Best Outdoor Hot Tubs and How to Maintain One

Samuel J Tan Garden, Home & Kitchen 0

The best outdoor hot tubs come handy in a number of different ways. From improving blood circulation in your body to getting rid of the back pain, they can help your muscles feel relaxed after a hard day at the office. We look at what to consider when you are in the market for one and how to maintain it.

Another advantage of the hot tub other than it being associated with hydrotherapy is the fact that it can help repair your damaged tissues. If you are experiencing any kind of sleep disorders of late, sitting in hot water for a few hours every day can also help you sleep better on a consistent basis.

The hot tub does have a wide range of benefits. In recent years, more and more people are turning toward it as a general well being solution to keep healthy day in and day out. And if you are one of them, one who wants to enjoy the full benefits of hydrotherapy, you’ve come to the perfect place.

In this article, allow us to introduce you to the top five best outdoor hot tubs which are available in today’s market. Each one of these models has been hand picked after extensive research so you can invest in any one of them with full confidence.

Before you look at the reviews, let’s have a look at different types of outdoor tubs which you can install in your own garden. Having this information will help you single out the type which can serve your needs in a better way.

Table of Contents

Types of Outdoor Tubs

There are two types of outdoor tubs which are available in today’s market: Permanent and Portable. Each one of them comes with its own sets of pros and cons and choosing any one of these two types really depends on your personal preference.

Permanent Hot Tubs

As its name suggest, this type of outdoor hot tubs is designed to be installed and fitted at a fixed place. They are not meant to be transported from one place to the other on a frequent basis or kept away when not needed. As a result, they normally come with a heavyweight frame and rigid construction. You will need to have a dedicated space for this either in the garage, pool house, roof top, balcony or gazebo.

Their walls are made of hard material, which may be cement or acrylic, and you have to fix them into the ground or raised platform. They also come at a higher price tag as compared to the portable outdoor tubs so if you are looking for a durable product, one which can serve you for years to come, the permanent hot tub is a better investment.

Portable or Inflatable Hot Tubs

Incorporating a lightweight construction, the portable hot tubs require very little installation. You just have to place them on the ground and connect them to a power outlet. They do require that you use an even floor and remove any rubble or pointy objects on the surface. The best way to avoid any damage to the portable hot tub is to line the floor first with a tarpaulin sheet or pond liner.

Portable hot tubs are mainly tall inflatable pool for adults with built-in pump, water jets, heater and sometimes water filter. Unlike the permanent option, it is generally very easy to carry the portable hot tubs from one point to the other when deflated. Perfect for the garden deck and patio, it is an affordable option, often a third or less then price of its permanent counterpart.

How to Maintain Hot Tubs

Here are a few tips which can prolong the lifespan of your fixed hot tubs.

1. Cover

When it comes to the hot tub covers, they are an essential item for keeping this product neat and clean. Apart from protecting the tub from external environmental elements, they also make sure that the water – inside the tub, stays fresh for an extended duration of time.

However, it does mean that the cover comes in contact with a number of different harmful elements, including UV rays of the sun, dirt, and debris. It is imperative that you clean the hot tub cover on a consistent basis to stop the build up of moss and mildew.

If it is a plastic sheet or fiber glass cover, purchase a vinyl cleaner and apply this to the top of the cover. Afterward, clean the cover with a soft cloth. Make sure that no amount of vinyl cleaner gets applied on the bottom of the cover or otherwise, it may have a negative effects on the water.

As for the underside of the cover, clean it with a standard garden hose and a soft cloth to remove any build up of mould on the surface. You can also use dish washing or other light detergent for this purpose as it is imperative that you get rid any stains.

Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the cover, place it under direct sunlight. When you feel that it is properly dried up, cover it up with a vinyl protector.

Search for Hot Tub Covers on Amazon.

2. Chemicals

Chemicals play an important role in the regular maintenance of hot tubs. Not only will they provide you with fresh bathing water, but at the same time, they prevent the formation of bacteria and other dangerous organisms.

Before adding new chemicals into your hot tub, it is imperative that you check their existing levels with the help of test strips. Determine the pH levels, calcium hardness, chlorine and bromine with the help of these test strips and only then should you add new chemicals to the tub.

Search for Hot Tub Chemicals on Amazon.

3. Total Alkalinity

Monitor the total alkalinity level, it should be present from anywhere in between 80-120 PPM inside your hot tub. Low alkalinity levels can cause equipment corrosion, thereby reducing the lifespan of your hot tub. If the alkalinity level is too high, this can cause scaling, cloudy and coloured water.

You can check this test strips, a healthy tub should have its spa water pH level between 7.2-7.8. If the test strips indicate that the total alkalinity levels have gone above or below the specified limit, you should add total alkalinity decreaser or increaser accordingly. These granules are based on sodium bisulphate or sodium bicarbonate respectively and need to be added to the tub with its circulation system switched on for half an hour before re-testing the water’s pH level. You can then decide to repeat the process if necessary.

Search for Alkalinity Decreaser or Alkalinity Increaser on Amazon.

4. Chlorine

The chlorine levels shouldn’t exceed beyond 1.5-3 PPM but if you find out any discrepancy with the help of test strips, add 2TSP of chlorine in either granular form or you also can add chlorine tablets.

5. Bromine

When checking for bromine, it is normally used in place of chlorine thanks to its less potent smell. The optimal bromine level, inside your hot tub, varies from 3 – 5 PPM so keep this in mind while using the test strips and top up or water down accordingly.

6. Calcium Hardness

To keep the calcium hardness in check, make sure that you always use soft water inside your outdoor tub and add Calcium Hardness Increaser to the level required. Its optimal level varies as per the tub’s material of construction so check out the instructional manual in order to determine the ideal level of calcium hardness in your own purchase. Use a calcium hardness test strip and calcium hardness increaser appropriately.

7. PH Levels

According to a wide range of experts, it is recommended that the pH level shouldn’t go beyond 7.2 to 7.8 inside a hot tub. It can go above or below that value due to a number of different factors including the improper amount of chlorine, bromine or total alkalinity. This is similar to monitoring the total alkalinity level in your tub.

If the test strips show abnormal pH levels, you can solve this problem by checking the concentration of the the chemicals above or use the alkalinity decreaser or increaser accordingly. A balanced pH level is important for the spa water in your tub.

Best Outdoor Hot Tubs

Now that we know what to look for and how to maintain one, let’s take a look at what is on offer:

1. Intex 77in PureSpa

From a well known brand in the field of hot-tubs and inflatable pools, the Intex 77in PureSpa is one of the best outdoor hot tubs that you can purchase from today’s market. This product is designed to accommodate four full sized adults and can hold in no less than 210 gallons of water at one time.

The Intex 77in PureSpa is available in two different colors. Depending on your fashion sense, you can purchase it in either a stylish tan/white design or if you prefer a more traditional look, you can always go with its brown colour scheme.

It is pretty easy to operate this hot tub as the manufacturer has designed the Intex 77in PureSpa with a digital control panel. Such a design lets you to choose your preferred heating temperature within the range of 68-104 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use the control panel to turn on the bubbles for the true purpose of the hot tub, as a water spa.

Included in this purchase is a heat pump to provide sufficient heat to keep the water warm for an extended duration. Combine it with a separate insulated cover, it keeps the heat generated via the pump in the tub for longer so you can keep.

The manufacturer is offering a 30-day money back guarantee on this purchase and you’ll also get a couple of filter cartridges thrown in with the Intex 77in PureSpa.

Key Features

4 Person Hot Tub
210 Gallon Water Capacity
Digital Control Panel
Built-in Heat Pump
30-day Money Back Guarantee

ALSO: For a bigger party, choose a 6 person Intex Pure Spa Heated Hot Tub

2. SaluSpa Miami AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub

If you’re looking to purchase a durable hot-tub, one which is capable of surviving the pinches, have a look at the SaluSpa Miami AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub. This product can be used by two to four people at one time and thanks to its durable edifice, it can serve you and your family members for years to come.

This product is made of TriTech fabric which, in simple words, is a combination of three different materials. The lower layer is made of a durable polyester which comes encapsulated in a couple of PVC layers. Such a design makes it a puncture-resistant fabric and it also ensures that this hot tub won’t get bogged down with consistent use.

The SaluSpa Miami AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub comes with a digital control panel that lets you do a number of things with considerable ease. First of all, you can use this panel to increase or decrease the temperature, setting it to your preferred level with clear temperature reading in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

You can also use to control panel to set the heating system to automatically come on or off with the timer and control the built-in bubble system to activate the water massage so you can relax and unwind. Another thing which is quite impressive about the control panel is that the manufacturer has designed it in such a way that you won’t even have to leave the hot tub.

Finally, Bestway is offering an inflatable cover along with a chemical floater and filter cartridge with the SaluSpa Miami AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub. The former is handy for protecting the hot tub and its content from the external environmental elements, the latter ensures that you can always bath in fresh water.

Note that the SaluSpa is also carried by Coleman in the equally popular form of Coleman SaluSpa 4 Person Inflatable Hot Tub, see the next item on our list.

Key Features

2-4 Person Hot Tub
Digital Control Panel
TriTech Fabric
Heat Pump with timer controls
Bubble System
Chemical Floater
Inflatable Cover
Water filtration system

3. Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Hot Tub

Weighing in at 85.9lb., the Coleman SaluSpa is yet another high-quality product from this particular manufacturer. This product is designed for four and can hold 254 gallons of water.

The Coleman SaluSpa features a couple of built-in handles. Both of them are designed on separate sides of this unit and you can use them for moving this outdoor tub from one point to the other. Don’t expect to move it filled though.

The control panel is designed outside the tub on top of the pump and heater unit which makes it easy to operate while sitting in the hot tub. It comes with a temperature control button and you can also use it to turn on the bubbles. A separate button, which is marked with sun rays, allows you to adjust the heating system as per your choice.

The panel is designed in such a way that if you don’t use for approximately five minutes, it will automatically lock itself up in order to protect itself from any dysfunction. Once the control panel gets locked, you can unlock it by pressing a separate lock/unlock button at the top left of the panel.

It is fairly easy to maintain as it comes included with a filter cartridge which is user replaceable and you can buy spares filter cartridges online. Finally, you’ll get an insulated cover with the purchase of the Coleman SaluSpa and Chemical Floater.

Key Features

Designed for 4-6 Persons
254 Gallons Water Capacity
Control Panel
Auto-lock Button
Filtration System and Filter-Cartridge
Heating System with Timer Settings and Insulated Cover
Ground Cloth, Inflation Hose, Chemical Floater

ALSO: Coleman SaluSpa 6 Person Inflatable Hot Tub

Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Hot Tub 6 Person

4. SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub

The SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub is designed for those who want to make a bit of fashion statement in front of their guests. Incorporating built-in LED lights, this product can produce a magnificent light show featuring 7 different colors. A separate remote control is provided for this purpose which makes it easy to manage the LED light show.

One thing which we found quite impressive about this product is that it is very easy to set up. You don’t have to use any kind of tools as everything is easily manageable including the spa pump. It means that even if you’re using an outdoor hot tub for the very first time, you can operate the SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub without any hassle.

Also present in this inflatable hot tub is a digital control panel which lets you access a number of different features. You can use it to adjust the temperature, turning on/off the heating system and the separate bubble spray system, all of it can be done while sitting inside the SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub.

The SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub also features an automatic timer, a feature that helps you heat up and maintain the temperature of the water for when you need it. Basically, you can adjust this timer to turn on the heating system at specific times. Likewise, once you’re done using the hot tub, it will automatically turn off the heating system based on the timer setting.

This outdoor hot tub is designed for 4-6 people and it comes with a 250-gallon water-bearing capacity. You will also get an inflatable cover on making this purchase which is a must-have for all those customers who want to protect the SaluSpa Paris AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub from the elements.

Key Features

LED Light Show
Remote Control for light show
No Tool Installation
Spa Pump with
Digital Control Panel
Automatic Timer for the heating system
Designed for 4-6 Persons

5. Goplus Portable Inflatable Hot Tub

Available in a stylish white design, the Goplus Portable Inflatable Hot Tub is designed for all those homeowners who’re looking to make this purchase without straining their budget. One of the least-expensive products in this list, this one can accommodate four different people.

The overall height of the Goplus Portable Inflatable Hot Tub is 26-inches which makes it more than capable of holding in 210 gallons of water at one time. The power cable which comes included in this purchase is no less than 10.8-feet in length which ensures that you can use this hot tub at a fair distance away from the wall socket.

To enhance the lifespan of this unit, the manufacturer has combined a superior hard-water treatment system with durable fabric in its construction. Both these features combine handsomely to make sure that you can use the Goplus Portable Inflatable Hot Tub for an extended duration of time.

Its soft-touch control panel allows you to activate 130 all-surrounding bubble jets in order to enjoy a flawless massaging experience. Also present in the control panel is a heating button as you can use it to turn on/off the overall heating system of this unit.