Soaking in a hot tub is one of the most relaxing experiences you can find anywhere – even better at home.

Whether you’re looking for a personal space to relax, want to share a quiet moment with a loved one, find a new way to bond with the family or share a great party with friends, a hot tub can make it come true.

When you enter your hot tub you are entering a world of soothing relaxation.

Warning - A hot tub may have a profound effect on your life. Whether you want therapy massage, pain relief, stress relief or great family and social gatherings, a hot tub will allow you to create your own oasis of happiness right in your own back yard.

Fun and Laughter with Friends is probably the best medicine you can take!

Stressed Out and Need To Relax?

• Relaxing and soaking in a hot tub will reduce stress and relax muscle tension. It can reduce high blood pressure and headaches caused by stress.
• Relax muscles after a workout.
• Improves circulation
• Reduces tiredness.

Want a Good Night's Sleep?

• A soak in a hot tub provides a natural sleeping remedy.

Need Pain Relief?

• Take the strain from joints and muscles.
• Warm up joints and muscles.
• Increases circulation.
• Release endorphins.

Yes, you can have aromatherapy sessions in your hot tub.

Portable hot tubs are ideal for this because you don't have to fill a whole swimming pool with expensive perfumes.Holding aromatherapy sessions in hot tubs is becoming a craze where you can indulge yourself in the privacy of your yard.

Each aromatherapy oil has its own benefits.

• Peppermint Oil is excellent for the relief of digestive disorders but can also treat rheumatism and arthritis.
• Lavender is called the Mother of all Oils as it has so many benefits which include calming, sedative and healing.
• Lavender is perfect to use if you have a hot tub session just before bed time. Helping you to unwind and relax to aid a good night's sleep.
• Grapefruit Orange is a stimulating blend which uplifts the spirit making you feel lighter and brighter.
• Lavender and Tea Tree oils are the only two oils that are recommended to put directly on to the skin. All other oils should be blended with a carrier oil such as Sweet Almond Oil to prevent skin irritation.
• Essential oils can boost our spiritual and emotional lives and are also powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal remedies.
• When entering or leaving the body, essential oils leave no toxins behind - and therefore are extremely safe to use.
• A lymphatic massage acts as an internal cleanser and helps to release the bodies own toxins.
• It is important that you drink lots of water following an aromatherapy massage in order to flush out any released toxins from your body.
• Note that pure essential oils should not be added directly to your hot tub - only blended oils specifically for hot tub use should be used.

Remember to drink lots of water after your hydrotherapy session - a must for re-hydration.

The therapeutic benefits of hot water and massage have been recognised for centuries going back to the ancient Egyptians. Water healing is one of the oldest methods of treatment.

Massage is beneficial for many reasons. For most of us the key benefit is relaxation, helping release muscle tension and improving circulation which helps remove toxins and lactic acid which can build up in exercised muscles which results in muscle aches and pains.

• The jets in your hot tub will massage you with water providing a varied and customised massage, with the added benefits of the heat and buoyancy of the water.

• The velocity of the jets can be fine tuned to calm and relax, or set at their maximum they can help un-knot tense muscles. The pulsating jets are designed to recreate the effects of the percussion movements of a hands-on massage.
• As with any massage it is important to obtain advice if you have a medical condition and adapt a spa session to suit your needs and comfort level.
• Remember to warm up your muscles before full massage.

You may find the following sequence is very effective in using your hot tub for massage:

• Start the spa therapy session by relaxing for a while in the warm deep water, helping to calm and relax muscles and the mind.
• Turn the jets on with the setting low, gradually increasing the jet pressure as the muscles relax.
• After a rest from the massage start again if required.
• Young children might find the jets too powerful so they should be turned down to a minimum.
• After your spa session it is good to drink lots of plain water to help re-hydrate the body and flush toxins out of your rejuvenated system.

Discover an amazing way to socialize with family and friends.

Pass a superb evening in your own hot tub in the comfort and privacy of your own yard.

Spend a romantic evening with your loved ones.

I've read that hot tubs can be a breeding ground but if you take proper precautions then there shouldn't be any issue!

There are a few accessories that will make your hot tub experience more enjoyable.

• Hot Tub Cover - To keep out debris, keep in heat.
• Cover lifts are available - the covers can be heavy and unwieldy.
• Automatic heating and temperature maintenance.
• Remote Control.
• Gazebo surrounding the hot tub. If possible one with enough room for storage and perhaps a bar and stools and built in lighting.
• Stereo and speakers to play your favorite relaxation or party music.
• Lighting Fixtures to create the right ambience.
• TV if you wish!!
• Cup holders/Ice buckets.
• A pump for quicker emptying, a dedicated hose pipe for filling.

• Will enhance the saleability of your home.
• Will add value to your property.
• Will be seen as a lifestyle opportunity for your buyer.
• Will be seen as cheaper to run than a swimming pool.

Once you site your hot tub, you're not going to want to move it. Maybe you're going to landscape around it.

Take care in your decision of where to locate your hot tub.

Consider how you're going to get your hot tub into position. Do you have enough access space or will you need a crane?

Best to site close to the house because:

• You may want quick access in Winter.
• You will need to be within hose pipe distance for topping up.
• You will need access to a power supply, shorter the better.
• If you're not considering built-in music, you may want to use your house audio.

If possible find a location that's not overlooked by neighbors. You don't want to make them too jealous!

Site away from trees if possible - leaves will always cause extra work.

Must be capable of supporting the weight. Take professional advice if unsure.

You will need a maintenance schedule to keep your Hot Tub safe for your family and friends. A simple daily, weekly, monthly and 6 monthly schedule will make the hot tub a safe haven for your pleasure.

• Daily check and adjustment of chlorine and ph levels.
• A weekly shock with an oxidising agent and a swap and clean of the filter.
• A monthly treatment with scale remover if in a high calcium water area.
• A periodical clean of the cover, replacement of filters and change of water.
• Ozone is nature's most powerful purifier. It removes organic contaminants,pathogens,metal particles and leaves no chemical residue. Using an ozonator will greatly help to keep your water in pristine condition and also reduce chemical usage.

A vital few minutes, well worth the little effort.

Hot Tubs range from $2000 to $30000 depending on the size and contruction,and any extras you may want. Shop around there are some good bargains to be found.

...and how much to run?

To reduce running costs, your hot tub needs to be well insulated to prevent heat escaping and keeping the cost of running your hot tub to a minimum.

$1 to $2 per day is achievable with the best insulation. Could be more or less depending on usage.

...and of course in Summer, if used as a splash pool, the running costs will be minimal

In Summer you may need to cool down. Can you do this with a hot tub?

Of course, if you have a thermostat, simply set it down to the temperature you need. This will bring your running costs down too.

You will still need to run the hot tub filter cycle but running costs should be minimal.