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9 any regular repititive movement in the tub will set up a hamonic wave action resulting in a tsunami. these effects can be curtailed by using the plug and pause method rather than plug and play. 10. Hot Springs probably has a tsunami by-pass valve option specifically to address this issue because it seems as if they have thought of everything.
7. if you are limited on purchase price, you will also be limited on repair costs. buying a 'cheap' new tub could be more expensive down the road as well as being a PIA. it might be better to buy a 'well made' used tub from a good dealer. you want this tub to be a positive when you sell, not a negative.
I have seen setups in the garage, very nice actually, you build a little room, maybe use white lattice for the walls so the humidity can escape from the hot tub room, then you put in a tv hanging from one wall, a little stereo with speakers moutned above the hot tub on the wall, you can hang some christmas lights above the tub or whatever to make a cool looking effect, you put some rubber floor mats down on the concrete garage floor surrounding the hot tub, maybe a red light bulb hanging overhead the hottub with a dimmer, yes you certainly can make it very very nice. In fact for all the hot tub setups I have seen, the ones done up inside a home built in a moderatly small sized room were by far the nicest setups I have seen. In my opinion way nicer than outside, although you don't get to see the stars,,, but hey for those, just get some of those reflective star stickers and put them on the ceiling above the hot tub, done!as for wind, put a little fan in the room, lol