So you're looking for a spa – good choice! At this point, you're probably figuring out the best questions to ask when you buy a spa. We would be too. After all, the wide variety of spas out there can make your choice confusing.

To help you in your search, we thought we'd create a series of 3 posts detailing the best questions to ask when you buy a spa. If you've already read this one, feel free to jump to post 2 or post 3.

(link the last 2 highlighted bits to the appropriate posts – post 2 is the one with "more questions to ask when buying a spa" and post 3 is the one about 110 or 220 volt spas)

Now, let's look at the … 

BEST QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN YOU BUY A SPA

1. WHAT SIZE DO I NEED?

It depends on how many people you'll have in your spa. Two people will be comfortable in a medium-sized spa with 4-5 seats. You'll have enough legroom and various jets. Families with children will benefit most from large spas. And if you host friends often, get an even larger one, with 6-7 seats.

Your one regret will be getting a spa that's too small. Water displacement is a factor – you'll end up wasting energy if you have to fill it again after every use.

Before you buy a spa, take it for a dry run. Hop in to see how much room it affords and how comfortable the seats are.

2. HOW MUCH WILL CHEMICALS COST?

You might end up spending about $100-150 per year on chemicals. However, there are ways you can spend more up front to cut costs in the long term. If you get a spa with an ozonator, it'll kill bacteria with UV light. With an ozonator, you'll only have to buy a fraction of the chemicals you would normally.

Let's say you cut your bill by 2/3 (typical). That leaves you with $66-100 extra per year. Over the lifetime of the spa, the ozonator pays for itself, and you get the benefit of a spa with less irritating chemicals.

No matter what you choose to use in your water, don't use more than your water needs. Talk with your spa professional about how you should approach the chemistry of your spa's water.

3. SHOULD I GET A 110 OR 220 VOLT SPA?

Read [this article] link to the article in pending for the answer to this question. It's worth a post of its own.

4. HOW MANY JETS DO I NEED?

More jets equals higher cost. That's because a spa needs more (and higher horsepower) pumps to push water through those zillions of jets. Here's a basic rule: get up to 6 medium jets per horsepower for a good flow rate.

If your spa has 2 pumps of 4 horsepower each, you can have up to 48 jets without losing flow rate. And the flow needs to be strong for a good, therapeutic soak. Some manufacturers pack the tub with jets but skimp on horsepower. Ask your spa pro for flow rate info on the tubs you're looking at.

5. HOW CAN I TELL IF A RETAILER IS WORTH BUYING FROM?

Here's why that's important: you'll call the store if you ever need help later on. Look for a pool and spa store with a good BBB rating and few complaints. It's actually a good sign to spot some complaints that have been resolved. It means they care about their customers' experience.

The second question you need to ask is, "do they know what they're doing?" Has their service team been trained to deal with all the problems that might come up? Is the store attractive and clean? Do they have a good selection? Are they reputable in the community?

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It can be hard to find the right dealer when you're looking for a spa. To make it easier, come on in to The Great Backyard.