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BISHTA is the British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association - established to protect the public by setting strict standards governing advice on spa products, long term use and safety. Before purchasing your hot tub ensure your dealer is an accredited member.

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Your choice depends on your specific needs and budget and also on who you can trust. There are many brands of hot tubs available on the market today so ensure that you choose a reliable manufacturer and an equally reliable and reputable accredited dealer who is well established and known locally. Our manufacturer Spaform, not only stocks models to suit every requirement but each hot tub is made here in the UK and is specifically manufactured to order. Spaform are also accredited with EN ISO 9002, CE, N.S.P.I. (National Spa & Pool Institute) and are members of BISHTA (British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association).

Choosing the right product from the right company for your leisure needs in today's competitive market place is no easy task. Your choice will inevitably depend on your specific needs and budget and also on who you can trust. Price is inevitably going to be a major factor in deciding, but certain aspects should not be compromised when making such an important decision. There are many brands of hot tubs available on the market today so ensure that you choose a reliable manufacturer and an equally reliable and reputable accredited dealer who is well established and known locally. Spaform UK Limited, not only stock models to suit every requirement but each hot tub is made here in the UK and is specifically manufactured to order. Spaform are also accredited with EN ISO 9002, CE, N.S.P.I. (National Spa & Pool Institute) and are members of BISHTA (British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association).

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When purchasing an imported hot tub numerous costs are hidden and most likely added to the showroom price. Currency fluctuations, importation fees & taxes, handling and shipping costs, warehousing and storage fees and the conversion which is require to meet EU Standards together with high profit margins for both the UK importer and the independent dealer are all added costs which are applied to the final selling price of an imported hot tub.

SPAFORM hot tubs are manufactured here in the UK and independent dealers purchase direct from the manufacturer. A SPAFORM hot tub is therefore quite simply a quality, reliable product at a very realistic price.

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No special plumbing is required as domestic hot tubs are usually portable and simply require a garden hose for filling. A hard wired electrical connection however, is required to power your hot tub. The size of the electrical supply will be determined by the hot tub model this will vary between 13 - 40 amps and all works should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician.

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Although a hot tub can be installed inside or outside over 90% of UK hot tubs are installed outdoors. However, if you are looking to have your hot tub installed indoors this will be perfectly suitable after considering the following:

1. Is the structural strength of the floor suitable to hold the maximum hot tub weight? It is worth bearing in mind that a typical 3 person hot tub will weigh approx. 2,500lbs / 1200kg when filled.
2. Is there adequate ventilation in the room where the hot tub will be sited?
3. Any lighting and/or electrical sockets & switches in the room will need to waterproof and protected by a suitable means.
4. Will the hot tub fit through the doorway?

A reputable dealer will be able to assist you in determining what is best for your situation.

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Absolutely, hot tubs are designed for use all year round and give you a wonderful feeling of warmth and relaxation during cold Winter evenings. With the insulated cover on the temperature can be maintained at a very low cost so it's ready and hot for whenever you feel like taking a relaxing dip. Furthermore all Spaform hot tubs are fitted with a 4 Tier Ener-Gard Insulation System which provides excellent insulation properties and reduces running costs by 1/3^rd.

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Some manufacturers claim to have hot tubs which cost as little as 10p per day to run! In reality this figure is only ever going to be achievable if you never use the hot tub! The cost of running a hot tub is dependant on many contributory factors including: the required electrical supply, the hours of daily usage, the temperature of the water, the mode in which the hot tub is set to run and most importantly the rate that you are paying your electricity supplier. BEWARE of manufacturers who guarantee running costs on their hot tubs as most base their figures on unrealistic electrical costs. A realistic and more honest dealer will always quote figures between 60p - £1.00 per day.

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The most superior method of construction is a completely self supporting shell which is strong enough to support several tones of water without the need for foam filling. Some manufacturers rely on building a weaker shell and then filling the cabinet with foam to support the weight of the water once the hot tub is filled. This process is seen as cheaper and less effective, and in the event of the hot tub having a leak once installed is difficult to locate and remedy without ripping out the foam thus putting a stress on the shell construction.

A strong, well made, completely self supporting shell with Insulating Foam Panels fitted to the interior of the Cabinet is seen to offer a far more effective method of insulation.

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Be sure to test the control panel before making your hot tub purchase. Does it give precise control over individual features? Is it easy to operate? Does it have a lock out option? Can you custom set filter cycles and operation modes to suit you? Can you flip the display and make adjustments from inside and outside the hot tub? Beware some manufactures cut corners by eliminating features and options that are necessary to fully enjoy your hot tub experience.

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Filtration is a step by step process. The more steps you have in place the more pure your water will be. First consider the size and number of filters the hot tub uses. Having two filters, one that works with the 24 hour circulation pump and one that works while you're using the hot tub can provide fantastic filtration. Ozone technology is often an option on most makes of hot tubs and is a superb system for destroying micro-organisms whilst reducing the amount of chemicals required. CD Ozone Technology is fitted as STANDARD on all Spaform hot tubs.

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Efficient plumbing, fully adjustable jets and flow control are much more important than horsepower! A lower horsepower pump in an efficient hot tub will produce a more comfortable and effective jet power than a higher horsepower pump in an in-efficient hot tub. Some manufacturers use oversized, high horsepower pumps that often result in uncomfortable bathing and increased ownership costs in the long term. Spaform have design engineered incredibly cost effective systems which provide you with lower overall operating costs whilst their generous jet to pump ratio combined with 2" pipework ensures maximum jet performance.

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When you submerge in a hot tub you will want the jets to gently soothe the right muscles and in the right way. Being able to adjust the jets and flow control accordingly is therefore crucial for optimum hydrotherapy. Some manufacturers load up a hot tub with lots of inexpensive, non-adjustable, fixed jets to make the hot tub appear to be good value for money and better in it's design. The reality is that quantity does not always equal quality and if the jets in a hot tub are badly positioned and not plumbed properly (due to the number of jets not being consistent with the number of pumps fitted) you will not get a soothing all over body massage but an uncomfortable bathing experience.

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Submerging in crystal clear water is exactly what you want, therefore the addition of chemicals will be required. You can, however, significantly reduce the amount of chemical usage required to treat your water by choosing a hot tub with a fitted Ozone System.

All Spaform hot tubs are fitted with a sophisticated water care system, ensuring that your tub is safe and the water is pure and inviting.

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Ozone is one of nature's basic elements and is the most powerful useful oxidant known to man. An extremely powerful disinfectant and deodoriser Ozone is a powerful oxidiser similar to chlorine except chlorine treats water much slower because it must first diffuse through the cell wall of the bacterium. Contact times for chlorine eliminating a microbe can therefore be 2.5 to 55 times longer than that with ozone.Many of the same benefits we get from chlorinating the water are also realised by using ozone, except that with ozone there is no chemical residue left in the water, in fact the only by-product of ozone is oxygen. Ozone is so powerful it is able to oxidise at ambient temperatures and it is therefore not surprising that Ozone is used very effectively in spas and hot tubs, killing micro-organisms by oxidation.

All SPAFORM portable spas are equipped with a CD Ozone System which uses Corona Discharge technology to produce three times the ozone over standard UV systems. Recognized as being highly effective and known to be the most reliable form of ozone technology this system will consistently produce cleaner, clearer water day after day whilst reducing chemical maintenance, hot tub operating costs and leaving you with sparkling clean healthy water.

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Previously all hot tub cabinets were made of wood and in fact many hot tubs still are. Today, however, technologically superior synthetic materials have become equally popular and in some cases have replaced wood cabinets as the preferred option. These high quality materials do not rot or degrade like wood and are virtually maintenance free thus extending the `new look` of your hot tub surround. Synthetic cabinets are durable and UV-Resistant giving your hot tub extraordinary beauty for years to come.

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Generally hot tubs are reliable and seldom go wrong, however, if you are looking for peace of mind following the purchase of your tub you will need to do your homework and be cautious before parting with your money. Ensure you have total confidence in the manufacturer you are buying from and remember to clarify every detail. e.g manufacturers who state that their hot tubs come with a lifetime warranty! Does this mean your lifetime or the lifetime of the hot tub? If so what exactly is the lifetime of a hot tub? What happens if the dealer goes bust? Will you loose your warranty altogether? Does your warranty cover a manufacturers full parts and labour warranty or is it left with the dealer to support it? Does it include labour? If so is the labour covered for the full term or just part of it?

All SPAFORM products have a comprehensive and genuine UK Manufacturer's Parts and Labour Warranty. Buyer Beware! - many imported products do not offer such a comprehensive after sales care and importer warranties are not always what they seem with expensive labour costs being chargeable!