Lay-Z-Spa FAQs

The cost of running a Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tub depends on many individual circumstances, such as outside temperature, size of the hot tub and positioning. No two Lay‑Z‑Spa users are the same.

When looking at Lay‑Z‑Spa running costs, it is important to remember that we have been identified as having the most energy-efficient inflatable hot tubs and our hot tubs come with a range of energy-efficient technology and features. We lso have have our innovative EnergySense and Thermacore hot tubs.

Click here for our Lay-Z-Spa running costs.

Using and enjoying a Lay‑Z‑Spa at the weekend only will actually cost you less than a takeaway or a trip to the cinema for two.

Regular maintenance helps towards keeping running costs low and we offer advice on how to reduce your hot tub running costs too.

Yes, a Lay-Z-Spa hot tub is easy to look after giving you more time to relax.

With our helpful chemical and maintenance guides, you'll realise that looking after a Lay-Z-Spa is easy and gives you so much in return.

Yes, hot tub Chemicals are essential for making your water safe to use and to keep it that way. We recommend Clearwater chemicals, which have been designed especially with Lay‑Z‑Spa in mind.

If you're new to hot tub chemicals, the award-winning Clearwater Hot Tub Chemical Starter Kit includes all the chemicals you need to get your hot tub running in no time.

We also offer hot tub chemical advice for Clearwater products.

Lay-Z-Spa, as standard with no other accessories needed, are the UK's most energy-efficient inflatable hot tubs.

Every Lay-Z-Spa hot tub includes a range of energy-efficient features such as an insulating lid and top cover and power saving timer.

You can also find a range of Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs with integrated EnergySense® thermal insulation (up to 58% more energy efficient than a regular inflatable hot tub) and non-inflatable ThermaCore™ rigid foam hot tubs (up to 63% more energy efficient than a regular inflatable hot tub)

There are many benefits to health & wellbeing affiliated to using hot tubs.

The healing effects of water stretch back centuries and hot water immersion or hot water healing is practiced for spiritual, mindful and health reasons all over the world. There is nothing quite like the feeling of relaxing in a hot tub. Even just a short time spent in a Lay‑Z‑Spa can leave you feeling revitalised.

Independent scientific research has found that using a Lay‑Z‑Spa shows positive benefits for mental health and cardiovascular health and that using a Lay‑Z‑Spa can:

• Reduce blood pressure
• Elevate heart rate equivalent to that when brisk walking
• Increase blood flow
• Reduce stress hormones
• Reduce anxiety

With two decades of advanced engineering and innovation, Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs are renowned, award‑winning and 5‑star rated. Part of this is down to our tried-and-tested designs, materials and production.

A well-looked-after Lay-Z-Spa hot tub will last for years and years.

AirJets™ are the calming and soothing bubbles that surround you, whilst HydroJets™ are more powerful jets of water. Our hot tubs with HydroJets also include AirJets, but not the other way round.

You can read more about these here.

Our inflatable hot tubs, as expected, feature an inflatable body with a heater, an insulating inflatable lid and a protective top cover.

EnergySense® hot tubs are inflatable with a pioneering integrated thermal layer. These hot tubs are up to 58.8% more energy efficient than a standard PVC inflatable hot tub.

ThermaCore™ hot tubs are not inflatable. The main structure of the hot tub is rigid, high-density thermally insulating foam. These hot tubs are up to 63.6% more energy efficient than a standard PVC inflatable hot tub.

Rigid Wall hot tubs, like our Monte Carlo, are hard shell acrylic hot tubs redesigned for simplicity and easy luxury.

They benefit from our renowned HydroJet Pump and can be plugged into a standard outdoor socket - no electrician or plumber needed.

Freeze Shield® is a pioneering feature for inflatable and portable hot tubs.

In cold conditions, this advanced technology automatically heats the water to prevent it from freezing.

This means you can leave your Lay-Z-Spa setup all year round, even if you don't plan on using it frequently.

Read more about Freeze Shield®

Available on all Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs, the power saving timer does as it suggests - it allows you to set when you want the Lay-Z-Spa to heat up and to what temperature. This prevents any unnecessary use of energy.

Over 60% of the Lay-Z-Spa hot tub range has a WiFi connection.

These can be controlled through Lay-Z-Spa app.

The Smart WiFi features are useful for convenience and for getting your hot tub ready from a remote location.

Yes you can. In fact, winter is one of the best time to really enjoy the 40°C in contrast to the cold air and really benefit from the hydrotherapy benefits.

Whether you keep your Lay-Z-Spa at your preferred temperature, or let Freeze Shield® take care of it in the cold, there is no need to pack it away.

Setting it up in winter is a little different to setting up in warmer months. Click here to find out how to do this.

All Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs include a thick cushioned floor which provides great comfort. It's nothing like "sitting in a paddling pool" as some people have assumed.

You'll find Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs with seats by looking at our HydroJet Pro™ hot tubs. This includes loungers with backrests, bench seating and even loungers with integrated HydroJets™

If you're looking for seating in a regular Lay‑Z‑Spa, we have a universal hot tub seat with adjustable legs 

No, extension cables cannot be used with a Lay‑Z‑Spa.

The socket that the hot tub is being plugged in to should be grounded and at least 4 metres away, at a height of at least 1.2m from the ground and needs to be able to support a power consumption of 2050W when the heating function is activated.

The Lay‑Z‑Spa heater pumps come with a 7‑metre cable which is usually sufficient for users to reach their nearest grounded socket with RCD protection. If the cable is not long enough, we recommend getting a qualified electrician to install a grounded outdoor socket with RCD protection.

Please Note: You should not overload your plug socket. We recommend that you only run power to your Lay‑Z‑Spa from a plug socket and nothing else at the same time.

For compliance with the manual and warranty terms, you need to leave a 1-metre clearance all around the hot tub and consider access to the pump.

All our hot tub listings include specifications, including "width" or "width with pump"; this will give you a good indication of how much space you need.

For example, the Miami AirJet is 180cm in diameter. Once you had a 1 metre clearance all round, the space you need is 380cm or just under 13ft.

When a Lay‑Z‑Spa is set up in an open area, 1 Meter away from the pump the decibel level is:

• Filtration <60dB
• Heating <60dB
• Massage <72dB
• Water Jet <72dB

Each function of the pump/heater uses the following power:

• Massage Function: 0.8kWh / 800W
• Heater (at 20°C): 2kWh / 2000W
• Filter: 0.05kWh / 50W

Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs require no tools for setup, no electrician for wiring, and no plumber for water connection.

A Lay-Z-Spa can be fully assembled at home in as little as 10 minutes.

Please refer to your manual or our setup videos for specific setup information or refer to our getting started guide.

Suitable flat surface: A flat, even surface that is capable of supporting the entire filled weight of your Lay‑Z‑Spa plus the weight of the users. If the ground is uneven, not only will it look wonky but, it'll have several hundred litres of water pressing more firmly on one of the sides.

Close to your power supply: You need to consider having a power supply that is close enough for the cable to reach (approx. length of the cable is 7m) but also far enough away so that water cannot splash into the socket. We recommend using an outdoor socket ‑ please see our Hot Tub Safety FAQs for more info.

Surroundings: Placing your Lay‑Z‑Spa near a windbreak such as a fence or wall will help to reduce wind chill, helping it to retain more heat and in turn help to reduce your running costs. You should also consider where you will drain the water when required.

You can put a Lay-Z-Spa directly on grass but there are a few considerations:

1. Is the ground actually flat and level? Many lawns have lumps and bumps, and sometimes slight inclines
2. Dirt is more likely to get transferred into the water from feet walking on the grass, affecting the quality and clogging up the filter.
3. It will damage your grass. Anyone who has been camping will know that, even after a couple of days, the grass discolours.

This requires some careful consideration and knowledge of your existing decking.

Most standard UK garden decking isn't designed to withstand large heavy weights.

For example, our smallest hot tubs, such as the Miami Airjet, when filled, will weigh 669 kilograms (or about 105.3 stone / 1,474.9 pounds) without even considering the weight of users.

We recommend using a Lay-Z-Spa outside but it is possible to set one up indoors. You would need to consider the following:

• If there was a leak, the water could cause damage
• A Lay‑Z‑Spa will increase the humidity of any confined space. You would need to factor in ventilation.
• Is the floor suitable to withstand the weight of the hot tub when full?
• Is the floor a level non‑slip surface?
• Does the electrical supply have an RCD?

A Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tub will usually take approximately 1‑2 hours to fill up to the recommended line.

Time taken will depend on your water pressure and the size or water capacity of the Lay‑Z‑Spa.

Heating up time depends on a lot of circumstances such as the size of the hot tub and its capacity of water, and most importantly the outside temperature.

The Lay‑Z‑Spa heater pump heats the water via a circulating pump and heats up at approx. 1.5‑2°C/h (3‑4°F/h) per hour. In England in the Summer, it can take on average 6 ‑ 12 hours. Ensuring that the hot tub is well insulated and that the lid is on will also greatly help!

• Scenario 1: 10°C outside, 10°C water will take approx 18.5H to reach 40°C
• Scenario 2: 20°C outside, 20°C water will take approx 11.5H to reach 40°C
• Scenario 3: 30°C outside, 30°C water will take approx 5.5H to reach 40°C

Using one of our thermal covers will help reduce the amount of time your Lay-Z-Spa takes to reach your chosen temperature.

If possible, using an adaptor or designated outdoor tap, you can use water from the hot tap. Just makes sure the boiler isn't set to higher than 40°C and start with a few inches of cold in the bottom.

Find more tips here.

It is not possible to use a Lay-Z-Spa hot tub straightaway. You need to allow time for the water to heat, and, more importantly, time for the water to be treated with chemicals - which is 24H.

The Lay‑Z‑Spa filter needs to be running for at least 8 hours a day but it is probably easier to leave it running all the time to ensure it filtering your water as best as it can.

If you are planning on using your Lay‑Z‑Spa frequently, we recommend leaving the heat and filter on all the time as this is the most cost‑effective in the long run.

If you plan to use your Lay‑Z‑Spa less regularly, you could drop the temperature down then reheat for use.

If you are only going to use your Lay-Z-Spa at the weekend, we have found its more energy-efficient to turn it off during the week.

Yes, the Lay‑Z‑Spa pump and PRCD is waterproof but shouldn't be left in a puddle of water

If you are expecting a very large amount of rain or adverse weather it is recommended that you bring the pump indoors and consider packing away the hot tub.

Ideally, you should position your hot tub in a sheltered location or provide some shading. 

Also, please be aware that air expands in the heat. If your inflatable Lay‑Z‑Spa in direct sunlight in high temperatures, please consider letting out some of the air and make sure you use the top cover when not in use. 

Yes, you can add more air to your Lay‑Z‑Spa when it is full of water. 

1. Remove ChemConnect and Filter Housing
2. Apply the black Stopper Caps over the debris screens.
3. Detach the pump and add a screw‑on stopper to pipe ‘A’.
4. Add air in the same way as when you initially inflated the liner.

We recommend giving your Lay-Z-Spa a thorough clean inside and outside every time you change the water, which is a minimum of every 3 months.

In between water changes, it's a good idea to wipe off any marks you spot as and when you use it.

Please refer to our complete cleaning & maintenance guides

It is recommended that Lay‑Z‑Spa water is changed regularly, and at least once every 1‑3 months.

If you use your Lay-Z-Spa a lot, you'll find the water quality might drop more regularly.

Proper chemical maintenance, using the cover, and showering before using your hot tub will prolong the lifespan of the water. 

Read more about changing the water in a Lay-Z-Spa.

If it's only for a few days, the filter and heater can be left running. Make sure you top up chlorine before leaving.

However, if you are going to leave your Lay‑Z‑Spa for over a week, we would advise that you drain and clean down your Lay‑Z‑Spa, and re‑fill it when you return.

If you choose to pack away your hot tub (for winter for example), it is a case of following a few simple steps:

• Drain the water
• Clean everything with soapy water
• Rinse with fresh water
• Dry very thoroughly
• Deflate and store safely.

You must take care when moving, folding and storing your inflatable liner. Don't ever drag it. And, you should store your Lay‑Z‑Spa in a dry, moisture‑free environment that has an ambient temperature of well above 4ºC.

Please note: we only recommend using official Lay-Z-Spa filters.

The lifetime of a hot tub filter varies according to the frequency of use, how often they are cleaned and water conditions.

A Filter should be cleaned ideally after every use or at least every other day. Read our advice on how to clean Lay-Z-Spa filters. 

Hard water can result in an increased build‑up of limescale and therefore can result in increased cleaning and replacement of a filter cartridge. Please read this advice for hard water.

It is essential to treat the water in a Lay‑Z‑Spa using proper hot tub chemicals.

Hot tub chemicals treat the water, like a public swimming pool, by removing any harmful bacteria and regulating the pH and alkalinity, making it safe to use.

The heated water of a hot tub without chemicals and with natural contaminants from users can result in very rapid bacterial growth in a short space of time.

Explore our Hot Tub Chemicals Guide for more information about how and when to use chemicals in your Lay‑Z‑Spa and we have a simple Hot Tub Maintenance guide too. 

Start off by reading our Hot Tub Maintenance Guide followed by our in-depth Hot Tub Chemicals Guide which details everything you need to know.

We recommend ClearWater Chemicals which have been specially designed for and tested on Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs.

If you're new to owning a Lay-Z-Spa then we suggest you get the Clearwater Hot Tub Starter Kit as this has everything you need including a useful guide.

Its not always necessary to check the chemical levels everyday.

Use a dip test strip on the day, or the day before, you plan to use your Lay-Z-Spa to allow you time to make any adjustments, if necessary.

All Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs are designed with a range of safety features.

All of our pumps come with a built-in RCD unit in the power cable and Ground Detection System that monitors the electrical current.

The pump's digital control panel has an on/off switch and lock mode which needs to be pressed and held to activate. 

All Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs' top covers include safety clips that require two hands to open. This prevents young children from being able to remove the cover.

Our official advice and recommendation is that a Lay-Z-Spa is not suitable for children under 8 years old.

A hot tub is very different to a pool. Children cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as adults and hot tub water can be up to 40°C.

Children over 8 years old, must be supervised at all times and must be comfortably tall enough to stand on the bottom and have their heads out of the water. We recommend that children over 8 years old only use a Lay‑Z‑Spa for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time and that the temperature is no higher than 36ºC

Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs offer a wide range of Health & Wellbeing benefits. However, if you suffer from a condition or have any concerns about the medication you are on, you should always seek advice from your doctor.

Using a hot tub when pregnant is not recommended in the first 12 weeks or first trimester. Following this, you should still seek advice from a doctor or your midwife and only use your hot tub for a short period of time at a lower temperature.

All Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs only heat up to 40°C as this is the recommended safe maximum temperature for safety and wellbeing. 

For children, the water temperature needs to be lowered to 36°C or less. 

It is recommended that adults spend between 15 and 30 minutes in their hot tub, then take a break and drink some water.

If the temperature of the water is 40°C (104° F), the safest amount of time is 15 minutes.

BISTHA (the British & Irish Spa & Hot Tub Association) advise against this.

The effects of alcohol are heightened when immersed in heated water. This can lead to dehydration, nausea and feeling lightheaded.

This is especially hazardous when standing up as you may encounter sudden dizziness and even unconsciousness.

We would recommend avoiding alcohol for the reasons above. Instead, stay hydrated with plenty of water or something non-alcoholic.

Lay‑Z‑Spa hot tubs run on a UK standard 13amp/240V electrical supply. You should always use a grounded socket with RCD protection and never use an extension lead.

All of our pumps come with a built‑in PRCD unit as a safety measure.

The socket that the hot tub is being plugged into should be grounded and at least 4 metres away, at a height of at least 1.2m from the ground. We recommend getting a qualified electrician to install a grounded outdoor waterproof socket with RCD protection.

Please Note: You should not overload your plug socket. We recommend that you only run power to your Lay‑Z‑Spa from a plug socket and nothing else at the same time. 

All of our spas are fitted with an internal RCD (residual‑current device). This is a cut‑out device in the event that water comes into contact with the electrical supply to your inflatable hot tub.

Visit our Support Pages to find range of troubleshooting, advice and recommendations.

Visit our Warranties for all the information you need.

We offer a range of spare parts from pumps and liners to washers and valves.

Please note that we do not offer internal parts for the heater pump. Due to the combination of water and electricity, the Lay‑Z‑Spa pumps are not deemed to be user‑serviceable.

• Getting started with a Lay-Z-Spa
• Lay-Z-Spa maintenance tips
• Hot tub chemicals guide
• Tips & advice blogs