The changing face of swim spa installations

by Sally Bouorm | June 1, 2010 11:17 am

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By Doug Gillespie

The residential swim spa category is in the same place hot tubs were 15 years ago. At that time, 95 per cent of all hot tubs were installed indoors, in a deck or in the ground (without a cabinet). These methods limited the number of consumers who could afford a hot tub, as they were forced to figure out the logistics behind issues such as service accessibility, ground water problems and protection from rodents.

Once the industry started to understand these installation hurdles were prohibiting sales growth, hot tub manufacturers started engineering and marketing above-ground, easy-to-install ‘portable’ hot tubs. This portable option increased the product’s popularity and initiated the sales growth the industry witnessed over the last 10 years.

What is inhibiting swim spa sales?

The same issues that hindered the growth of the hot tub market continue to hold back swim spa sales. The average swim spa has 10 times the number of fittings, suctions, returns and plumbing components a regular swimming pool has—making inground swim spa installations difficult and costly to design and execute.

Backfill installations

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This method of installation involves lowering the swim spa into an excavated hole; soil is then used to refill the area around the swim spa.

This type of installation can present a challenge when dealing with plumbing repairs. In the event of a cracked pipe or loose fitting, locating a leak can prove rather difficult. Water takes the path of least resistance; with a swim spas’ extensive plumbing and numerous fittings, finding a leak would be similar to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Ground water pressure also presents a problem, as most swim spas are not equipped with hydrostatic relief valves, which allow pressure to equalize when ground water gets too high. Without one, when frozen soils thaw in the spring and the water level in the swim spa is not filled high enough during winterization, the swim spa can ‘pop’ out of the ground.

Equipment installation can also be a dilemma. Most equipment in backfill projects is connected remotely. This means the equipment is installed anywhere from 4.5 to 6.1 m (15 to 20 ft) from the swim spa, which inevitably decreases water pressure levels to the swim jets.

Concrete vault installations

These installations involve constructing an inground cement ‘room’ in which the swim spa is inset. Although this method is better than a backfill installation, it does present its own unique challenges.

The first obstacle to overcome is cost, as a vault can range from $10,000 to $20,000. Similar to a backfill installation, ground water issues are the most common problem. Even with a properly installed gravel drain and sump pump, vault installations can be prone to flooding. If flooding occurs and is not detected quickly, the swim spa’s electronic and mechanical equipment can become damaged.

These installations are also subject to rodent infestations. The warm environment created in the vault provides pests with an ideal home and leaves the swim spa susceptible to damage caused by rats and mice gnawing on wires, plumbing and other components.

Indoor installations

Most swim spa manufacturers create one-piece acrylic shell designs, which can make indoor installation quite difficult. How can a one-piece 5.2- x 2.4-m (17- x 8-ft) swim spa be delivered and installed in a house that is already built? In most cases, a swim spa is installed during new home construction or, if it is an existing home, during construction of an addition, such as a four-season room. Installation of proper ventilation equipment to handle humidity levels and condensation can also present a challenge.

Advent of the portable swim spa

Today, most manufacturers are realizing growth in the swim spa category and how portable designs have further potential to increase sales. These above-ground units provide everyday customers the ability to enjoy the benefits of a swim spa without having to deal with additional complications and costs incurred with an inground or indoor unit.

A portable swim spa also provides another option for homeowners whose backyards cannot accommodate an inground pool. As residential properties continue to shrink and the benefits of portable swim spas—such as ease of installation and serviceability, energy efficiency (as most cabinets are insulated) and protection from rodents—become more apparent, the portable swim spa category has the potential to experience growth similar to what the portable hot tub industry saw in the late 1990s.

Challenges to overcome

Portable swim spas do come with their own unique set of challenges, and most of which are related to esthetics. How can a 5.2- x 2.4-m swim spa—standing 1.2-m (4-ft) high and 2.7-m (9-ft) wide—be installed to look like it was a planned backyard feature, as opposed to an afterthought?

One strategy that seems to offer a successful transition from inground and indoor installations is to incorporate a portable swim spa into a new or existing deck. In North America, there are hundreds of thousands of decks being built every year; it would be easy for a customer, even one with limited space in his or her backyard, to integrate a portable swim spa into a deck installation.

Another challenge to overcome is the removal of the swim spa’s hardcover. These covers can be awkward, heavy and difficult to store; however, they are necessary in every installation, as they provide a layer of safety and additional energy efficiency benefits.

For consumers in southern climates, there are a variety of options available for those willing to invest in an automatic cover remover. However, these covers are not practical for northern climates with heavy snow loads. Currently, there are no solutions to ease the removal of a swim spa hardcover; for sales to increase, this is the last hurdle the industry must overcome.

As more manufacturers start offering portable units and retailers begin displaying them in their showrooms, sales will only continue to grow.

 

Doug Gillespie is the general manager, territory development manager and corporate sales trainer for Hydropool Industries in Mississauga, Ont., a manufacturer of spas and swim spas. He can be reached at dgillespie@hydropoolhottubs.com[3].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/the-changing-face-of-swim-spa-installations/

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