tub. There’s no price difference either way. There’s no difference in the amount of time required either. A well-maintained pool or spa will give you hours of enjoyment.
Just like managing pests in your home, maintaining a hot tub requires some planning. Some of the things you’ll need are:
- A water testing kit to check the pH levels in the water. You want the water to stay as close to neutral – pH 7 – as possible. Testing the water in a swimming pool only has to be done a couple of times a week, but a hot tub, because of the greater heat, requires you to check it every day.
- Chlorine tabs sit in the basket in the return to the pump. As water flows over the tabs they gradually dissolve, putting chlorine in the water to kill algae and other microorganisms.
- Shock is a powdered form of chlorine, intended to be quick dissolving for initially treating the water in the hot tub. It’s also used in emergencies when algae gets away from you and you need a quick boost of chlorine in the water so you don’t have to drain the tub and start over.
- Skimmers, a fine net on the end of a pole, along with some scrubbing brushes should round out the essentials you need to keep your hot tub in pristine condition.
Taking your family to Alaska or some other exotic location like Evergreen, Colorado for an outdoor adventure is a great idea, but why sacrifice fun in the sun, or a soak in the roiling water of a hot tub if you don’t have to? A hot tub in the woods is the ultimate luxury item, bringing a warm touch of civilization to the savage wilderness.
You can even break out some bubbly while you’re in the bubbly.
