Top 5 Plants That Keep Bugs Away from Your Hot Tub

Relax Without Any Pesky Disturbances

Spring is in full swing; plants are blooming, and bugs are buzzing. All this insect activity brings about the most invasive bug when it comes to relaxing in your own backyard, the mosquito. No one likes walking around their yard just to find they had been bit all around their legs and ankles; then feeling the urge to scratch the red bumps that begin to form in small circumferences. If this is not your idea of a good time, you’re in luck, as there are a few things that you can do to keep the bugs out of your backyard.

  The scented candles have not seemed to make much of a difference. However, my mosquito repellent oil egg has helped when standing nearby. If you have a gazebo or patio covering your hot tub, it would be easy to hang these above. Just fill them up with the oils it comes with and you are all set.

  As you may already know, don’t leave any standing water in your backyard. Water that pools around plants, sitting still from a bird bath, water dog bowl, etc. You don’t want to create a breeding ground for mosquitos.

 Having a fan on your patio is a good addition as mosquito's tend to stay away from the air moving about so fast. Blow the blood suckers away.

  Insect repellent applied to your skin, here’s a list that had a few promising one’s that are more natural than Deet.

 Arrange in-ground and or potted plants to surround your hot tub. Having plants that surround your patio and hot tub also help in fending off mosquito's and make your backyard look green and beautiful.

As we are spending more time at home it is easy to look at your backyard and become inspired. There are smaller sized plants that offer benefits of repelling insects and are great for putting in your garden. For the purpose of surrounding your hot tub oasis with plants that repel bugs, this list is focused on plants that grow a little larger to create fullness and some even add color.

 1.) Citronella- This plant grows to be large, even potted and as a bonus citronella blooms pink flowers.    

      2.) Rosemary- are great for keeping mosquitoes as well as cabbage moths and carrot flies away. 

 3.) Petunias- Require little maintenance, grow large flowers in many different color and wards off tomato hornworms, aphids, leafhoppers, squash bugs, and asparagus beetles.       

 4.) Geraniums- in particular Pelargonium citrosum is the type of geranium that is known to repel mosquitos.  They like sunny days and grow quickly. 

5.) Lavender- Mosquitos and flies are not a fan of lavender and they give off such a nice smell, who wouldn’t want to plant a few in the backyard?

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Relax

Staying home has changed our daily routines, but one thing remains the same, hot tub owners enjoying their hot tub. Every Day Made Better® is the mantra for HotSpring Spas for a reason. More quality time spent with family is made easier as children are continuing education online and parents are working from home.  The time spent in a hot tub without social media or our phones has brought about interesting conversations and better interactions with each other. Every day is a day to connect with your loved ones and now more than ever let's use this time to connect with your family.  

On the flip side of spending time together is taking a moment to hot tub alone. To be in your backyard surrounded by greenery, to let your mind float and relax. This is the ultimate “me” time as everyone else in your family are busy doing their thing. As you sit there in your hot tub it becomes easy to melt away the stress of all the anxiety from the news, social media or any other worries. For those who live on their own, add soaking in your hot tub as a daily part of your life. These are challenging times and a mood boost for any one of us is a huge positive. Be sure to take advantage of the endorphins released in our body from soaking in hot water. 

There are many health benefits to soaking in a hot tub, including reduced stress and pain, better circulation through your body, increased flexibility and even improved sleep. More research and studies show that soaking in hot water benefit our health. I might also add that while taking a bath is nice, it is sure way more convenient to not have to fill a tub up each time and save water by soaking in a hot tub. Simply slide into your hot tub that is already full of warm water, ready when you need it to relax and enjoy. 

Spending time exercising is also important for our health and wellness. There are endless exercise programs out there to make working out from home a cinch and can be done with little to no equipment. Take yoga for example; its a mind body experience that keeps your body moving and limber. Flexibility is important to prevent injuries for athletes all the way to maintaining strength and movement as we enter our senior years. Yoga along with hot tubbing help to increase flexibility and spending time in a hot tub even helps ease the pain for those who have arthritis. 

With your HotSpring Spa Every Day Made Better®. 

It's The Most Wonderful...Busy Time of Year

It's that time of year again; we are experiencing cooler weather and even a little rain. After mid to upper-seventies in the middle of November, we were beginning to wonder when we would be able to turn on our fireplace.

After that oddly warm November we can finally say stove season at the Energy House is in full swing. Our team is extremely busy this time of year, especially with the added bonus of the Valley Air Rebate program. If you haven't heard, the Valley Air Rebate incentive to burn cleaner has gone up to $2,500 towards gas stove purchase and $500 towards the cost of install. The goal is to have cleaner air in the valley and applies to those who qualify. If you have an old wood burning fireplace now is the time to call us and get your clean burning gas insert before the rebate ends. We do not know how long the rebate will last, so if I were you I wouldn't miss this opportunity to save thousands. Here is a before and after photo of a Ravenna IPI gas insert from one of our customers in Fresno. Amazing what a different a new gas insert can make.

Our service department has been busy as well with stove tune ups, repairs and service related questions. Of those questions one heard a few times in one day was regarding the remote to the customer's gas insert.  https://energyhousefresno.com/fireplaces-101/ Hopefully the videos on our website can help you with your remote inquiries. If not, of course please call our service department (559) 432-1500.

Energy House wishes our customers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday with your family and loved ones!

Location, Location, Location...of Your Hot Tub

The location of your hot tub is important for many different reasons, including access from your house to your spa, delivery access, structural support, access for repairs, drainage and waterproofing and privacy. Your hot tub is going to be wherever you place it for a long time and I’m sure you plan on using your spa often.

1. Access from your house to your spa- the convenience and ease of access to your hot tub should be considered when making plans. Having the spa too far away could become an inconvenience, especially in the winter months. We recommend placing the spa closer to your backyard entrance of the house, somewhere on your deck or patio. For those with doors leading out from the master bedroom, setting your spa near here could make for a romantic getaway. Before modifying anything in your backyard, take the time to sit out there and picture how you would like your space to function.

2. Delivery access- once you have designated a location for your hot tub, it is time to think of how your hot tub will be transported into your yard. Map out a path to your designated spa location with enough room for the hot tub to be moved on its side. Refer to your spa models pre-delivery handbook for the exact dimensions of your spa. This path needs to have the same amount of clearance throughout and in some cases partial fence removal or even crane delivery is required depending on the situation. Our experienced delivery crew has been doing spa deliveries for a long time and are efficient at getting your hot tub exactly where you want it.

3. Structural support- for long-term placement of your spa, a 4-inch concrete pad provides a solid foundation. Other options include brick, pre-cast stepping-stones, pea gravel or crushed rock, or railroad ties. The main thing to keep in mind is that the foundation needs to be level and able to support the weight of your spa filled with water and people. This is especially important for those placing the hot tub on a deck.  

3. Access for repairs- for any maintenance or repairs make sure to leave room for the spa equipment access panel and for the panel door to open fully. It is crucial that the technician can get to this without having obstacles in the way.

4. Drainage and waterproofing- Your spa will need to be drained a few times per year, only once a year if using Freshwater Salt System. There will be lots of moisture between draining your spa and the water that spills over from getting in and out. That is why when a hot tub is placed on a deck it is advisable to use an oil-based sealant to retain the deck’s integrity.

5. Privacy- this might be a situation where you have neighbors that are two-stories and yours is a single or perhaps there is an area in your backyard more covered with trees and shrubbery. Whatever the case may be, choose a place where you and your family will enjoy for years to come. An umbrella (for sell in our store) could be used to cover your spa and make it more secluded. Also, a gazebo is a nice touch for added shade and privacy.

Hot Tub State Of Mind

Hot tub state of mind

What comes to mind when you hear the words “hot tub”?

When hearing “hot tub”, I doubt you think of wellness, health, hydrotherapy, and aquatic therapy. Usually we think about the benefits of owning a hot tub in a way that relates to our lifestyles.  For example, the two most common reasons our customers want a hot tub is to host a party and to have fun with friends and family or to relax often times alone or with their partner. These are great reasons for becoming a hot tub owner, however let's look into the health benefits.

·      Relief from lower back pain

·      Decreased anxiety and stress

·      Better sleep

·      Ease sore muscles

·      Temporary relief of pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia

·      Improved range of motion

The warm water from the spa allows your muscles to relax and to ease the pain in your joints. This allows for improved range of motion and the temporary relief of other pains such as lower back, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Part of this relief of pain is due to our body’s buoyancy in water. 

The amount of buoyancy that we experience under water is determined by how deep we are submerged. From waist level we are 40 to 50 percent of our body’s weight on land. As you go deeper to 25-30 percent chest deep and 10 percent to the base of the neck. This is a huge relief on achy joints and eases those sore muscles from a day’s work, projects around the house, fitness, etc. 

Soaking in your hot tub can reduce your stress. Imagine the stress of the day melting away. Thinking about bills that are due, children that have so many needs to be met, the latest work project that has consumed your mind lately, or making sure that your retirement is really going to last as long as you need it to, keeping the house presentable, financial planning, taxes, the list goes on and on. All of these worries and concerns dissolve the moment your feet hit the warm water.

Approximately 132 million Americans suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders more than once a week, according to the National Sleep Foundation. "We know that your core body temperature needs to drop by about 2 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit to initiate good sleep and then maintain deep sleep," says Walker, the author of Why We Sleep. It has been proven that soaking in warm water before going to bed will improve sleep. The heat increases your blood flow and takes the heat from your core to the surfaces of the body, which leads to a better nights sleep.

FEATURES

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Energy efficient

All Hot Spring hot tubs are California Energy Commission (CEC) certified, and we’ve gone above and beyond these standards. Read about the nine ways we keep your spa insulated and running smoothly, and calculate your own monthly energy costs.

Better jets

Moto-Massage^® jets send two powerful streams of water sweeping up and down your back. Wish you had a real masseuse? We have that, too. Rotary Precision^® jets mimic the masseuse’s fingertips as the rotating nozzles focus on delicate areas like your wrists. We engineered our customers’ demands into each jet.

The Highlife^® Collection Grandee^® Jet System offers an incredible 43 jets that relieve-tension in targeted areas.

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Customized lighting

Six vibrant colors and three dimmer settings for each amount to 18 different lighting settings in many of our spa models. Owners can choose one color for the water and another for the bar top to create an exotic experience.

Customized options

Ready to supercharge your wellness, entertainment and relaxation? Eleven types of jets, six colors, and a wide range of cabinet and cover styles and colors put the finishing touches on the masterpiece you create.

 Best selection

No other company offers four different lines and 22 spa models, each with standard features ready to be expanded. You can select a spa cozy enough for two or large enough for seven.

SERVICE

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The Absolute Best Hot Tub Ownership Experience^®

Prompt service from your EnergyHouse service department, shopping guidance and easy maintenance ensures owners a worry-free experience that brings all the peace of mind hot tub ownership should entail.

Comprehensive warranty on each spa

Each spa comes with a warranty that covers the shell, cabinet, plumbing, components, the No-Fault^® Heater, lighting, water care system and controller.

Corporate-backed customer support

A dedicated customer service department at our Vista, California headquarters is available to ensure you have the Absolute Best Ownership Experience.

After-sale support

Once you buy your spa, Energy House staff are ready, waiting for your questions and concerns.

Customer appreciation

Energy House often recognizes customers with tokens of appreciation, like offering spa water care gift certificate with review on our Facebook, Google, and Yelp page! 

You can bask in the ambience of the Sovereign^® spa while enjoying a soothing massage.