JAMES DULLEY | Cutting your utility bills Soothe spa concerns by opting for efficiency

Q. A dip in a hydromassage spa on my deck would be wonderful after work, but do they use a lot of energy? What comfort and efficiency features are most important when buying one?
A. With the fast-paced, high-stress lifestyles of today, installing an outdoor hydromassage spa on a deck is becoming a common home-improvement project. It often becomes a year-round gathering place for family members in the evenings and becomes a focal point when entertaining guests.
A high-quality four-person spa built into a deck uses from $10 to $20 of energy a month to keep the water warm and to operate the massaging air and water pumps. The exact increase in your utility bills depends on your climate, the quality of the spa and frequency of use.
In the industry, these residential spas are referred to as "portable spas" because of the simplicity of installation. Most are sold in a complete kit that includes the cabinet, tub, jets, pumps, controls, accessories, etc. These kits can be easily disassembled and set up in a new location.
All of the plumbing is self-contained, so you just fill the spa with a garden hose and plug in its electric cord when you complete assembling the kit. They have built-in filters; you should consider an optional ozone or ion purification feature to minimize the need for harsh chemicals.
Look and feel
There are significant differences in quality and features among spa models, even though most look similar. Cast acrylic tubs are attractive, low-maintenance and durable. Polybond foam tub inner shells are used for a comfortable, cushioned feel in lightweight (60 pounds) models on casters.
Some high-quality spas use an efficient heat-recovery-pump motor design. These motors have special jackets to recover waste motor heat and use it to warm the water or jet air. This reduces the time needed for the heaters to be on.
Compare the number and types of massaging jets in the various models.
The variety is almost endless -- rotating, cluster, sweeping for backs, legs, feet, even individual finger jets. Jets with adjustable direction and intensity or ones that are interchangeable provide more massage variations.
For most families, select at least a four-person-size spa. This allows you to customize each of the four positions with different jet types to massage various parts of your body. Automatic electronic controls are the most convenient and accurate, and many offer a tamper-proof option for children.
Some other features to consider are a cascading waterfall, cushioned pillows, retractable insulated covers, built-in surround sound speakers, aromatherapy systems and fiber-optic lighting.
Q. I have been looking at ceiling fans at my home-center store. I was considering getting an expensive one with variable speeds or a separate variable-speed control. Is this worth the extra expense?
A. Usually, just three speeds are adequate for a ceiling fan.
Medium- and high-speed are used when you are cooling during the summer.
During the winter, use the lower speed in the reverse rotation to blow air upward.
From comfort and efficiency standpoints, it does not make much sense to spend a lot more for a variable-speed feature. A separate variable-speed control is an option, but they sometimes make the fan motor hum.
XWrite for Update Bulletin 464, a buyer's guide including nine major spa manufacturers and listing seating capacities, tub and cabinet materials, jet types, comfort features, heat recovery, warranties and a cost-to-use chart. Send $3 and a business-size SASE to James Dulley, The Vindicator, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244. For an instant download, visit Dulley online at www.dulley.com.