There are many different styles and sizes of hot tubs available for renting. They usually only provide hard sided, electric heated tubs. It’s important to know what you need and want before looking around for prices. Here, they help make your choice easier by explaining the various styles of tubs, making hot tubs rentals near me simple and convenient to find.
Heat Source for Hot Tub Rentals
Rental tubs use electricity or propane as their heating system. There are benefits and drawbacks to both choices.
Most common are electric heated tubs. If they are the portable type, they run off a normal 120v household outlet. The good thing about this is almost every home has an outdoor outlet and the tubs are very simple to install. They are called “Plug and Play” tubs. They just get placed in position, filled with water, and plugged in. The problem with 120v electric tubs is they take longer to heat up and do not keep heat as well as gas fueled tubs.
Propane heated tubs are another popular method among hot tub rental providers. They use powerful 100,000 BTU furnaces that heat water within 2 or 3 hours. The drawback is they are harder to install. You will need an electric source for the pump of the tub. The furnace must also stay at least 5 feet away from the tub for safety purposes.
Softub Hot Tub Options
What people will find most often are soft sided tubs, also called Softubs. Softubs are built from a dense foam core wrapped in marine grade vinyl. Contrary to common belief, they are never inflatable.
Softubs heat water differently than most tubs. They have what is known as a heat recovery system, which uses the warmth created by the pump motor to warm the water. This is an efficient way of heating. It is helpful when using a Softub for long times. However, for rental purposes, you will not see large savings on the power bill.
Softubs are probably the most popular rental tubs because they are very light, highly durable, and fit into almost anywhere.
Hard Sided Portable Hot Tubs
A step up from Softubs are hard sided tubs. These come in different shapes and sizes. They are usually bigger than soft tubs, have extra jets, and include molded seating. Often these are the same tubs used in backyards but converted to run with 120V electricity instead of 240V.
Hard tubs are usually made from either acrylic or single-piece, rotationally molded Polyethylene shell.
Acrylic spas are extremely heavy; weighing 400 to 700 lbs. Because of this, the shell must sit inside a frame to support the weight. The outside frame is often paneled with cedar wood. This makes the tubs look attractive but not very practical when delivering them. With the large weight, moving these tubs is difficult. Companies using this style generally tip the tub on end and place it on a wheeled cart for moving. If the tub is round, they might simply roll it into place. Because these tubs are heavy, rental companies will need extra people and may ask customers to assist with moving the tub from the truck to the chosen location.
Rotationally molded Polyethylene tubs are a newer idea. They are lighter (about 275 lbs) than acrylic and are known as free standing hot tubs. They do not require extra frames to support weight. They can be placed on any surface, such as a patio or deck. Unlike acrylic tubs, these are considered true portable tubs.
Both of these tubs can be adjusted to work on 120V electricity. Unlike Softubs, they include an actual heater to warm the water. This speeds up heating time slightly.
Choosing the Right Hot Tub in Prince George
When selecting a Softub or hard sided model, each type offers unique benefits for rentals in Prince George. Softubs are lightweight and simple to move, while hard tubs provide a stronger and more luxurious spa experience. Thinking about heating system, setup, maintenance, and available space will help renters pick the right option for their needs.
