Frequently Asked Questions

With 25 years in the business, our dealership has long-standing partnerships with some of the world’s best hot tub and swim spa brands and manufacturers, including American Whirlpool and Marquis Spas. Our knowledgeable staff focus on quality of service and matching you with the right hot tub or swim spa for your needs.

BISHTA stands for the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association, and is the trade association that represents the swim spa and hot tub industry. Dealers who are BISHTA members are trained in water hygiene, and held to the BISHTA standards and code of ethics, so, if you’re looking to buy a hot tub or swim spa, then choosing a dealer who is a BISHTA member guarantees they are appropriately trained.

Welsh Hot Tubs
WHY BUY FROM WELSH HOT TUBS?

WHAT IS A BISHTA MEMBER?

DO YOU OFFER FINANCE OPTIONS?

Yes, we do. Get in touch for information on our competitive Novuna (Hitachi) finance packages.

We offer a year’s labour warranty on all our hot tubs and swim spas. Manufacturer parts warranties vary from two to five years, and from ten years to lifetime on structures. Get in touch for information on warranties for specific makes and models.

On average, an American manufactured hot tub can range in price from around £5,000 to £15,000-plus, but with the average model being around the £7,000 to £8,000 mark. The cost of a hot tub is influenced by a number of things, including size, brand, model, energy efficiency/insulation, shell and cabinet, as well as extras such as music, lights and any advanced technology.

At the time of writing, our range of Air Source Pumps for your hot tub started at £2,995 + vat for the 12kw Dura Pro. There are cheaper alternatives, but they usually don’t include efficient inverter technology, are noisier and do not have lockable controls, or may not be as efficient in cooler climates. For more information on Air Source Pumps, as well as specs and prices on the models we stock, see our post – What is an Air Source Pump and should I buy one?

The cheapest way to run a hot tub is to ensure you buy one that has either full foam insulation or innovative insulation technology. Keep your hot tub clean, well maintained and regularly serviced, as this will make sure faults or clogged filters are kept to a minimum, and keep the temperature a few degrees cooler when not in use. Buy a well-fitting, good-quality cover and keep it sheltered from the elements. Some hot tubs can be programmed to heat during more economic times of the day – contact us to discuss this further.

Covana covers are hassle-free, compact and beautiful automated covers that double up as gazebos. There are a range of Covana covers to choose from, with prices starting from £7,995, depending on the features. Learn more on our Covana cover page.

The price for an Endless Pool depends on a variety of factors, including the size, the model, the design and the features you need, as well as whether it’s indoor or outdoor. Endless Pools are manufactured in the US, so please contact us at time of purchase for an accurate estimate, as prices will fluctuate with the dollar rate. However, an average original Endless Pool will usually cost around £38,000 to £48,000. Learn more on our Endless Pools page.

A standard hot tub cover costs between £450 and £695 depending on the quality, thickness and features. Get in touch for more information.

A standard hot tub cover costs between £450 and £695 depending on the quality, thickness and features. Get in touch for more information.

To work out how much your hot tub will cost to run, multiply its kWh average usage (which is supplied by some manufacturers, such as American Whirlpool) by the kWh rate on your electric bill, which will give you an estimate of the hourly cost to run. Choosing a hot tub with good insulation, having a well-fitting cover, keeping maintenance programmes, cleaning and servicing up to date, and choosing the right sized hot tubs for your needs will all help to keep running costs down.

Pricing and Costs
How much does a hot tub cost? What is a good price for a hot tub?

How much is an air source pump?

What’s the cheapest way to run a hot tub?

How much is a Covana cover?

How much is an Endless Pool?

How much is a hot tub cover?

How much does a hot tub cost to run?

How do I make my hot tub cheaper to run?

Choosing a hot tub with good insulation, making sure you have a good-quality well-fitting cover, keeping it sheltered from the elements, and setting the temperature a few degrees cooler when not in use will all help to keep costs down. For bigger savings, fitting an Air Source Pump comes with an upfront price tag but will slash energy costs and save you money in the long run.

A strong, flat surface such as a concrete slab, established patio or reinforced decking are all suitable for a hot tub. If the surface is not flat and stable, then the shell will be put under pressure, which can invalidate warranty.

The simple answer is, the best cover you can afford. A cover is crucial to keeping moisture and heat in your hot tub, and making sure it’s energy efficient. Around 90% of heat loss is through evaporation, so, ideally, you should be looking for a cover with a thick, dense foam, made from high-quality vinyl. The same goes for a swim spa.

There are two main types of energy supply for hot tubs – a 13AMP ‘plug and play’ supply and a 32AMP supply. The 13AMP hot tubs can plug straight into a standard domestic power supply, using a waterproof outdoor socket, whereas the 32AMP supply will need to be installed by a qualified electrician. Most of the tubs we supply range from 16AMP to 32AMP, depending on number of pumps, but we do have 10AMP and 13AMP options for those with limited supply. We recommend going for the higher number of AMPs possible, as this means you can get far superior hydrotherapy and a better experience from your hot tub.

If you’re looking for an affordable, energy-efficient, easy-to-maintain swim solution, then a swim spa is a great investment, as it’s essentially a one-stop-shop for fitness, hydrotherapy, relaxation and entertainment that you can use year round. A swim spa allows you to use it as a pool, swimming in place against a current, or relax as you would in a hot tub and enjoy a hydrotherapy massage. Browse our range here.

Yes! Hot tubs are designed to be left switched on, and it’s actually more economical. Just be sure you have a well-fitting, good-quality cover that’s in good condition to ensure heat and moisture aren’t escaping. Turning a hot tub off for a long period of time can be quite damaging if not winterised properly, as you can get a build-up of bacteria, rust on your heating elements and rubber seals can perish.

Most swim spas can have either hot or cold water. In models where the hot tub and swim sections are separated, such as the 18ft American Whirlpool DM8 Swim Spa, you can have different water temperatures, so cooler water in the swimming side and hot water in the hot tub. We normally recommend 28C to 30C for swimming and 37.5C to 38.5C for bathing and hydrotherapy.

Hot tub water needs to be sanitised to control the growth of bacteria and algae. The most common sanitisers are chlorine or bromine, and the only ones proven to kill Legionella. These come in tablet or granular form, and your dealer should be able to supply you with the right grade of sanitiser for your hot tub. Shop sanitisers.

TA stands for total alkalinity and refers to the alkalinity level of your hot tub water. If it’s too low or too high, it can cause issues such as corrosion of parts, cloudy water and skin and eye irritation, so you’ll need to test it regularly using a test strip. If it’s too low, you’ll need to use an alkalinity increaser to raise it; if it’s too high, you’ll need to use a PH decreaser to reduce it. This needs to be done before you adjust the pH. Having the correct total alkalinity level means your PH will be more stable. The correct TA will act as a buffer for the pH stability. Shop water balancers.

Depending on its mineral content, water can be ‘hard’ (higher mineral content) or ‘soft’ (lower mineral content). Water Hardener is used to increase the hardness of water that’s too soft. Soft water can be corrosive on seals and heating elements, while water that’s too hard can create scale, which would require anti-scale to remove. Use a water hardness test strip to determine the hardness of your hot tub water. If it’s too soft, you’ll need to add a hardness increaser, again following the pack instructions. Using a scale remover on water that’s too hard, meanwhile, will help to tackle any build-up of mineral deposits. Shop water balancers.

Spa shock treatments are done to clean the water and help to keep it clear by oxidising the water. Shocking can be done with chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock, and is essentially adding a high dose of oxidiser chemicals to your water. This is to reduce bacteria and other contaminates such as oil, suncream and organic matter. Usually, we recommend non-chlorine shock in conjunction with bromine, which reactivates the sanitiser, and a chlorine shock, such as a Spa Fusion sachet, with chlorine. Shop shock treatments.

Spa shock treatments are done to clean the water and help to keep it clear by oxidising the water. Shocking can be done with chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock, and is essentially adding a high dose of oxidiser chemicals to your water. This is to reduce bacteria and other contaminates such as oil, suncream and organic matter. Usually, we recommend non-chlorine shock in conjunction with bromine, which reactivates the sanitiser, and a chlorine shock, such as a Spa Fusion sachet, with chlorine. Shop shock treatments.

An oxidiser, or non-chlorine shock treatment essentially oxidises the water, breaking down contaminates and removing chloramines, and helping your sanitiser to work more effectively. This can help to prevent cloudy water, foam or a strong smell of chlorine. Shop shock treatments.

Foam remover is used to get rid of surface foam in your hot tub or spa. This can be caused by residue from makeup, lotions, sun cream and so on, a pH or TA imbalance, or possibly even soft water. A foam remover to get rid of any suds if and when they appear. This is used as an emergency system, but very foamy water usually means it’s been contaminated and requires a water change. Shop foam remover.

As mentioned above, you can use a foam remover to get rid of any surface foam. However, as it is usually caused by contaminated swim wear or filters that haven’t been rinsed properly after cleaning, the best solution is to drain down your tub and change the water, and ensure filters are well-rinsed. Shop foam remover.

Inline dosing systems are sanitiser dispensers that are built into your spa. There are alternatives that can sit inside your hot tub’s filters, meaning your hot tub’s sanitiser of choice (chlorine or bromine) are kept topped up with minimal effort. These are especially popular with holiday lets. We tend to recommend bromine tablets over chlorine tablets with an inline dosing system, as they are less corrosive.

Both chlorine and bromine are common sanitisers that come with their own pros and cons, so you won’t go wrong using either, and really it’s down to your personal preferences. In terms of the differences, chlorine is the most commonly used, so is a bit easier to find, can be slightly cheaper, faster acting, stronger and gives clearer water. Chlorine tablets dissolve more quickly than bromine tablets, so can be more suitable for heavy-use spas, such as those in holiday cottages, but, because chlorine tablets have a much lower pH, they can be very corrosive, so you will need to manage the pH correctly. Bromine is longer lasting and slower dissolving in tablet form, so needs to be topped up less frequently, has less odour and is kinder on the skin, so is good for those who are prone to sensitivities. Bromine can sometimes be a little slow to dissolve, but this can be beneficial for domestic users who don’t use their spas so frequently. For bromine to work efficiently, it will require regular shocking with non-chlorine shock to reactivate the bromine. 

This is usually a sign of bacteria or algae growth, caused by a low level of sanitiser or a pH that’s out of range. Balancing the pH and shocking your hot tub should help to alleviate the problem, although you may need to drain the tub down, clean and replace the water in some cases.

A strong chlorine smell is caused by chloramines, which is the byproduct of chlorine oxidising contaminates. It can also be caused if your pH level is too high. Ironically, the best way to treat this is to shock your spa with a chlorine chock treatment. Keeping on top of water testing and chemical balancing should also help to prevent this.

Water can become cloudy when it’s had a high usage and the filters are full and unable to capture any more debris. To treat cloudy water, you’ll need to shock the water, using a suitable treatment such as Spa Fusion, and change the filters for a clean set. The shock will break down contaminates and oxidise the water. You should also check and balance the pH.

If your sanitiser is decreasing or dropping rapidly, then this means your pH is too high and you have high levels of alkalinity. Balancing the pH should help to stabilise your chlorine or bromine and stop it from dropping too quickly.

Your hot tub water should have a pH of between 7 and 7.6, and will need to be tested before each use to ensure it’s not fallen outside that range. If it’s too high, chlorine will disappear quickly, and you may get cloudy water and calcium and scale build up. If the pH is too low, it can start to corrode accessories and metal elements, and impact the balance of sanitiser. Too high or low, and it may cause discomfort, such as skin and eye irritation. In short, keeping pH levels balanced is key to protecting your hot tub, your warranty, your health and your bathing experience.

The easiest way is by using a multi-test strip, such as Insta 4-Way Test Strips as these will show you sanitiser, alkalinity, pH and hardener all in one. Simply dip the strip in the water wrist-deep when the jets are running, swirl and flick off any excess water. Compare the colour-coded readings on the test strip with the key on the side of the packet to check they’re within the desired range. If not, adjust the chemicals accordingly using the manufacturer’s instructions.

You’ll need to drain, clean and refill your tub every one to three months. Before draining your hot tub, you should clean the lines using a hot tub flush to prevent the build-up of particles and contaminates in its plumbing system. Once you’ve cleaned the pipes, make sure your hot tub is switched off before draining the water. Clean the inside of your tub with a specialist surface cleaner (never use a household cleaner as this could damage it), remove and clean headrests and filters. Refill the hot tub, and turn it on once the water has reached the fill line. Once your water has reached the set temperature, you can test it and add and balance the chemicals. Always follow your hot tub manufacturer’s instructions, as well as manufacturer’s instructions on any cleaners and chemicals.

Depending on how often you use your hot tub, the water should be changed every one to three months.

O-Care is a spa product made up of a mixture of minerals that removes and prevents sediment and biofilm build-up, and keeps your swim spa or hot tub clean, even when your sanitiser is low. Using O-Care allows you to use less sanitiser and save on chemicals, and has a number of other benefits. Read more here.

If your hot tub isn’t heating, this is usually down to blocked filters and a restriction in the flow, resulting in the heater not detecting enough flow. When there’s not enough flow, the spa will switch off for safety reasons and you’ll get a drop in heat. If this happens, remove the filters, turn the hot tub off on the isolator and then turn it back on again. If it starts working, put a clean filter in as sometimes the filters can block again if they’ve captured a lot of dirt. To help to prevent issues such as these, we recommend switching and cleaning your filters every two to three weeks, or once or twice a week for holiday lets or heavy usage spas. We also recommend buying new filters and changing annually.

The best hot tub is the one that’s right for you. When making a decision, choose a good-quality spa from a reputable dealer who can advise you on the best tub for your needs. Your dealer will be able to advise you on suitable sizing, heights, jet pressure, jet location, hydrotherapy, energy-efficiency and insulation, and any extras you need beyond that. At Welsh Hot Tubs, we mainly deal in Marquis Spas, American Whirlpool, Nordic Hot Tubs and Endless Pools, all of which are excellent quality manufacturers. With regards to the holiday and rental market, we supply a range of HSG282-compliant models and can provide the recommended advice and guidance.

Much like Hoover is a brand of vacuum cleaner, Jacuzzi is essentially just a brand of hot tub that has become a catch-all term used by people outside the business to refer to any large tub of hot water that’s powered by jets. But while a Jacuzzi is a hot tub, every hot tub is not a Jacuzzi, and there are many more manufacturers on the market, all offering different experiences and innovations.

If you want an energy-efficient hot tub, then you’ll want to invest in the best cover you can afford. Rather than focusing on cost, look for a cover that has a tight seal, thicker foam a good-quality vinyl, comes under warranty and isn’t too cumbersome to manage. A bulky cover is less convenient and harder to manage, so is more likely to sustain wear and tear. A cheaper cover may also be made from cheaper material and thinner foam that could be less energy-efficient and end up costing you far more in the long run. For best results, speak to your dealer.

As a rule of thumb, a hot tub cover needs to be changed every five years or so (and more often on heavy-usage properties, such as holiday lets), as it becomes subject to wear and tear. Over time, the foam in the cover may also become waterlogged, making it less energy efficient. When this happens, a cover will become heavy and more cumbersome to deal with. To make sure your cover lasts as long as possible, there are a few thing you can do, including investing in a cover lifter, using a protectant spray on the vinyl, protecting it from the elements and also from preventable wear and tear.

An Endless Pool is a brand of pool that uses a hydraulic propeller system to create a superior, smooth current to swim against, meaning those with a smaller space can still enjoy the fitness and relaxation benefits of a pool. They can be installed either indoors or outdoors, and come in a variety of therapy options for a range of needs, including relaxation, recreational swimming and athletic training.

An Air Source Pump can save on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint – especially if you run a holiday let and have multiple spas to run. They’re also quick to heat, with water temperature of around 12C taking well under four hours to reach 40C, making them convenient and keeping changeover times low for holiday lets.

Air Source Pumps are a great way to save on your spas running costs, cutting energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint. If you invest in an Air Source Pump for your hot tub and spa, then, depending on usage, it could pay for itself in as little as 18 months, and save you hundreds on your energy bills after that.

Believe it or not, when it comes to jets more isn’t necessarily better. You need a decent number, of course, but too many jets in a shell can weaken it, and a hot tub’s hydrotherapy credentials aren’t just about the number. As a good rule of thumb, a hot tub should have around 20-30 jets per pump, but if a powerful hydrotherapy massage is important to you, then you’ll also need to take into account the position of the jets, their power and type of stream, adjustability and any additional hydrotherapy innovation. Your dealer should be able to advise you on the best for your needs, and it’s important to sit in a tub to make sure it fits your body before buying.

If you’re thinking of getting a swimming pool, then an Endless Pool is a great option. It’s a liner pool that takes up less space than a traditional pool, and is easier to install and maintain. If you’re a keen swimmer, then having access to your own indoor or outdoor Endless Pool is worth the investment. You can choose between a range of counter currents – from the original through to performance and elite. For fitness enthusiasts, you can even include an underwater hydraulic treadmill. You can also customise the pool with your own liner, coping, surround, mirrors, features, hand rails and more. 

These are both top-quality brands, so whichever you choose you won’t go wrong – they both have the best-quality insulation, have invested in comfort and innovative hydrotherapy, and are known for their build and shell quality. The best way to choose the one that’s right for you is to speak to your dealer about what you’re hoping to get from a hot tub – whether that’s relaxation, entertaining, hydrotherapy, and so on – and then sit in it to make sure it fits those needs, is comfortable and has seating that’s the right height.