Hot Tubs in North Miami: 4 Essential Efficiency Factors

Most consumers have the number $3,000 to $4,000 in their heads when they walk into a spa store.  Once they look down at the price tag, they get “sticker shock.”  They had no idea that hot tubs in North Miami can cost up to $7,000 and $8,000! But what they don’t understand is that many $3,000 spas can eventually end up costing well over $8,000 in electric bills, chemicals, parts and other unexpected expenses.

When shopping for spas, don’t focus so much on the upfront cost, but on the spa’s total lifetime cost.  This forces you to focus on the spa’s efficiency rather than solely on its sticker price.  Depending on the efficiency of the spa, the climate you live in, and the level of maintenance received, your operating cost for the spa can run you anywhere from 50¢ to $2 a day.

The Top 4 Most Essential Efficiency Factors for Hot Tubs in North Miami

There are many factors contributing to how efficient a spa is, from the insulation used to the frequency of the filtration cycles.  Let’s look at a few elements that can make or break your spa efficiency.

  1. Insulation –Most spas are placed outdoors and, therefore, are subject to the weather conditions. This makes insulation a key consideration when determining a spa’s efficiency.  The better insulated your spa, the less you’ll pay in heating bills.You’ll discover two types of insulation techniques when shopping for your spa: “Full Foam” and “Dead Air Space.”  Dead Air Space works on the principle that hot air will stay trapped in an enclosed, insulated air space.  The Full Foam insulation technique fills all the dead air spaces in the inner compartment of the spa with a combination of high and low-density foam. Both insulation methods have positive features, but the Full Foam method never allows the heat to dissipate into dead air space, which conserves energy and maintains water temperatures for longer periods of time.  Lastly, if your spa will be sitting on a concrete pad, look for a spa that has extra foam insulation underneath the floor of the spa.  In the winter (if you live in cold climate areas), the concrete pad is as cold as the floor of an ice skating rink.  If the spa doesn’t have foam insulation between the spa shell and the concrete, the heat will get sucked right out of the bottom of the spa and dissipate into the air, resulting in unnecessary loss of energy.
  1. Spa Cover –Heat rises, which makes your spa cover very important.  The only thing keeping the heat from leaving is the spa cover.  Many spa covers are made out of regular vinyl covering with Styrofoam inside.  The better spa covers are made with marine vinyl, which was specifically developed to withstand even the worse weather conditions.  Look for vinyl spa covers with high-density two-pound foam for maximum heat retention.Your spa cover should also have a tight-fitting cover lock that will form a protective seal to keep the heat in and to keep the water clean longer.
  1. Water Pump –Many salespeople will boast about the power of their water jets and pumps.  They’ll quote horsepower ratings and water per minute ratings.  But the fact is that water flow control is more important than horsepower ratings overall.What does it matter if you’ve got a turbo-charged water pump propelling water through an inefficient plumbing and jet system?  Using oversized horsepower pumps just raises your electric bill.  By the way, there is no set standard for rating horsepower in the spa industry, which can make comparing very confusing and misleading. The ultimate test is to physically feel the power of the water jets and compare them.  You want strong water jets with a high gallon-per-minute rating and a lower horsepower rating.  This means the spa is efficient.  When you ask for horsepower ratings, ask for the “continuous operation” rating, which is really all you care about.
  1. Circulation Pump –Some manufacturers use one large jet pump for the filtration and the heating cycles.  Others use filtration systems that come with a small circulation pump, which pumps water through the filters and ozone and heating systems.  Using a small circulation pump greatly reduces the wear and tear on the large jet pump while reducing overall electricity costs and excessive noise. In conclusion, buying cheaper hot tubs in North Miami doesn’t always mean you’re buying cheap hot tubs in North Miami, so beware! Get the features that matter first, then you can start looking for value through financing, rebates, and special offers.

There’s nothing worse than sitting in your spa wishing you had purchased the options that you really wanted, knowing that if you had just invested a few more dollars you could have had the type of spa you really wanted in the first place.

Consider making the necessary upfront investment to get what you really want, then sit back, relax, and enjoy your spa for years to come knowing that you made a good investment.

Want a hot tub that guarantees your satisfaction? Call All Florida Pool & Spa Center today and we’ll help land you the perfect hot tub! Pick up a copy of the Hot Tub Buyer’s Guide now!