How to Choose the Perfect Outdoor Hot Tub for Your Garden

If you’re considering an outdoor hot tub for your garden, it’s important to choose a model that suits both your style and space. Ask yourself:

• When will I use the hot tub?
• Who else will be using the hot tub?
• Where is the hot tub going to be placed?
• Why am I buying a hot tub? (relaxation, muscle recovery etc)

Answering these simple questions will help you decide on things like hot tub size, type, and style. As there are so many models available, you have more flexibility to choose the right tub that suits your needs.

We know this can be confusing so we’ve put together a guide on what to think about before selecting the right one.

We deliver and install a range of hut tubs and we’ve come across every type of customer question! This means our team can help answer any of your queries, ensuring you are comfortable and happy with your purchase.

What to Consider When Choosing A Hot Tub

When choosing the right hot tub for your garden, there’s a few things to consider to ensure you’re getting the most out of your new purchase and your available space.

With so many types of hot tubs now available, and with varying sizes to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the right one.

Measure your outdoor space

The most important step is knowing how much outdoor space you have to play with. Some people are fortunate enough to have large outdoor spaces with a garden and patio area, whereas other people have smaller gardens with perhaps only a small bit of decking.

By knowing how much space you have in your garden, you can decide which hot tub is right for you without swallowing up every inch of room. You want your new purchase to be a positive addition to your garden set up so it’s important it doesn’t feel cramped.

Choose the right size hot tub

There are lots of different sizes of hot tubs available, and at Better Living Outdoors, a member of our team will help you choose the right one. That’s why we have a Durham Showroom and a Shrewsbury Showroom so you can pop in and see the hot tubs for yourself.

This gives you a better judgement of their size and look so you can start visualising how this will work in your own space. We offer the following hot tub sizes which are suited to different needs:

2-3 Person Hot Tubs

This is ideal for single persons or couples
Best suited to smaller gardens where space might be limited

4-6 Person Hot Tubs

This is one of the most popular options as it’s a good in-between size
It’s ideal for couples and families who enjoy socialising

7+ Person Hot Tubs

This size hot tub is best suited to large outdoor spaces where you don’t need to worry about feeling squashed
It’s perfect for social gatherings where you might have friends and family over

Lifestyle

Are you going to be using your hot tub mainly yourself or do you plan on hosting gatherings with friends and family? This is an important factor to consider as it influences the size of hot tub and also features such as adjustable headrests for added comfort, premium spa lighting to create the right vibe, and the positioning and type of seats.

At Better Living Outdoors, our most premium option for hosting social events is the Bullfrog Spa Series. The M8 9 person hot tub is ideal for having friends and family over, as they can soak up the luxury outdoor experience with you.

Features include:

• 9 seats with 2 loungers
• Premium LED Lighting inside & out
• 16 unique and interchangeable JetPak® massages
• Built-in smart sensors (optional CloudControl 2™ wifi module means you can receive push notifications when your spa cover has been removed for added safety)
• Water resistant touchscreen control center
• Flat, simple filtration system allowing for more seating space
• Premium integrated waterfalls
• Dedicated Filtration Pump to circulate water multiple times a day

Think about the type of hot tub

There are different styles of hot tubs available depending on what kind of vibe you’re looking for. From authentic wood-fired hot tubs, to hard wired options, deciding on the type of hot tub is key. Below is some information on the different options.

Wood-fired hot tub

A wood-fired hot tub is a popular option as it adds a cosy and rustic feel to your garden. Instead of using electricity, the water is heated by burning logs in a stove, making it a great choice if you’re looking to create a more off-grid experience. A great thing about wood-fired hot tubs is that they can be cheaper to run if you have access to a supply of firewood.

Buyers tip: Wood-fired hot tubs can take longer to heat up and require more preparation before each use, so they’re best suited to those who enjoy the experience of building the fire and don’t mind waiting a little longer for the water to reach temperature.

Plug-and-play and hot tub

Plug-and-play hot tubs are great for first-time buyers who have never owned a hot tub before as they’re highly convenient. The clue is in the name as all you need to do is plug into a standard 13-amp household socket. They don’t usually require any specialist electrical work before installation which makes the set up even easier.

Another advantage of these hot tubs is that they can often be installed within a day. They offer a great at-home spa experience whilst being a more affordable option than hard-wired alternatives.

Buyers tip: If you’re looking for a stress-free way to enjoy a hot tub without having additional electrical work, a plug-and-play model is a great choice.

Hard wired hot tub

Hard-wired hot tubs are permanently connected to your home’s electrical supply by a qualified electrician. This means they are usually more powerful than plug-and-play models, meaning they heat up faster and have additional features like lighting and premium hydrotherapy settings.

Buyers tip: Installation costs for hard-wired hot tubs can be higher due to the electrical work required but they are often the preferred choice if you plan on using them regularly.

Ventilation and humidity

If your hot tub is going to be outdoors, this will provide good ventilation as the heat from the water will be able to rise and escape. Hot tubs can get very humid as the temperature sits around 37-40°C, so good ventilation is key to preventing the smell of damp.

However, if your hot tub is going in a garden enclosure such as a shed or under a pergola, make sure there is still room for air to circulate freely around the hot tub, as this will help ensure moisture can escape. In turn, this reduces condensation and helps prevent mold and damp from developing.

Jets

If jets are something you want in your hot tub, consider how important hydrotherapy is before choosing the right one. Hydrotherapy is one of the biggest benefits of a hot tub as it helps improve relaxation, sooth sore muscles, and ease tension. Wood-fired hot tubs for example don’t usually include jets so they are better suited to a peaceful, simple outdoor experience.

In contrast, a plug-and-play or hard-wired hot tub will have hydrotherapy jets so that might be a better choice if this is an important part of your criteria. At Better Living Outdoors, our team can help you find the right hot tub for your needs and explain different hot tub features which might make your decision easier. Simply pop into one of our showrooms and we’ll be happy to show you around.

Accessories and features

Accessories and features can boost your outdoor hot tub experience by making it feel more premium. From intuitive control systems so it’s easy to adjust temperature and lighting, to music systems that allow you to connect your phone for the right vibe, these features make your hot tub experience more enjoyable.

At Better Living Outdoors, all of the hot tubs in our Deluxe Hot Tub Series come with LED lighting and a bluetooth music system so you can set the right tone for when you’re relaxing.

Our Premium Hot Tub Series takes this up a level with LED lighting both inside and outside of the hot tub, creating a more stylish ambience. Furthermore, select models in the Premium series feature a luxurious captain’s chair which is designed for full-body relaxation with over-shoulder jets for targeted massage in your neck, shoulders, and upper back.

How to Choose the Perfect Outdoor Hot Tub For Your Garden

Choosing the right hot tub for your garden means thinking about your available space and what you’re mainly using the hot tub for. If it’s purely relaxation for you and/ or your partner, a wood-fired hot tub might be the best option.

However if you’re planning on having friends and family over to socialise, the premium series or the Bullfrog series might be more suitable, allowing you to create a luxurious at-home spa experience.

At Better Living Outdoors we offer all of these options and more, which you can see for yourself at our Durham and Shrewsbury showroom. Simply pop in and a member of our team will be happy to show you around and answer any of your questions.