Four years ago, when my co directors and I decided to introduce a range of Hot Tubs to compliment our existing 25 year old pool business, we made sure we researched the market thoroughly and with over 100 Hot Tub manufacturers out there……..boy did it take some researching !

Essentially we were focused on offering a tub driven by quality, not by price. And a tub which offered the three key features we believe to be essential when buying a Hot Tub:

1 Extreme comfort.
2 Exceptional hydro massage.
3 Excellent energy efficiency.

In “Beachcomber” we not only found the quality and all the above key features, but we’re dealing with a manufacturer whose attitude to customer service and post sales support is exceptional. Beachcomber have made a substantial commitment to the European market place with distribution and support facilities now firmly established both here in the U.K. as well as numerous other European countries.

At the end of the day, we very much hope you will elect to purchase a Hot Tub as we know the benefits ownership has brought to the communication and well being in our own families and that of our many existing customers too. If you choose to purchase from us, that is a bonus and I assure you we will do everything we can to provide you with a pleasurable buying experience.

However, if you have yet to completed your research and have other tubs to evaluate and consider, all we politely ask is that you take time out to review the following tips overleaf to ensure you minimise your risk of buying the wrong tub.

Thank you for your time.

P.S. Don’t forget to check with us with regards availability and pricing on ex-display models, special factory promotions and the dates of our “SALES”.

	Rollover Lip. Ensure the lip of the tub rolls over the cabinet edges such displaced water will run directly on to the floor. If it doesn’t and the shell sits on top of the cabinet, leaving a wooden ledge around the perimeter, then displaced water will pool on the ledge and in a relatively short time the wood will discolour and rot. The mastic bead, just like the ones around most domestic bath tubs, is likely to rot too and peel away allowing water to ingress in to the tubs cabinet.
	Total Immersion. Some tubs are only 29” or 30” deep and therefore bathers often find their upper torso is exposed to the elements and so, especially in winter, the bathing experience is uncomfortable. Additionally taller bathers will find there is not the depth to stretch out and therefore they end up sitting in a “knees up” position which leads to discomfort in the abdominal areas. So be sure to sit in the tubs you are looking at to ensure they “fit” you.
	Foot Well. The whole Hot Tub bathing experience is all about relaxing aching muscles and unwinding tired minds, so just imagine………there you are nicely reclined, warm water gently caressing you…….then someone’s big hairy leg and foot comes into contact with yours….Yuk! You see unless you have a nice wide, deep foot well you’re likely to encounter such an unpleasant experience. Ensure the foot well allows all the bathers plenty of room thus ensuring the only feet you come in to contact with are those you want to.
	Insulation. Be careful here as most tub manufacturers can only ever insulate at most three quarters of their tub. This is because they have the pump and heating equipment mounted inside the tubs’ cabinet, such they can only foam fill three sides of the cabinet. Now would you only insulate three walls of your home? Check the quality and thickness of the cover too as this plays a crucial role in insulation. Check that it is covered in “Marine Grade” vinyl and not cheap domestic upholstery vinyl which will all too quickly weather, fade and tear.
	Comfort. Remember to ask to sit in a “dry” tub, in order you can evaluate the comfort. For optimum comfort look for ergonomic seating as opposed to bench type seating and make sure the seating can accommodate all shapes and sizes of bather. Also check to ensure the jets are recessed. Some tubs do not have recesses in the shells mould and this causes the jets to sit proud of the shell and cause discomfort when you lean back on to them.
	Reflexology. Check to see if the tub offers foot massage jets in the floor well. An absolute must for those who are on their feet all day. Fantastic for giving life back to those fallen arches and stretched tendons.
	All Active Seating. Make sure that when the massage pump is on all jetted seats and loungers are active. In some cases you may have four seats being served by one pump and the only way you can give the optimum flow rate to two of the seats is to , via a diverter valve, shut off the supply to the other two, thus you do not have all active seating. Beachcombers engineering ensures that optimum performance is achieved at all the seats, not just some of them.
	Jets. Don’t fall for the ones with “lots and lots” of jets. The best hydrotherapy and massage comes from fewer rather than more jets. Think about your everyday shower head. When the shower head rose is fully open and lots of holes (jets) are open you will receive a gentle soft shower. Turn the rose such you now have only four or five holes open and you get an intense impulse shower proving less jets gives better massage. Top of the range tubs like Beachcomber will be engineered to have the correct number of jets placed in positions designed to target specific muscle groups and ensure maximum muscle stimulation. The heart will then pump blood to the stimulated muscles accelerating the production of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. Make sure the jets are interchangeable such you can bespoke the type of massage you like in the seat you most prefer. Finally ensure they are recessed in to moulded niches too, such the jet nozzles face is not digging in to you when you lean back on it.
	Safety. Make sure access in and out of the tub is safe with well thought out internal entry/exit steps. Avoid tubular hand grips or rails too. It’s been known for small children’s hands and wrists to get trapped behind them causing injury and unnecessary distress in what after all should be a place of fun and relaxation. Additionally the metal tubular grips look great in the showroom but water is full of minerals and once water evaporates, just like your sink taps at home, it leaves an unsightly residue behind which means extra cleaning.
	Pillows. Some manufacturers fit pillows inside their tubs. Behind fitted pillows it will be dark and warm, the perfect place for bacteria to breed, especially as they are above the water line and therefore out of reach of the sanitizer in the water. Beachcomber offers portable pillows in marine grade vinyl material, which you take in and out of the tub. Much healthier!