Hi, I am new to this forum and I have so many questions!
I am shopping for a hot tub for a home in Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe area). We have harsh snowy winters and hot dry summers. The hot tub will be an above ground with a deck surround, sitting on a concrete pad. Right now I am in the design/decision phase ...working out the deck design and hot tub size.
The spot I've chosen for the hot tub will be quite exposed as it is on the sunny side of the house. Are there brands that do better under these weather conditions (cold winters, hot baking heat in the summer)?
The spot is roomy enough for a small 2-3 person hot tub or a larger 4-6 person hot tub. I am undecided as to what size we should chose but I think the 6-8 person tubs are too big for the spot. DH and I will be the primary users and occasionally friends and family when they visit. We may rent the home out during the peak ski season and the renters may prefer a larger tub.
Besides the initial expense, is a larger hot tub more expensive or difficult to maintain? Significantly more expensive to heat or takes longer to heat up? While we may only need the additional space of a larger hot tub occasionally, if the overall maintenance and monthly costs aren't significantly more than would we be better off with a larger tub?
Do you often wish your tub was smaller or larger?
Thanks,