Before you invest in a swim spa, it’s only natural that you would want to know as much as possible about how they operate. More people across the country are learning how beneficial a swim spa can be for their physical and mental health, no matter their swimming ability.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about swim spas before buying.
How Do Swim Spas Work?
Swim spas use jets and internal currents to let a person swim on the spot, acting as low-impact exercise with a lot of benefits but without risk of injury.
The swim spa uses a system similar to other spa pools – the water uses the same filtration and suction setup, the main difference is in the higher flow rate. This is what pushes a current towards the swimmer, letting them swim in place; some users compare it to swimming in open water.
This helps you build up your strength and keep your cardiovascular system healthy, alongside providing a wealth of other benefits.
How Big Are Swim Spas?
A core feature of swim spas is that they can act as swimming pools, but are both portable and more efficient in terms of space. They are usually around 3.5 to 4.5 metres in length, with taller users generally preferring more space which allows them to more comfortably swim.
It’s essential you get a size that’s comfortable for you and any household member who will use it; you can typically test it out before buying.
How Wide Are Swim Spas?
Most swim spas are around 2 metres in width as they are for single-use and not much more is necessary for a single person.
This is plenty of space to encompass all the usual swimming techniques – giving enough room to swim without fear of bumping into the spa’s walls.
How Deep Are Swim Spas?
Swim spas tend to be about 1.5 metres in depth, which is enough to permit swimming without having to worry too much about treading water when you only want to relax.
Few swim spas deviate from this depth due to it being a happy medium that allows for comfortable use.
How Much Do Swim Spas Cost To Run?
The exact running costs of a swim spa depend on the model’s efficiency, as well as if you will be needing to heat the water. Running basic filtration costs just a few dollars every week, but needing to repeatedly heat the water before using the swim spa can add up.
Assuming you use it several times each week, it should cost on average between $40-70 monthly; this is higher in winter as you will want to heat the spa more.
How Are Swim Spas Heated?
As swim spas are smaller than swimming pools, they’re more efficient in heat. The ideal temperature depends on if you want to use it to swim or to simply relax like a normal spa pool.
For many models, you can simply turn up the temperature and reap the benefits. However, some people employ a heat pump as a way of generating cheaper heat in their swim spa, also using far less energy in the process.
