Tip! Never, ever, ever leave children alone in a hot tub.

There are various types of hot tub covers. Each has its own specifications and cost. You should choose a spa cover based on your needs, your environment and your budget.

A spa or hot tub cover is an important accessory to add to your hot tub. It will help protect your spa and your family and pets. It will also help keep it clean from debris. Choosing the one that best suits your needs and price range takes a little planning.

Tip! Enjoy your time with friends, and soak up the relaxation a hot tub provides.

Remember: a hot tub cover could literally save lives. Make sure you choose one that is sturdy and able to sustain the weight of nature and those who may fall against it. Within those parameters, there are various types of covers available on the market today.

Types of Hot Tub Covers

Insulating Spa Covers Insulating spa covers help retain the heat of the tub, even when it is not in use. When the hot tub works less to heat the water to the desired temperature. It saves in energy costs.

Tip! Alcohol + hot tub = health risk. Hot water is a stimulant, and alcohol a depressant on your system.

Though the insulating spa cover may be expensive, they are a good investment. They often pay for themselves in six months. These covers are designed to be sturdy and long lasting.

Rolling Covers Rolling covers are an attractive, easy to use option. Made of foam, they have slats to match your hot tub and decking at intervals across the cover.

To remove it, you simply roll it up and set it aside. To put it on, you simply lay it flat and unroll it. It provides an attractive and decorative addition to your spa.

Aluminium Cover An aluminum hot tub cover is the ultimate for safety and strength. If you have pets that tend to dig or chew, this one may be your best bet.

Tip! It’s a hot tub — not a bathtub. Please wash off all of the lotion, deodorant and sweat before soaking in a hot tub.

They stand up to wear and tear and are very difficult to damage. They also stand up to heavy weight pressures. If you live in a climate where it snows, the aluminum cover can withstand a large snowdrift without bowing or buckling.

Tonneau Cover A Tonneau cover stretches, like a tarp, over the hot tub and attaches to the sides providing protection only against lightweight debris.

Tip! Pets in hot tubs are not recommended both for the pet and the water quality.

Forget this for animal or human safety. It can still bow in and take on water, assuming it does not collapse completely. Think of this as a bedspread for your tub.

Pretty and it keeps the dirt out of the tub, but that’s about it. However, they are a lot less expensive. For the budget conscious who don’t have children around, it could be good alternative for their hot tub.

Conclusion Your home spa is probably one of your favorite places to rest and relax. It adds an element of charm and sophistication to your yard in addition to giving you a great place to socialize and unwind after a long day. To enjoy your spa with peace of mind, make sure you choose a good hot tub cover.

Tip! ?This hot tub is G-Rated.? If you’re with your lover; hold the passions until you reach dry land.

Copyright 2006, Hot-Tub-Supplies.com

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Tip! Don’t hog the jets. Many hot tubs today have different types of jets at each seat.

I swim most mornings at the community pool and then, if there’s time, reward myself with a soak in the hot tub. It’s a great tub with room for four or five people, the water is really hot, and you can turn the bubbles on or off. My favorite soak is when I’m alone and the water is still. I sit quietly and enjoy the serenity before my day begins.

One recent morning my hot tub equanimity was interrupted when two people got in, turned on the bubbles, and began a loud, agitated conversation.

Tip! Limit or eliminate altogether substances that may act as triggers: caffeine; alcohol; hot, spicy foods; diet pills; hot tubs; stress.

I thought, “Why don’t they just enjoy the hot tub ? the soothing hot water, the relaxation? They’re missing this extraordinary moment.” The noisy conversation took them (and me) away from the opportunity to be in the here and now.

Thinking about it later, I realized I do the same thing. As I go about my daily life, I carry on a continual internal conversation that is often agitated and loud. Some familiar remonstrations:

Do it this way, not like that.”
“That was dumb! What were you thinking?”
“Hurry up, you’ve got to get to that meeting. You’re going to be late.”
“Why did you say THAT?!”

Tip! It’s a hot tub — not a bathtub. Please wash off all of the lotion, deodorant and sweat before soaking in a hot tub.

So I’ve started a new practice. When I notice these voices, I stop and find my center — that quiet, soothing place I go to in the hot tub — and I try to remember that I carry it with me all the time. Then I suggest to myself that I sink in and enjoy it.

Don’t wait for the hot tub. Find your center now and sink in.

? 2005 Judy Ringer, Power & Presence Training

Tip! ?This hot tub is G-Rated.? If you’re with your lover; hold the passions until you reach dry land.

About the Author: Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict, containing stories and practices on turning life’s challenges into life teachers. Judy is a black belt in aikido and nationally known presenter, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a more positive work environment. She is the founder of Power & Presence Training, and chief instructor of Portsmouth Aikido, Portsmouth, NH, USA. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit http://www.JudyRinger.com

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Tip! Don’t hog the jets. Many hot tubs today have different types of jets at each seat.

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Soaking in your personal hot tub brings pleasure and comes with the peace of mind in knowing how well you care for the water and tub. Vacations, business travel, or visiting a day spa present an enticing opportunity to take a dip in a public hot tub or spa. But before you dip, it’s good to be prepared and assured that the facility is well cared for. After all, it’s your health and your safety.

Tip! Pets in hot tubs are not recommended both for the pet and the water quality.

Ask the facility management if a National Swimming Pool Foundation? (NSPF?) trained Certified Pool-Spa Operator? is responsible for maintaining the pool and spa. A certificate or wallet card should be readily accessible. If the management can’t prove a trained operator cares for the spa, it may be wise to try another facility.

Healthy water means healthy soaking.

1. Clear water. The water should be free of any color or tint, and you should be able to see the bottom clearly. A good test for this is to drop a dime on the floor of the spa. You should be able to see if it’s heads or tails. Or you should be able to read the ASME/ANSI certification statement which is on the drain covers. If the water is cloudy or colored, the water may not be sanitary, the filter may be dirty, or the water may not have been replaced and the spa cleaned often enough.

Tip! ?This hot tub is G-Rated.? If you’re with your lover; hold the passions until you reach dry land.

2. If there’s foam, don’t dip. Foam can sometimes mean there is presence of algaecides, which won’t harm you. But typically, foamy water indicates a build up of contaminants in the water because of poor oxidation and improper filter maintenance, both of which can promote bacterial growth in the water. Foam is a signal to stay out.

3. Fresh smell. A properly maintained pool or spa should smell fresh and clean, like fresh laundry, not dank or heavy. A chlorine smell means that chlorine has reacted with dirty water and that there may not be enough “free” chlorine in the spa to destroy the contaminants. You need “free” chlorine to disinfect and keep the water sanitary. Also a musty smell suggests the water may not be sanitary, the filter may be dirty, or the water may not have been replaced and the spa cleaned often enough.

Tip! Laundry soap residue and hot tubs don’t mix. If suits are worn, make sure yours is rinsed thoroughly.

4. Test the waters. You can help protect yourself by testing the water quality before you get in. Carry test strips available from any hot tub or pool retailer. Check for adequate chlorine levels in the spa (3-5ppm) and pH (7.2-7.8) levels. You can also ask the facility manager to see the chlorine test records they keep.

Tip! Never, ever, ever leave children alone in a hot tub.

5. Drain and clean. Be sure to ask how often the facility cleans the filters and drains and cleans the spa. The “rule of thumb” is to divide the gallons by three and then divided by the number of daily users. For example, a 600-gallon spa with about 10 daily users should be drained and cleaned about every 20 days (600 divided by 3 equals 200). In turn, 200 divide by 10 equals 20.

Safe facilities promote safe soaking.

1. Safety signs. Review and follow the posted safety rules.

Tip! Limit or eliminate altogether substances that may act as triggers: caffeine; alcohol; hot, spicy foods; diet pills; hot tubs; stress.

2. Drain covers. Check to be sure the spa/hot tub drain covers are in place, not cracked or missing. If a drain cover is missing or cracked, the spa needs to be closed. Ideally, the spa has dual drains and anti-entrapment drain covers. These covers display a visible certification (ASME/ANSI A112.19.8M).

3. Time switch. Public spas are equipped with a 15-minute timer switch that controls the hydrotherapy jets. The timer should be located so that a person has to leave the spa to turn the jets on again.

4. Emergency switch. Locate the emergency cut-off switch, which is near the spa and turns off the circulation system in case of emergency.

Tip! No foamy stuff, please. Ask the owner’s permission before you introduce bubble bath, bath oil or any foreign substances into the hot tub.

5. Rescue equipment. Is it in the vicinity? Where is the staff located? Where is the emergency phone?

6. Spa surface. If you notice copper or iron stains on the bottom, this can indicate improper water balance at some time.

7. Overall maintenance. Is the area surrounding the spa well maintained? Clean? Free of rust, trash? Are the decks free of dirt and debris, glass, etc? These are sometimes indicators of how the facility is maintained for safety.

*ASME - American Society Of Mechanical Engineers
* ANSI - American National Standards Institute

For more information, visit www.nspf.org, www.theapsp.org, or www.olympichottub.com.

Tip! It’s a hot tub — not a bathtub. Please wash off all of the lotion, deodorant and sweat before soaking in a hot tub.

Alice Cunningham is co-owner of Olympic Hot Tub Company — the most award-winning retailer in the United States. Olympic Hot Tub is the oldest spa and hot tub company in the Northwest with five retail stores in the Puget Sound. Founded in 1977, the company employs 45 exceptional team members and has a customer base of over 14,000 in greater Puget Sound and SE Alaska. For more information, call 1-877-4HOT-SPRING, or visit http://www.olympichottub.com.

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