Nine Reasons To Own A Swim Spa

1. Swim Year Round
Unlike a swimming pool that can really only be practical four to at most five months of the year, a swim spa will keep a comfortable temperature year round, due to its built in heater, and you can even heat it to 104 degrees should you want to use it as a hot tub during those cold winter months.  

2. Save Money
You’ll save tens of thousands of dollars over constructing an in-ground pool.  And the least expensive swim spas are comparable to the price of many above ground pools.   Also, as any real estate agent will tell you, a pool doesn’t add nearly the value to a home that it costs, so by building a pool, you’re basically saying goodbye to that investment. Conversely, a swim spa is considered a portable spa, it doesn’t require any permits for construction, and is usually less hassle with homeowners associations.  And if you decide to move, you can take your swim spa with you to your new home. 

3. Save Space
A pool can take up a lot of room.  Not only do you have the pool itself that can be quite large, but the deck or patio that surrounds it can consume a big part of the backyard.  A swim spa, whether it’s on a slab or sunk into a deck, can be a big space saver so you enjoy the swimming life, but still have room to entertain or preserve the natural beauty.  And people with even the smallest backyards can still enjoy a real swimming experience in a swim spa.

4. Swim at your Own Pace
Up to three powerful, independently operated pumps allow you to backstroke at a leisurely pace or freestyle at a faster, more aggressive speed.  Or you can turn the pumps completely off to relaxingly soak or float, the choice is yours.

5. Entertain Friends and Family
If you enjoy having friends and family over, a swim spa is a great way to connect.  People will take turns swimming in the current, or jump in together to cool off and relax.  Some spas have large benches on either side to sit on, and relaxing massage seats.  In the wintertime, the spa can be heated up to be like one big hot tub that can fit up to 12 people!  You’ll love the time you spend in your swim spa.

6. Full Body Workout
Swimming is the best form of exercise, allowing you to work out the most muscle groups of any type of activity.  Swim spas allow you to take your routine to the next level, by offering attachments like rowing and stretch bands.  By doing strength and endurance training in the water and off-balance, you’re using dozens of uncommon muscles that are difficult to work out otherwise, burning more calories faster, all while keeping cool!  The results are amazing!

7. Cool Off
Sometimes you just need a dip to cool off in the summer.  Hop right in the swim spa and get a quick cool down to refresh and recharge.

8. Hydrotherapy Massage
Not only do swim spas function like a pool, you can also experience the pleasure and stress relief of a powerful hydrotherapy massage just like a hot tub!  Many models feature areas within the swim spa, and some even have a separate but attached spa area that you can maintain at a higher temperature to soothe away soreness and stress.

9. Easy to Maintain
With minimal effort, your swim spa will always be ready to use.  Whether you use a floating or inline sanitation system, you will typically only have to rebalance or shock the water once a month or after heavy use, once the levels are set.  Filters are easily cleaned with a hose and solution every few weeks.  Drain and refill once a year. The built-in, automatic cleaning system with skimmer, sweeper jet and ozone chamber will do the rest. 

Ozone Makes Cleaner Water

AquaFIT Swim Spas Feature UltraPURE Water Management, which uses Ozone to keep your water clean and clear.

(from www.d1spas.com)  Ozone is an O3 molecule. It is typically created by passing oxygen over an ultraviolet bulb or a corona discharge chip. This creates the u

nstable ozone molecule, which will eventually stabilize to not only kill, but burn up organic material (bacteria, dead skin, or other great stuff that can be introduced into your hot tub!). By adding an ozone system to your hot tub, you can use the ozone to do some of the purification process for you, reducing the need for chemicals.

What are the differences between ozone systems? There is a critical difference that determines how effective your ozone is at attacking organic material. Most ozone systems are added into the spa and inject the ozone stream directly into the hot tub body of water. The ozone then quickly rises to the surface, not coming in contact with very much water, and therefore not doing very much purifying in your spa. Not only that, but the longevity of ozone is much longer in air than in water. So you now have a layer of ozone in between the water surface and the bottom of your cover (you can smell this ozone build-up when you lift the cover). This ozone eats holes in your pillows and covers over time, and allows water to get into the foam of your cover, causing it to become waterlogged.

An ozone system that is incorporated into a water management system will introduce the ozone into the plumbing of the spa, it will then take the ozone and water and vigorously mix the water and ozone in a mixing chamber; leading to a much higher level of purification because every molecule of ozone touches more molecules of water. Then, this mixture of ozone and water will be run though several feet of plumbing that is designed to allow the ozone to change back into oxygen before it enters the hot tub body of water.

Understand this – Humans are organic material, just like bacteria. Breathing ozone will start to irritate your throat. The first ozone system we described turns off the second you touch the spa control. This is because this system is not allowed to run while you are in the spa (so that you don’t breathe the ozone). But you have to ask yourself – when do you want your water to be clean? – When you are in the hot tub! The second system is safe for use when you are in the hot tub, and runs 24/7, keeping your water crystal clear and clean and creating a safe environment for your family.

Three Things to Consider Before Getting A Swim Spa

There are three things you need to think about before you buy a swim spa.

The first is, where are you going to put it?  Swim spas can be used year round, even outdoors!  So, if you're thinking of getting a pool for exercise, think again!  The heater in a swim spa can keep the temperature of the water very warm even through the winter.  And the full foam insulation and insulated cover reduce the energy consumption to a very small amount.  So there's no need for an indoor pool, or a pool you can only use three months out of the year!  You will need a level surface (we recommend a concrete slab) to place it on, but you may decide to dig it into the ground, or build a deck around it for easy access to all sides of the spa.

The second thing to think about is the electrical hook up.  Most swim spas require a minimum of 240V and 50 amp circuit.  This is needed to run the big pumps that push the water in motion and the heater which keeps the water a consistent temperature through all four seasons.

The third is, of course, how much healthier you will be when you can achieve a no-impact workout for your entire body, in the most convenient location: your home or backyard.

Tony
www.chicagoswimspas.com