Inflatable Spas: 5 Reasons You Should Have One

Inflatable Spas: 5 Reasons You Should Have One

Is there anything more luxurious than having a spa in your very own backyard? Just imagine going home after a long day at work and soaking all the stress away in your personal inflatable spa. According to a research commissioned by one of Australia's biggest hotel franchise groups, a staggering 82% of Aussies under the age of 35 are experiencing some type of stress. This makes Aussies the third most stressed citizens in the world!

A day in a life of an Aussie: What Makes You Feel Stressed

The study identified work as the major cause of stress among millennial Aussies. However, financial troubles and societal expectations also play a large factor in increasing their anxieties. This finding makes millennials the most stressed age group, with their stress levels ranking even higher against parents of young kids. Millennials also out-stressed those who came from the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras. As such, taking a short break in inflatable spas can do wonders in lowering your current stress levels. Aside from stress reduction, a break in the spa can help soothe your aching muscles and joints. Several clinical studies conclude that a visit to the spa can also result in improved sleep quality; thus, enhancing your overall health. Since a hot tub is not exactly cheap, a blow-up spa might be the thing you need to make your personal spa dreams a reality.

Inflatable spa vs. built-in hot tub: Top 5 reasons you should choose a blow-up spa

Certainly, if you are thinking of installing a spa at home, you might as well go big and install a hot tub. However, you might want to check out the pros and cons of purchasing a portable spa as opposed to building a permanent one.

1. Built-in hot tubs are expensive

Since hot tubs are pricey, there is a vague notion among homeowners that installing one would definitely increase their home value. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Much like swimming pools, adding a hot tub can either increase or decrease your property value depending on the home's location. For example, home buyers in the Southern Territory are not likely to be impressed with a hot tub as they enjoy a much hotter climate than their neighbouring regions. This doesn't sound very reassuring considering that a hot tub can cost as high as $20,000 (for outdoor models). If this is the case, then homeowners are better off investing their hard-earned money in portable spas, which can cost as low as $500.

2. Built-in hot tubs cannot be relocated

Imagine that for some reason, you are being compelled to move houses. In this case, the chances of bringing your hot tub along with you is nil. You'll have to purchase and install another one when you move to your new house. Portable inflatable spas, on the other hand, are considered personal property and can be brought wherever you might go. Investing your money on an equipment that is guaranteed to give you a significant return of investment (in spa benefits) is better than investing it on a home renovation that may or may not add value to your home.

3. Inflatable hot tubs can be set up anywhere

You can bring your blow-up spa anywhere. Want to enjoy a relaxing spa whilst camping under the stars? Or maybe you want to soak your stress away inside the comfort of your own home? Whichever the case, you can easily bring your inflatable spa with you. The average inflatable spa is usually packed inside a carry-on bag and utilises an air blower to inflate its chambers. As long as there's an ample power and water source where you can plug it in, an inflatable hot tub can work anywhere.

4. Inflatable above-the-ground spas are easier to maintain

You don't need to waste time nor money to regularly maintain a blow-up spa. For hygienic reasons, built-in hot tubs require regular cleaning even when they're seldom used. Unlike permanent hot tubs, blow-up spas are relatively easy to clean. Just drain the water, thoroughly dry the spa, and deflate it. You can store it in its bag until such time that you'll need to inflate it again. An inflatable spa needs less cleaning and maintenance, plus you won't have to spend on various types of cleaning supplies.

5. You can enjoy unlimited spa benefits anytime for less

With an initial outlay of $500 to $1000, an inflatable spa is an affordable investment that anyone can enjoy. A typical spa treatment in any major city can cost around $125 to $200. This means that the price of an inflatable spa is equivalent to only three visits in a resort or luxury spa. Comparing this cost with a built-in hot tub, it will take a home owner somewhere around 100 uses to recuperate the latter's installation cost. Now that it's firmly established why every homeowner should go ahead and purchase an inflatable above-the-ground spa, you might want to know which important features to check when you shop for a portable hot tub.

Inflatable Spas: What you need to know

Spas are commonly classified into four types: therapeutic, swim, in-ground, and bathroom. Therapeutic spas are those that you usually see in commercial or resort spas. Their water jets help massage the body, which in turn relieves your muscles and joints of pain. Swim spas, on the other hand, are those equipped with specialised surf jets. They are also characteristically long to allow the user to swim against the current to exercise. In-ground and bathroom spas are what one usually installs in their respective homes. An in-ground spa is normally located outdoors whilst bathroom spas are commonly found indoors. If you are not relatively well-off, it is not advisable to install an in-ground spa. You need to allot ample budget to pay for excavation costs. However, a built-in above-the-ground spa is no cheaper since you must invest on a high-quality shell to prevent it from being scraped or damaged. With above-the-ground inflatable spas, however, homeowners don't have to fret much about the shell's durability since most brands are made of puncture-resistant reinforced vinyl. It might be less sturdy when compared to fiberglass or resin, but it can do the job fairly well. When shopping for inflatable spas, you need to consider these factors:

Capacity

Inflatable spas are smaller than your regular spa. Still, some brands can accommodate as much as six persons at a time. This size is perfect for your average Aussie family. However, if you are planning to invite all your family and friends over to enjoy your personal spa, you might want to schedule turns. This is a small-price to pay considering that a similar capacity built-in hot tub can cost as much as $10,190.

Hard water filtration system

2 PACK BESTWAY COLEMAN SPA FILTER PUMP REPLACEMENT CARTRIDGE Some portable spas have a water filtration system as an additional feature. Water naturally contains minerals that can cause deposits in the form of sludge. This can significantly reduce your unit's shelf life, which is why it's important to check whether your chosen brand and model have water filtration system as an accessory.

Heaters

It should not be considered a ˜spa' if it's not equipped with a heating system. yet you must make sure that the unit can sustain a comfortable temperature, or you'll be forced to soak in water which is either too cold or too hot. As a rule, the water in a spa (regardless of whether it's built-in or portable) should not exceed 104 °F or 40 °C.

Ease of access

Spas, even those that are built-in, are usually equipped with their own control panel. In inflatable spas, the control panel is mostly digital. This helps the user to control the temperature or its water jets with a simple push of a button. Unfortunately, not all brands seem to have thought of their consumers when they designed their control panels “ some even require the user to get out and walk over to where the control is just to adjust the unit's setting.

Cover

Blow-up tubs always come with a cover to keep the quality and temperature of water. Covers can be either a thermal, insulated, or inflatable blanket. The more expensive brands even come with different types of covers to help retain the water's heat when it's not in use. Inflatable spas also come with ground cloth cover as an added layer of protection against dirt, debris, and other outside factors that can inadvertently affect the water temperature inside the tub. It should also help keep your unit levelled as you fill it up with water.

Pumps

This is the most important component of your portable spa, as it is responsible for circulating the water, inflating the tub, and powering the jets. In a typical set-up, the pump and heater are in the same place. It is also armed with a GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter to avoid potential electric shocks.

Must-Have Inflatable Spa Accessories

No portable spa is complete without these spa accessories, which provide comfort and can boost the luxurious feel of owning your very own spa.

Headrest

The lack of neck support might make you more stressed than relaxed. For this reason, you should consider purchasing an appropriate headrest to use whilst you soak in your portable tub. The headrests are also inflatable (you just need to fill them up with a specific ratio of air and water), so you can easily store these along with the tub when not in use.

Seat Cushions

It is pretty hard to relax when you have to spend a considerable amount of time sitting down on plastic seats. Luckily, you can separately purchase seat cushions made of either PVC or polyester to give you some comfortable boost. You just need to choose a seat cushion that is mildew-resistant and won't easily float when not in use.

LED Lights

Just in case your inflatable spa does not come with a set of LED lights (or does not have enough LED lights in your opinion), you can buy some submersible LED lights from your seller. The LED lights can come in handy especially if you are planning to use the spa outdoors and after dark (e.g. whilst camping). Not only does equipping it ensure your safety; it also adds some colour and personality to your portable spa.

Drink and snack holder

Sipping some red wine whilst enjoying yourself in the tub seems like a fun idea. Unfortunately, inflatable spas don't come with built-in drink or snack holders. Still, you can buy detachable cup holders and food trays that you can attach to your inflatable spa when the mood hits you.

Floating chlorinator or other similar sanitizing systems

Before packing up your inflatable spa, you need to sanitize it to prevent any bacterial growth that could potentially damage your equipment and cause mild to severe skin allergies. User manuals commonly address the exact procedure for sanitizing your equipment. Still, it would be wise to use a floating chlorinator or a salt water sanitizing system to get rid of any bacteria that usually resides in water. Sanitizing is a must regardless of how long you used the inflatable spa and who soaked in it. Also, don't forget to remove the filters and to clean them before packing your spa. Filters must be cleaned with water only. To use cleaning detergents will be detrimental as it can result in clogging due to the gunk formed from detergent foam.

Extra patch kit

Though most inflatable spas come with their own patch kit, it wouldn't hurt to purchase another one just in case you lose or misplace the original one. You can use the patch kit to repair leaks and scrapes. Excited to purchase your very own inflatable spa? Visit Outbax and check out our affordable and durable range of above-the-ground portable spas. We even offer some of the accessories to make your spa experience safer and more enjoyable. If you contact us now, you can start reaping the many health benefits of spa treatment as early as two business days after placing your order. Visit our website today!

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