Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Tub_Newbie on September 03, 2004, 12:17:51 am
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Hello folks,
I just inherited a '96 Beachcomber with a house I bought. Had never been in a hot tub before but love it! First attempt at the weekly maintenance seemed to go well (pretty overwhelming at first but I can see getting into a routine with it soon).
So here's the question: I know people use hot tubs in the winter but I'm having trouble imagining the actual nuts and bolts of the procedure to get from the house to the tub (about 7' from the back door) and vice versa when the temperature drops. I live in northern British Columbia, so it *will* drop.
Any advice on how and where to stash towels, how to keep feet from freezing into slippers and wet fingers from sticking to the door handle, etc.? I'm sure there must be tricks of the 'trade' and I'd love to learn them before I learn the hard way. :-)
Also wondering if hot tubs are considered safe for toddlers (properly supervised of course) or if the heat is too much for them?
Thanks.
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I've found that smaller children, under teen age, don't tend to stay in the water very long. We don't have any really little children using our spa, but I have heard that higher water temperatures can affect children's development.
As for the winter thing, we have robes on over our suits, and slippers on our feet. We carry towels down and place them near the spa. Getting in is easy.
Just hang up the robe on the nearby hook, slide off the slippers, and into the water.
Getting out, you have a short time before the cold really nails you, so we towel off really quick, slap on the robe and slippers, then head inside to completely towel off.
I usually close the cover just before heading in, then come back out later to secure things.
Brewman
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I plan on investing in a outdoor heater that operates with a propane tank. That should take the chill out.
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1) Drop the temperature in the tub to around 97 degrees for safety.
2) Wait until there is snow all around the tub.
3) Run out with a siz pack or two. Keep beer cold in the snow next to the tub.
4) Drink the six pack while enjoying hydrotherapy.
By the time you are done you could roll in the snow and not care. The walk back becomes a breeze.
-Ed
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You people amaze me. I hope this doesn't get edited out: I live in Southern Cal and I'm totally spoiled. I don't know if I would use me tub in the snow.
Glad you guys enjoy your tubs - even in the snow and ice - you have my respect.
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It doesn't get any better than soaking on a still night when the temperature is low, say 30 degrees.
Steam rising around. That's what makes our winters a bit easier to endure.
Of course all bets are off when it's -20 and the wind is whipping around.
Brewman
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Can't argue with Brewman,a friend told me when it snows and is very cold outside you can get out of the spa and walk naked around the block with steam coming from you lol.This is my first winter coming up and I don't want to walk around the block,only a few feet would work...JohnnyT :)
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Hello folks,
Any advice on how and where to stash towels, how to keep feet from freezing into slippers and wet fingers from sticking to the door handle, etc.? I'm sure there must be tricks of the 'trade' and I'd love to learn them before I learn the hard way. :-)
If that 7 feet doesn't include any dirt or grass, buy a $1 pair of beach sandles and wear them right into the tub. Then they get set up on the edge till get out time when I put them on in the tub and they get worn until they reach the matt just inside the back door.
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You people amaze me. I hope this doesn't get edited out: I live in Southern Cal and I'm totally spoiled. I don't know if I would use me tub in the snow.
Glad you guys enjoy your tubs - even in the snow and ice - you have my respect.
On the plus side of the cold weather, at 104 in Sept I can stay in the tub around 20 minutes. At around 10 degrees f in Jan, at 104, I can stay in the tub 45 minutes. There is no better sleep than after 45 minutes at 104.
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Can't argue with Brewman,a friend told me when it snows and is very cold outside you can get out of the spa and walk naked around the block with steam coming from you lol.This is my first winter coming up and I don't want to walk around the block,only a few feet would work...JohnnyT :)
Wind is a big factor, or specifically a big chill factor. I have no problems getting out of the tub at 0 F and getting the robe on, throwing in the Dichlor and closing up with little or no wind. But a 20 mph wind at 25 degrees makes it much tougher.
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;)I am reading this thread with great interest here in NH where last winter ( seems so far away now..) we had a week of arctic weather and when it is cold enough to freeze the hairs in your nose, I can't imagine running out to the tub. But we are ambitious and put the tub strategically on the porch away from falling snow, but with a 6 foot dash from our unheated 3 season porch. I like the idea of the hooks for the robes and may get a heater for the porch.
My fear is the cover- will the moisture freeze on it and cause damage as we are in the tub? But we are definitely looking forward to soaking after a day of skiing!
Jan
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The only irritations we've had in the winter is digging out the spa after a heavy snow, and when water drips on the cover locks, then freezes them shut. Neither are too big a deal. Definately worth the trouble for the use of the spa in the winter.
Brewman
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Run like hell... :o
Not as bad coming out as getting in. Your body will be heated up so you wont notice the cold, I would bring a robe and slippers though...
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It's kind of funny how when you get out of the water in cold weather, you have a minute or two before it starts to get really cold. Unless as wmmcall said, the wind is blowing. My wife got frostbit on her face last year in the spa. It was pretty windy that night. That cut the soak short.
Brewman
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Getting in is actually tougher than getting out. When you get into a spa in the dead of winter, your body is not "super heated" as it is when you are existing the tub. My recommendation is that you plan to remove the cover prior to getting "suited up". Then wearing a robe and some nice slippers with god traction capabilities (wife bought some for around $20 off Lands end I think) you can get in and out easily. Getting out you really do have more time than you would think as your body retains the heat pretty well. With temps around 20 degrees you can still take 15-30 seconds to get dry before heading in without any temp problems. Once it's down to zero, you only have about 5-10 seconds to dry off before heading in. If you get the same slippers I have, you've also got good traction and will help keeping you from slipping on the snow.
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Use the tub in the winter? Are you kidding? THAT's THE ONLY TIME TO USE IT! Who wants to be sitting in 90 plus water when it's 90 outside? Nothing beats a nice sub 32 degree night and a 103 degree spa! When you get out you have at least 1-2 minutes before you'll really feel the cold! Just slip on a nice robe and head inside! BTW snow makes it all that much better! (It turns to a mist as it hits the steam rising!) ) Out here in NJ it can get pretty cold during the winter but I can't wait!
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I think it may be harder breaking away from the fireplace to journey out into the cold and cross the 120 feet or so to our tub then it will be getting out of the tub after soaking for a while. Along the same theme, does anyone know of a good brand or source for thick terry cloth hooded robes.? We looked all over today, even though our tub is not yet here, but could not find anything. May be it is too early in the year.
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Check out the various spa makers. I know that Sundance sells logo robes, but they are on the expensive side. If you really want to go fancy, try various upscale hotels. Many of these places sell their robes to guests, and it wouldn't suprise me if they also sell on their web sites.
We've stayed at the Fountainbleau in Miami Beach a few times, and they set out really plush robes for their guests, which are also available for purchase.
Brewman
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A cheap towel warmer would be an insulated cooler and preheating your towels in the dryer. Also, one of those rechargeable heating packs in the cooler would help keep them warm as well. You could put your "apre-soak" robes in there also.
8).
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Zackman:
My wife found terry cloth robes in Pennys ladies dept. she bought two a short for her and a long for me, no hoods but they are fairly heavy and warm, not as heavy as a $75.00 one from a Regency Hyatt or some other hotel that have them in your room and offer them for sale, just take it and they will charge your CC. A hat or bathing cap will keep the heat in even in the tub. My wife wears a bathing cap in the tub to keep her hair out of the water and filters, her hairdresser said it will protect her hair from the chlorine that apparently will do a number on hair colour.
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Last year we bought my Mom and Dad terrycloth robes for Christmas through Lands End via their on line service. They are really nice, thick, well built and if I recall they were somewhere between 50 and 75 dollars (US). The idea for using a coller for the towel warmer is excellant.
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I just picked up a nice terry robe from Costco for about $30. No hood - but it appears to be a nice absorbent terry cloth. Also, do a search on terry bathrobes online. There are several sites that sell spa style robes.
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Last year we moved from Minnesota where we had a Smith & Gordon cedar tub for 14 years. We used our tub mainly in the fall/winter and spring time until the mosquitos would become to agressive. My experience on cold wheater tubbing, i.e. 0 degrees on up.
1. Open tub and check temp before getting into swim suit and making the plunge.
2. Snowy winter tubbing is the abosolute best. Especially when the snow is piled up around the tub.
3. Getting to the tub is easy. You wil be surprised how fast you can move.
4. Having a snow pile near the tub to jump into and cool off can be allot of fun.
5. Wet swim suits left out too long will freeze to the deck.
6. Don't worry about the water freezing on the deck it will freeze dry or evaporate when the sun hits it the next day. (South facing deck).
7. BIG ITEM; When getting out of the deck keep your feet moving as you dry off, less they freeze to the deck.
8. BIG ITEM; Keep a bowl or pitcher handing to pour tub water on feet it item 7 happens.
9. Once you are in side, dry-ed off and dressed go back out side to close up the tub, but BIG ITEM; be sure to watch for item 6, less you will be using the tub theraputically.
10. Don't be concerned about the ice helmet that will form on your hair, your head will still be warm and sweating under it all.
11. Take many pictures as no one will believe that anyone is goofy enough to go and sit in a tub in the cold.
12. Below about -10F our tub (used a heat exchanger, e.g. no heater) when open could not keep up with the heat loss so the soak was gennerally short.
13. I may be goofy, but -20F is crazy.
14. Have fun, thats what yo bought it for.
Having said all that we moved to Colorado to escape the cold winters. But having recently bought a new pastic fantastic (Beachcomber 750C) I can't wait will the temp drops.
Pat Caulfield
Parker, CO
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Boy, my typing s__ks.
Pat
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Wow! My first winter comming up and great advice from those who know! Great points Pat, never thought about feet freezing to the deck. . .I like to stand on the wood spa steps while I "towel & robe" . . .I'll be carefull! Thanks Tub_Newbie for posting the question, good thread!
I've been wondering about winter footwear. Right now I'm using "flipflops." They're waterproof but will be pretty chilly come Feb. I can see lined slippers or 6" high boots being a lot warmer for the "exit dash" but they'll be soaking wet all winter long. Any of you experience polar bears care to comment on footwear?
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Keep it simple. I use a pair of cheap slippers just because they are laying around. Use whatever you can easily slide your wet feet into. I'd use flip flops if I had any. I've not had any foot sticking problems going barefoot, but I don't do that very often in cold weather.
Once you go thru it once or twice, you'll figure something out.
Brewman
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The only irritations we've had in the winter is digging out the spa after a heavy snow
Here is a case for people to learn from the fool's mistake. Sometimes I would get lazy and not brush the snow off the cover, letting it fall off when the cover got to its vertical location. With an inch of dry powdery snow, no problem, But with an inch of wet snow, the cover weight probably doubles puts a huge strain on the cover lifter breaking it and cracking the tub's skirt.
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Boy, my typing s__ks.
Pat
Yea, but you got your point accross, good post.
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I think it may be harder breaking away from the fireplace to journey out into the cold and cross the 120 feet or so to our tub
120 ft? That might be a record for poeple here. Top on my list during installation planning was shortening that distance as much as possible (10 ft in my case)
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Hi All:
Been away for awhile, so it's GOOD to read your posts again.
UNFORTUNATELY, Virginia Beach has fairly mild winters so I don't get much snow (when it DOES snow, schools shut down and the City closes -- too bad, I'm from Cleveland, GO Buckeyes!).
But a couple of years ago we did get some AWESOME snow! I piled the snow up around the tub, inserted several Coronas and proceeded to call all my friends. WAY cool. Had a bunch of people over, what a party! BTW, 104 during the winter is excellent.
I remember the snow during that winter well, because it was at this time I "discovered" the "Swedish technique" of hot/cold therapy. Later during the night, I decided to go back out for a little more soak time in the tub. I'm a believer in "less is more" when it comes to swimming apparel after 9 PM, so, needless to say, I was "hanging low." After 30 minutes in the tub, I needed a refill of my favorite hot tub beverage so I proceeded to get out. It was at this point I learned an important lesson. When people use a tub during the winter with snow on a deck, water often drips on the snow and forms ice. If you don't watch where you are going you can slip. Unfortunately, I didn't realized this until AFTER I was on the way down from falling off the side of my deck.
Fortunately for me, a large snow drift was next to my deck. Yep, naked, wet and laughing, I hit that snow. WHOOOWEEE, what a RUSH! It was cold at first, but after a few seconds I realized it wasn't bad. I rolled around some to get cooled off, climbed up and then got back in the tub. MAN, it was relaxing. On about the third time doing this, I noticed I had an audience inside my house watching me through the patio doors to my deck (leave it to my young niece to open the door and say "Uncle Drew, you’re really WEIRD"). 5 minutes later, six of my house guests joined me and we spent another hour doing the same thing.
Since that time (I think it was the winter of 2002) we haven't had enough snow for a repeat "Swedish" snow party. BUT, my friends keep asking...
AHHH the hot tub life style, ALWAYS enjoyable.
Peace and hot water...
Drewski
;)
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That reminds me of something Mrs. Brewman did last winter. We were soaking away in January, with about 2 feet of snow on the ground.
The wife decided to roll in the snow, just as Drewski described. So she climbs out of the spa, dashes to the edge of the patio where the snow starts, and does a back flop down onto the snow. Only she doesn't realize that the snow wasn't all fluffy like she expected. It was rock hard, having been thawed and re frozed a few times. I don't think she even broke thru the crust.
The whole thing happened so fast I wasn't able to warn her about the snow pack.
Luckily she has a good sense of humor, so I didn't get in trouble for laughing my a*s off, and she was unharmed.
Lesson learned, I guess.
Brewman
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Tell her we're all laughing (WITH her of course). :D
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Here is a case for people to learn from the fool's mistake. Sometimes I would get lazy and not brush the snow off the cover, letting it fall off when the cover got to its vertical location. With an inch of dry powdery snow, no problem, But with an inch of wet snow, the cover weight probably doubles puts a huge strain on the cover lifter breaking it and cracking the tub's skirt.
Another reason for removing the snow is the strain it puts on the hingle material between the cover halves when you fold it over. Jamming a couple of inched into the hinge space will really stretch the material and the stitching.
Pat
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You've gotten lots of advice on soaking in the winter but not much on taking kids in the tub.
We got our tub in July and wanted to take our 4- and 7-year-old in but were paranoid, so I asked our pediatrician. Surprisingly, she seemed more concerned about water cleanliness than the heat. Said she's seen some nasty skin infections in hot tub kids, so keep that water meticulously clean and watch the boo-boos.
Our kids aren't exactly toddlers, though, so they can probably handle the heat better than your little one. Still--we keep the water 100 or below for them. The thing is, their bath water is probably hotter than that, but they aren't in the bath up to their necks, so you need to watch them carefully. If ours start to look at all flushed in the face, we make them get out. Ours can tell us when they are hot, but won't always admit it!
The kids love it. And I've found yet another therapuetic benefit--it really calms our autistic son when he is having a rough day!
So have fun and be careful!
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. If ours start to look at all flushed in the face, we make them get out. Ours can tell us when they are hot, but won't always admit it!
So have fun and be careful!
Great post. Clearly parents have to be careful, and informed on what to look for. When it doubt, throw them out. ;D
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120 ft? That might be a record for poeple here. Top on my list during installation planning was shortening that distance as much as possible (10 ft in my case)
We wanted it near the pool and pool house as it gets used when / while we use the pool. Live on a ranch and house is some distance from the pool house. It is also on another level - the pool pad is about 7 feet lower than where the house is. It is a bit far, but overall it works out best down there. Fortunately, we don't get snow that often but it does get cold here in the foothills in the winter.
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I also keep mine at 100 or below for our 4 year old and 2 year old. They love it especially the 4 year old. He never wants to get out. I think another thing you will notice is that the little kids don't spend a lot of time 'neck deep' in water. Mine is constantly jumping from seat to seat, standing up, sitting down, moving around, chasing his diving rings, squirting his water guns, playing ball, splashing dad, hanging over the edge...he is definitely not in there for a good soak, so he never really gets overheated. I also make sure he drinks fluids while he is in the tub. If I let him, I think he would sleep in there as well!!! Of course the most important thing is parental supervision and use your best judgement, if you think they are getting over heated, get them out, but as long as the temp in the tub is not too high and the water is clean(as mentioned before) your kids will love it..
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Perk1
I also have one that uses the hot tub like a pool (6 yrs. old). She is constantly moving in and out, up on the cool-down seat, out on the deck, then back in the water. I have found that 101 degrees is just right to please all of us.
As for this "cold weather entry" thread:
I CAN'T WAIT TO USE MY TUB THIS WINTER!!! It has been my husband's goal to use the tub on New Year's Eve (when there will, of course, be falling snow here in northern Michigan) and bring in the new year with a warm body and snow in our hair.
I am reading the tips on slippers and robes with great interest....making plans......I never thought about my feet freezing to the deck.........yikes!!