Whirlpool & Soaker Tubs
A hot tub is a large manufactured tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. more...
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Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy.
There are two different styles of hot tubs:
Simple wooden-staved soaking tubs;
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic tubs (usually referred to as "spas");
Hot tubs are usually heated using an electric or natural gas heater, though there are also wood-fired hot tub heaters. Hot tubs are also found at natural hot springs; in this case, the water may be dangerously hot and must be combined with cool water for a safe soaking temperature.
Water sanitization is very important in hot tubs, as many organisms thrive in a warm, wet environment. Maintaining the hot tub water chemistry is also necessary for proper sanitization and to prevent damage to the hot tub.
Wooden tubs
This style of hot tub is constructed with wooden staves and steel bands, very much like a very large barrel. The staves are usually made of redwood, cedar, or teak, with most historic tubs made of redwood. Wooden hot tubs are often quite deep, 36"-48", and are inset within a wooden deck for ease of entry. Inside the tub, wooden bench seating is common, forming a ring around the inner circumference of the tub.
Alternative Designs
Metal stock tanks have also been used as a cheap alternative for a hot tub. Innovative heating methods are possible, including submersible wood stoves, passive solar water heating, and using a drip coffee maker as a very slow water heater.
Fiberglass spas
Fiberglass spas, also commonly known in America as Jacuzzi or Whirlpool tubs and in the UK as Arctic Spas (though all are brand names), are formed as one piece with shapes that provide a variety of seating arrangements within the tub. They are almost always shallower than wooden tubs, being less than 32" high so they will fit through a standard United States doorway. Although wooden tubs were the most common type of hot tub in the 1970s, fiberglass hot tubs now dominate the market as they are less expensive to manufacture, easier to install, and more energy efficient.
Each integral seat is often equipped with one or more water jets that allows water to be directed at parts of the body. The water flow may be aerated for additional effect, and some or all of the jets may also automatically move or rotate, providing a massage-like effect.
Although Jacuzzi is probably the best known brand name of spas, the company primarily concentrates on making bathroom fixtures. Of the 130-odd manufacturers in North America, the top twenty-five each produce more than 10,000 spas annually.
Read more at Wikipedia.org
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