Your spa choice should guide the rest of your preparations, so there's no need to tackle those details before you've decided which hot tub is coming home with you. Once you've made your selection, our team can help you understand what's needed to get your space ready and make sure you're prepared for delivery day.

Your First Steps to Bringing Home a New Hot Tub

1. Choose the Right Hot Tub 

The most important first step is visiting Leisure Depot and finding the hot tub that best fits your lifestyle, space, and budget. Every family uses their hot tub differently, so our team will help you compare seating layouts, sizes, features, and options to make sure you choose the one that's right for you.

2. Decide Where Your Spa Will Go

Once you've selected your hot tub, determine its location. Think about convenience, privacy, views, and easy access from your home. You'll also want enough room for your cover to open fully and for future service access if it's ever needed. Your Leisure Depot Wellness Consultant can guide you through this process.

3. Prepare a Solid Foundation

Your hot tub needs a level, stable foundation that can safely support the weight of the spa, water, and the people enjoying it. Concrete pads, reinforced decks, and properly prepared gravel foundations are all common options, depending on your property and the model you choose.

4. Plan for Electrical Service

Once you know which hot tub is best for you, take a look at home and know where your electrical panel is. Your electrician will want to run power from this panel to your hot tub. The team at Leisure Depot will be sure to give you the specs on your hot tub model so your electrician knows what to do.

5. Make Sure There's a Clear Delivery Path

Before delivery day, check that there's enough room to move your hot tub from the delivery truck to its final location. Gates, fences, low tree branches, landscaping, and tight corners can all affect installation. If access is limited, we'll help determine the best way to get your hot tub safely into place.  Some customers even take a video of the path that will lead to where they want their hot tub to go!  The more information Leisure Depot has, the smoother the process!

A Few Extras for Day One

Once your spa is set and leveled, a little extra prep turns delivery day into your first actual soak, instead of a few more days of waiting around. Here's what's worth having ready:

• Water source: have a clean garden hose ready to fill your spa

• Chemicals: Leisure Depot offers spa school during the week as well as Saturday mornings. Bring your water sample for a result specific to you!

• Accessories: consider spa steps, a cover lifter, a handrail, an umbrella or towel storage from our spa accessories collection

None of these are required for delivery itself, but they make the difference between "the spa is installed" and "we're already using it."

Keeping your water properly balanced is one of the most important parts of caring for your hot tub and protecting all of its moving parts. Come into the store for spa school and a water test, where our team can help you learn how to balance your water and keep your spa running its best.

Have questions before delivery day? Give us a call (843) 552-7272 or stop by our showroom at 8250 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29418. We'd much rather help you prepare ahead of time than have unexpected surprises on installation day.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need before hot tub delivery?

Before delivery, you'll need a level, properly constructed foundation and a clear path from the delivery truck to the installation location. If your electrical service isn't complete yet, it can typically be finished after your spa has been placed.

How to prepare for a hot tub delivery?

Confirm your foundation is level and built for the filled weight, unlock any gates and clear the delivery path of furniture, landscaping obstacles or other items. Secure pets while our team is working. If your electrical service hasn't been completed yet, it can typically be finished after delivery.

What not to do before getting in a hot tub?

Don't get a spray tan. Rinsing off before entering the spa is recommended. Soaps, shampoos, lotions and oils can cause a disruption in water chemistry.

How is a hot tub delivered to your house?

Our delivery team transports the spa to your property and carries or wheels it along a cleared path to its foundation. Then the team sets it in its final, level, spot.

How much access is needed to deliver a hot tub?

The opening where the tub will go through needs to be wider than the tub when it is turned on its side.  Some tubs need 36.5" while others require slightly more space.  You will need enough width to clear gates, fences and tight turns without having to lift the spa over obstacles. If you're not sure, send us photos of your access route and we'll evaluate it ahead of time.  Sometimes people get cranes when the entry to the backyard is just too tight.

No one likes that, which is why it’s important to know not every cover is built for our climate. South Carolina's thick air and salty breeze off the water are tough on outdoor furniture, and they're just as tough on whatever you put over it to protect it.

The right cover can add years to your furniture. The wrong one can trap moisture against your cushions and actually make things worse. Here's how to find the best outdoor furniture covers for our humidity, our salt air and our sudden afternoon storms.

Why South Carolina Weather Is So Rough on Covers

Humidity here is an everyday thing because it sits in the air most of the year, and it settles into fabric that isn't built to release it. Add in salt carried on the wind from the coast, and you've got two forces working against your furniture at the same time: moisture that wants to soak in, and salt that speeds up rust and wear once it does.

That combination is why a cover made for a dry climate often falls apart here within a season or two. If you're shopping for outdoor furniture covers in Charleston, SC, or anywhere along the coast, you need something built for humid climates specifically, not a generic cover pulled off a shelf.

Breathable or Waterproof: Which One Do You Actually Need?

This trips a lot of people up. A fully waterproof cover sounds like the safer choice, but on a humid patio it can work against you. Vinyl and other totally sealed materials keep rain out, but they also trap the moisture that's already there from the air itself. That moisture has nowhere to go. So, it unfortunately sits against your cushions and frame, and mildew shows up within weeks.

Breathable patio furniture covers solve that problem. They're made from woven fabrics that block rain from getting in while still letting trapped humidity escape from underneath. For our climate, this matters more than almost anything else on the spec sheet.

If you can find a breathable, waterproof outdoor furniture cover, meaning one fabric doing both jobs at once, that's the sweet spot. Look for covers described as water-resistant and breathable together, not just one or the other.

What Makes a Cover Heavy-Duty Enough for the Coast

Not every cover sold as "heavy-duty" can actually handle a coastal patio. Here's what to check for before you buy:

• Mildew resistance. A treated, mildew-resistant fabric is worth just as much attention as breathability, since together they give you two layers of defense against our humidity instead of one.

• UV resistance. South Carolina sun is strong most of the year. UV-resistant furniture covers hold their color and strength far longer than untreated fabric, which tends to go brittle and crack after a summer or two in direct sun.

• Wind resistance. Coastal breezes pick up fast, especially during storm season. Windproof outdoor furniture covers come with secure closures like drawstrings, buckles or elastic hems that keep the cover from flapping loose or blowing off entirely.

• Salt resistance. Look for fabric specifically noted as safe for salt air. Standard outdoor fabric can break down faster once salt gets worked into the weave.

A cover that can do all four is what people usually mean when they search for heavy-duty outdoor furniture covers built for coastal weather. It costs more upfront to buy something built this well, but it saves you from replacing cheap covers, and the furniture underneath, year after year.

Covers for Every Piece on Your Patio

Different furniture needs different cover shapes, and getting the wrong one is one of the most common reasons a cover fails early.

Outdoor sofa covers need to account for arm height and depth, not just width, since a cover that's too shallow will pull tight and tear at the seams. Sectional patio furniture covers are trickier still. Some sectionals need one large cover for the whole piece, while others do better with individual covers for each section so you can move and clean them separately.

Patio table and chair covers usually come in sets, and it's worth measuring your table and chairs together rather than guessing at a "standard" size. A cover that's too loose will flap in coastal wind, and one that's too tight won't seal properly around the base.

If you're not sure which shape fits your setup, our outdoor furniture covers collection breaks pieces down by furniture type. So, you can match the cover to what you actually own instead of guessing.

How to Measure Your Furniture So the Cover Actually Fits

A cover that doesn't fit right won't protect your furniture, no matter how good the fabric is. Before you buy, grab a tape measure and note these three numbers for each piece:

1. Width, measured across the widest point, including armrests.

2. Depth, measured from the front edge to the back.

3. Height, measured from the ground to the tallest point of the piece.

For dining sets, measure the table with chairs tucked in, since that's usually how they'll sit under the cover. For round tables, just measure the diameter across the center. Round up slightly rather than down. A cover with a little extra room is easy to cinch tight, but one that's too small won't close at all. (A tape measure and five minutes is really all this takes, so there's no reason to guess.) Just remember to measure twice to avoid mistakes.

Keeping Water From Pooling on Top of Your Cover

Even a great cover can develop a puddle if water has nowhere to run off. Pooled water adds weight, stretches the fabric and can eventually work its way through seams.

A few habits can really help you. So, prop up the center of the cover slightly, either with a foam block or by draping it over a cushion. This way, rain has a slope to run down instead of collecting in the middle. You’ll want to cinch drawstrings and hem closures snugly so wind can't work air pockets under the fabric. And after a heavy storm, check on your covers and tip off any standing water before it has a chance to sit for days.

Protecting Your Patio for the Long Run

A furniture cover doesn't get much credit for the work it does. But in a climate like ours, with humidity most months and salt in the air year round, the right cover isn't optional if you want your furniture to actually last.

Look for something breathable, treated against mildew and UV damage, and cut to fit the specific pieces you own. Measure carefully, secure it well against wind and keep an eye on it after storms. Do that, and your furniture will still look good long after a cheaper cover would have given out.

If you're ready to find the right fit for your patio, take a look at Leisure Depot. Our furniture covers built for exactly this kind of weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best outdoor furniture covers? 

The best outdoor furniture covers for a humid, coastal climate like South Carolina's are breathable, water-resistant and treated to resist mildew and UV damage. Look for secure closures too, so wind doesn't work the cover loose during a storm.

What is the best material for patio furniture covers? 

Woven, breathable fabrics tend to outperform fully sealed vinyl in humid climates. They keep rain out while still letting trapped moisture escape, which counts for a lot once you're dealing with South Carolina humidity.

Should patio furniture covers be waterproof or breathable? 

Ideally, both. A cover that's only waterproof can trap the humidity already in the air, while a cover that's only breathable might let heavy rain through. Look for a fabric built to handle both jobs at once.

Do outdoor furniture covers cause mold? 

Furniture covers can, if the fabric doesn't breathe or if the cover gets closed up while the furniture underneath is still damp. Letting furniture dry fully before covering it, and choosing a breathable fabric, cuts that risk way down.

Can patio furniture covers trap moisture? 

Yes, especially covers made from fully sealed materials like standard vinyl. Trapped moisture is exactly what leads to mildew and musty smells under a cover, which is why breathable fabric is worth prioritizing here.

If you've been going back and forth between a "pool" and a "hot tub" for your backyard, this swim spa guide breaks down exactly what you're looking at, how it works and whether it fits your space.

How Does a Swim Spa Work?

Mechanically, a powerful jet system, sometimes called a current system, pushes a continuous stream of water down one end of the spa. You swim against that current rather than swimming toward a wall, similar to running on a treadmill instead of jogging down the block. Turn the current up for a real workout, or down to a gentle push for a light water walk.

Most units also let you adjust the water temperature independently of the current. Bring it down to the 80s for exercise, or warm it up into typical hot tub territory for an evening soak, with dedicated massage jets in the seating area for relaxation and separate swim jets at the opposite end for exercise. That flexibility is what makes it function as one unit doing two jobs, rather than a pool with a hot tub bolted on.

Is It a Pool or a Hot Tub?

It's genuinely both, which is exactly why people call it a pool and hot tub hybrid. You get the swimming and exercise side of a pool along with the hydrotherapy, jets and warm-water relaxation of a hot tub in one footprint. A swim spa can support everything from everyday fitness and aquatic exercise to serious swim training, while still giving you a dedicated space to relax afterward. Even Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has used swim spas for training, highlighting how capable these systems can be for high-level exercise. For fitness, family fun and unwinding after a long day, it covers all roles at once.

Installation also splits the difference. A swim spa typically sits above ground and setup takes a fraction of the time and cost of building an inground pool, since there's no excavation or plumbing to run.

The Best Swim Spa Benefits

The appeal goes beyond "it's two things in one." Real swim spa benefits include:

• Low-impact exercise: swimming against a current is easier on joints than running, making it a good option for cardio or physical therapy

• Year-round use: unlike an outdoor pool, the water is heated, so you're not shutting it down every fall

• Family-friendly: one end for active swimming, one end for lounging means everyone gets something out of it

• Smaller footprint: most swim spas fit where a full pool wouldn't

• Faster installation: no excavation crew or months-long build timeline

For a lot of Lowcountry backyards, where a full inground pool isn't always practical given the lot size or budget, a swim spa ends up being the more realistic option. It's also worth noting that some areas around here sit as little as 2 and 5 feet above sea level, which means digging even a few feet down can hit a high water table fast. This potentially causes complications for inground pool installation that a swim spa sidesteps entirely.

Different Types of Swim Spas

Not every swim spa is built the same way. Broadly, the different types of swim spas fall into a few categories:

• Recreation-focused models: built more for relaxing, playing and light activity than serious training, with a milder current and more lounge-style seating

• Fitness/exercise-focused models: stronger, more adjustable current systems designed for real swim training or aquatic therapy

• Dual-zone models: a clearly split layout with a defined swim lane on one end and a dedicated hot-tub-style seating area with jets on the other, so both functions can be used independently

Which type makes sense depends on whether you're prioritizing exercise, relaxation or an even split of both.

How Much Space Do You Need?

Swim spas run smaller than a standard inground pool, but larger than a typical hot tub. Sizing varies by model, so the real answer depends on which one you're considering. Beyond the footprint itself, you'll want to think about deck or patio space around it, electrical access and a level pad or foundation to set it on, much like you would for a hot tub installation.

See The "Relax-a-cizer" in Person

Numbers and jet systems only tell you so much. The easiest way to know if a swim spa is right for your backyard is to visit a showroom, experience the current firsthand and see how the controls work. You can browse our full swim spa lineup online, but we'd genuinely recommend stopping by our North Charleston showroom and physically feel the strength of the current model we have running. You can learn how to use the controls to make it comfortable, as well. Contact us or give us a call and we'll help you figure out what actually fits your space and how you plan to use it.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions 

What is a swim spa?

A swim spa is a single unit that combines a compact pool with a current system for swimming in place, plus a heated, jetted area similar to a hot tub, giving you exercise and relaxation in one footprint.

How does a swim spa work?

A jet-driven current system pushes water continuously so you swim against it rather than swimming laps. You can adjust the current's strength and the water temperature depending on whether you're exercising or relaxing.

Is a swim spa a pool or a hot tub?

It's both. One end functions like a small pool for swimming and exercise, while the other offers hot-tub-style jets and warm water for soaking and relaxing.

How is a swim spa different from a hot tub?

A hot tub is built purely for soaking and hydrotherapy in one seating area. A swim spa adds a current system and enough length to actually swim or exercise against the flow of water.

How is a swim spa different from a swimming pool?

A swimming pool is typically larger, unheated (unless you add a separate heater) and meant for swimming laps or general use. A swim spa is smaller, heated year-round and uses a current instead of length to let you swim in place.

How much space do you need for a swim spa?

It varies by model, but swim spas generally need less space than an inground pool and more than a standard hot tub. Factor in deck space, electrical access and a level foundation when planning your layout.

What are the different types of swim spas?

Broadly, you'll find recreation-focused models built for light activity and relaxing, fitness-focused models with stronger adjustable currents for training and dual-zone models that separate the swim lane from the hot-tub-style seating area.

If you've lived in the Lowcountry a while, you've probably driven past Leisure Depot more times than you can count. Maybe your parents bought a hot tub here in the early 2000s. Maybe you picked out your first above ground pool from our lot as a kid and now you're back as an adult, shopping for your own backyard. That kind of history doesn't happen by accident. It happens because a business shows up for its neighbors, year after year, and earns the kind of trust that gets passed down.

Here's a closer look at how Leisure Depot became one of the most trusted names in Charleston, and why so many local families still choose us today.

A Family-Owned Business Built Right Here in the Lowcountry

Leisure Depot isn't part of some national chain with a call center in another state. We're a family-owned shop in Charleston, SC, started by people who live here, raise their kids here and deal with the same heat and humidity you do every summer.

That matters more than it might seem. When you walk into a locally owned business, you're talking to people who understand Charleston backyards, coastal weather and what holds up in our climate. We're not reading from a script written for a store in Ohio. We've tested this product in our own yards.

Being family-centered also means we've had the same values since day one. Treat people fairly. Answer the phone. Stand behind what you sell. Those things sound simple, but they're exactly what keeps a small business around for 26 years in an industry where a lot of competitors come and go.

Honestly, we believe the best investment you can make isn't another gadget or another thing to dust. It's time with the people you love. A hot tub, a pool or a patio set is really just a reason to get everyone outside and off their phones for an evening. We want your backyard to be the place your family wants to be, so coming home starts to feel a little like a vacation.

Being part of a large buying group also works in your favor. A lot of companies would just pocket the savings that come from buying in volume. We'd rather pass that along to the families who keep choosing us. It's a big part of why so many customers turn into referrals.

What You'll Find at Leisure Depot

Over the years, we've grown from a small pool store into a full outdoor living store in Charleston, SC. Today, we carry hot tubs, above ground pools and all pool supplies, patio furniture, fire pits and everything you need to enjoy your backyard once it's all set up.

A lot of customers first find us while looking for a hot tub. We get it. If you're comparing options, working with a trusted hot tub dealer in Charleston, SC, means you're talking to someone who can walk you through the differences between models based on how you'll actually use it.

Others come to us for pool chemicals, replacement parts or help figuring out why their water suddenly turned green in July. And plenty of folks discover our patio furniture almost by accident while they're in for something else, then end up furnishing their whole outdoor space with us over time.

Why So Many Families Choose a Local Pool, Spa and Patio Store

There's a reason people search for a local pool and spa store in Charleston instead of just ordering the first thing that pops up online.

For one, you can put your hands on the product before you buy it. Sit in the hot tub. Feel the weight of a patio chair and see how the fabric holds up to everyday use. Photos online can only tell you so much, especially for something you're going to use for the next decade.

There's also the fact that our team spends every day talking with people about pool care, hot tub maintenance and what actually works for coastal Carolina weather. If something in your setup isn't working right down the line, you know exactly who to call.

And when you buy local, your money tends to stay local, too. We sponsor local events, hire local people and we're still here long after the sale, because we live here as well.

Real Reviews from Real Neighbors

We know it's easy for any company to say "customers love us." So we'd rather point you toward what people actually say.

If you search on our homepage for Leisure Depot reviews, you'll find comments from folks across the Charleston area talking about everything from their hot tub purchase to how our team helped troubleshoot an issue years after the sale. Leisure Depot customer reviews tend to mention the same things over and over: friendly staff, honest advice and a team that doesn't disappear once the sale is done.

You'll find similar feedback if you look up Leisure Depot hot tub reviews or Leisure Depot patio furniture reviews specifically. People talk about product quality, sure, but just as often they mention how they were treated during the buying process and afterward. That's the kind of reputation you can't fake, and it's the kind that takes 26 years to build.

Visit Our Showroom in North Charleston

One of the easiest ways to understand what makes us different is to stop by in person. Our Leisure Depot North Charleston showroom lets you walk through real hot tubs and sit on real patio furniture, with someone right there to answer your questions on the spot.

Some people come in already knowing exactly what they want. Others are just starting to look around. Both are welcome, and there's no pressure to buy right away. Plenty of families visit two or three times before they land on the right hot tub or patio set, and that's completely normal. If you're searching for Leisure Depot in Charleston, SC, our North Charleston location is easy to find and worth the drive.

Delivery, Setup and Support That Doesn't End at the Sale

Buying a hot tub or a big patio set is a little different than picking up a lamp at a home goods store. It needs to get to your house, get set up correctly and keep working the way it's supposed to for years.

That's why Leisure Depot offers delivery and setup as part of the process, so you're not left trying to maneuver a hot tub through your gate by yourself or figuring out patio furniture assembly on a Saturday afternoon. Our team can help handle the heavy lifting so you can get straight to enjoying your new space.

We also offer financing options for families who want to spread out the cost of a bigger purchase like a hot tub or a full patio set. If you have questions about what fits your budget, our team is happy to help walk you through the options in person or over the phone.

And once everything's set up, we're still here. Questions about water chemistry, warranty coverage or how to close your pool for the season get answered by the same team you bought from.

Why Local Still Beats Online for Big Backyard Purchases

It's really easy to assume online shopping is always cheaper or easier, but for something like a hot tub or a full patio furniture set, buying from a local pool and spa dealer usually works out better.

Online, you're probably guessing at the comfort and quality based on photos. So, if something breaks or needs a part, you're just stuck waiting on shipping or dealing with a return process that eats up weeks. With a local dealer, you'll get to test the product in person before you buy, and you can call an actual person if something goes wrong down the road.

That kind of support is exactly why so many Charleston families keep coming back to Leisure Depot instead of rolling the dice with an online order.

Twenty-Six Years and Counting

Not many businesses in this industry make it to 26 years. We're proud of the reputation we've built in the Lowcountry, and we don't take it for granted. If you're shopping for a hot tub, a pool, patio furniture or anything else for your backyard, we'd love the chance to show you what's kept Charleston families coming back to Leisure Depot for over two and a half decades.

Stop by our North Charleston showroom or browse our collections online to see what we have in stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Leisure Depot served the Lowcountry? 

Leisure Depot has served Charleston-area families for 26 years, growing from a small pool and spa store into a full outdoor living destination while staying locally owned the whole way.

Is Leisure Depot a family-owned business? 

Yes. Leisure Depot is a family-owned pool and spa store based right here in the Charleston area, not a franchise or a national chain.

What products does Leisure Depot sell? 

Leisure Depot carries hot tubs, above ground pools and inground pool supplies, patio furniture, grills and the accessories and chemicals you need to keep everything running well.

Can I see Leisure Depot's products before I buy? 

Yes. Our North Charleston showroom lets you sit on patio furniture, test hot tubs, swim spas and see products in person before you make a decision.

Does Leisure Depot offer delivery and setup? 

Yes. Our team handles delivery and setup for hot tubs and larger patio furniture pieces so you don't have to figure it out on your own.

Where is Leisure Depot located? 

Leisure Depot is located in North Charleston, SC, serving families throughout the greater Charleston and Lowcountry area.

Each of the hardwood tables comes with a one-year warranty from Big Green Egg. A granite block for cutting (and use as a hot plate), table nest and casters are included with the Cypress table. Feel free to stain this table any color you would like as well. Big Green Egg’s Teak and Mahogany tables allow you to add casters for mobility. The Teak table allows you to see each golden wood grain through its manufacturing process. The reddish-brown Mahogany table has live-edge finishes and multi-sized slats for a sleek rustic contemporary look. BGE’s Acacia table is the newest addition to the hardwood family with a universal sharp look. It has curved ends with a dark knotty pine hue to it. This table comes with the tool hook, and casters can be added to it. The tool hook feature allows Eggcessories such as the ash tool, grill gripper, or basting brush to hang for easy access.

Aluminum tables are the up and coming commodity for Eggheads as customization allows the buyer an endless range of options. Our cast aluminum egg cart, with a desert bronze finish, features wheels, a tool hook, and handle you can use as a towel rack. Big Green Egg’s newest item is the Modular Nest and Expansion Frame which gives a modern look to your Egg set-up. Choose between four expansion frame inserts that appeal to you; acacia, distressed acacia, stainless-steel grid and a solid stainless-steel insert. Some customers buy the frame extension to place their mini or mini-max egg on as well. This unit comes with a tool hook, and casters can be added. The largest of BGE’s aluminum tables is the Cooking Island. It holds the egg, charcoal, Eggcessories, and is on casters so it can easily move. You have two surfaces on both sides of the egg to place items while cooking. Due to the extra space on the surrounding sides, you can fit a mini or mini-max on this island as well. Each of these items are offered to fit the large or extra-large eggs.

Another line of custom carts and islands is a brand made by the Amish and it’s not out of composite…but aluminum. These two series offer a 100% lifetime warranty and are 100% weather-proof so you have no fear of the elements. Being customizable, you can choose specific colors, cabinets or drawers, the length, accessories, appliances and more! We showcase the Torch and Coastal Series while allowing you to create your own backyard island to fit your grilling needs. The Torch cart comes with casters, a towel rack, and a table nest is not needed. It can hold a 20-pound bag of charcoal, multiple Eggcessories, and has a drawer with dividers. The Coastal series features various options to maximize your grilling space. In this series, your Egg can be accompanied by a Delta Heat drop-in unit; either propane or natural gas. There is plenty of storage, and casters can be added. This is a great fit to any backyard!

Table covers are available to protect your egg and table from the elements. Come see the largest selection of tables in town. Get rid of the nest and place your egg in a table. Let us help you choose the right one today!

We have all the fun, come get yours!

Another common source of contaminants in your spa water is detergent from your bathing suit which can cause foamy water. If you're having trouble with cloudy or foamy spa water, these are things to consider.  Another possibility is cartridge cleaner that hasn't been thoroughly rinsed away after treating your filter.

The filter is the heart of clean spa water and all of these things that are brought into your spa water will eventually hit your filter.  Keeping your filter clean is essential to help remove these contaminants from your spa water. It only takes a few minutes to clean your filter.  A good rule of thumb is to clean your filter weekly and buy new filters once a year. You might even consider getting an extra filter and rotating the filters on a regular basis.

Leisure Depot sells filter cleaning solutions that help break down these common water contaminants and make your filters clean better and last longer.  If cleaning your filter doesn't help clear your water, bring a sample in to Leisure Depot for a free water analysis.

So leave the lotions, beauty products, and maybe even the bathing suit behind when you use your spa and keep it clean by keeping it au naturel!

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Less than a week before the event, we were contacted by our Big Green Egg rep to see if we could come in last minute and provide Eggs and other Eggcessories for this years festival. I ran the idea by the General Manager and, after a quick pow wow, it was a unanimous yes.  I have previously been involved with, and visited this event, but not in this capacity. This year, Leisure Depot was part of the hands on experience. We assisted the Chefs, getting the Eggs prepared to their liking, and with our all access passes, got to taste many of the creations coming off the Eggs at the Culinary Village.

As a guy who regularly uses my XL Egg for normal amazing food, I have never been around renowned Chefs cooking exquisite dishes on the Egg. I couldn't wait to taste what they came up with and was not disappointed. The food was amazing. I was fortunate enough to taste pork belly with chimichurri, duck roulade, quail, and a pork taco. It was a tremendous event and I am happy with our involvement and look forward participating again next year.

Swim Spas are getting a lot of attention lately and sales have been strong. This is likely due to several reasons.  First of all, they offer a larger body of water than a standard spa, but still occupy much less space than a swimming pool. Then there are the health benefits. The first of the modern kind of hot tubs were designed specifically to treat a severe form of arthritis. The benefits of hot, circulating water, are many when it comes to pain relief. Enhancing your body's circulation allows the blood to flow more freely throughout your body, carrying oxygen and nutrients and invigorating your system. Add in hydro therapy jets to pinpoint pain or massage related areas and the soothing benefits of a hot tub increase.  

On top of all that, a Swim Spa adds the benefit of low impact exercise. A powerful jet provides resistance and the spa is large enough for you to swim against the stream of water - much like running on a treadmill, except in this case you're swimming! The buoyancy of the water lowers the impact of gravity on your joints and muscles, and the hot water enhances your circulation. Not only is it a unique form of exercise, it's better for you than running (thanks to reduced stress on your joints) or many other forms of higher stress activities.  

Best of all, you can do it in the convenience of your own back yard, AND you can do it year round. We don't see much snow in this part of the world, but if we did, there's little more amazing than soaking or swimming in your hot tub as snow falls around you. If this sounds like a great way to fulfill your New Year's Resolution and keep it going past the first couple of months next year, you're right! Come talk to one of our specialists at Leisure Depot and see what kind of Swim Spa might be right for you. Happy New Year from all of us at Leisure Depot.

It's time again to share holiday cheer with all our loved ones. No matter the holiday you celebrate, we all appreciate the sentiments of peace and good will to all and we want the best for friends and family. Often that means trying to find the perfect gift to celebrate our togetherness and to show our love for each other. Leisure Depot is always happy to help you find great new ways to bring people together to celebrate and entertain in your own backyard. This year we're particularly fired up so let's bring the heat out for this holiday season.  Have you ever had the delight of sharing a warm delicious drink with family or friends while sitting around a flickering fire under a starry night sky? A fire pit is an amazing atmosphere around which to socialize and enjoy each other's company. If you already have a fire pit or table and want to add a little extra atmosphere or take a little more chill off the night, we suggest one or more quartz patio heaters. They are beautiful to look at, and a great source of heat to keep larger groups comfortable. If your space isn't quite right for a fire pit, these heaters are a great way to bring a similar atmosphere to a small or restricted space. Fire is great for other things than atmosphere and heat as all of our beloved Lowcountry Egg-heads already know! If you're the lucky owner of a Big Green Egg, the Ultimate Cooking Experience, you'll definitely want to check out our extensive selection of Big Green Egg-cessories! If you haven't tried the Big Green Egg yet, there's plenty of people who will tell you how great they are. Come see for yourself! We've got our Very Eggy Christmas event on December 10th and you can sample some of the delicious food we'll be cooking.

You may have noticed that the Low Country is a great place to live if you like to take advantage of the outdoors.  The temperature allows for outdoor living nearly year round. If you're a pool or spa owner, that means much more enjoyment from your favorite form of relaxation.  Why not consider a pool heater to truly make swimming a year round activity?  Imagine taking a refreshing swim in November or December.  How's THAT for a great reason to live in South Carolina? Or if you don't have one yet, stay warm with a soothing and effervescent soak in a Jacuzzi. If you prefer to keep things cool, our Yeti Coolers, Hoppers, and Flips are great ways to keep your favorite food or beverages well chilled and ready to go.  In fact, you may remember that some of us weathered power outages during the recent hurricane with a Big Green Egg and a Yeti cooler - what a great way to "rough it" at home.  This Christmas, there's something for everyone here at Leisure Depot.  Let us help you bring your family together, enjoy your home, and make some Christmas magic.  Come find the perfect gift for you and yours.  We have all the fun!  Come get yours.

As the clocks roll back and our days shift, it will start to get dark "sooner."  You may already know that a little bit of light makes the dark more fun.  What's more fun that sitting around a flickering fire while enjoying food, drink, and fun times with friends and family?  Leisure Depot has some great new options for incorporating a fire table into your special outdoor space.  The Athens fire table dining set is a gorgeous table with a fire pit built into the surface, which is available in a bar height or traditional dining height.  There is plenty of room around the fire for full place settings to enjoy a family meal. Or sit back and use the spacious table surface to share some snacks and drinks with friends.  The propane fire tables are also very convenient to use without the setup or cleanup needed for traditional wood burning fire pits. Of course, if you prefer to burn actual wood, we have those too!  

Another great option is an outdoor kitchen with a built-in fire table.  Cook up a storm while socializing in the beauty of your backyard.  The kitchen seems to be the most popular room at gatherings, why not move it outside and use an outdoor kitchen as a beautiful social space accented by the firelight reflecting off some gorgeous fire glass? In fact, Leisure Depot has a ton of options for bringing more beauty, light and warmth to your backyard with a little fire.  Come discover the magic of night time fire in your outdoor room.  We have all the fun, come get yours!

As you might imagine, when new products come to Leisure Depot, we're all very excited to see the new ways we have to help you create your own personal outdoor paradise. Just as one size never truly fits all, everyone has their own ideas about the perfect outside space. Well there's a new grill in town and maybe it fits your idea of the perfect grill better than anything you've seen before. You all know I'm a big fan of the Big Green Egg and that hasn't changed. This new grill, however, has a whole different approach. We all love the simplicity of a gas grill. Turn a knob, push a button, and you're (quite literally) cooking with gas! It's fast. It's easy. It gets the job done. Charcoal has a great flavor but can be more of a hassle, right? Messing with bags of charcoal, lighter fluid, finding the hot spots on the grill, etc. Well the new Napoleon is really something special. It is available as propane or natural gas for the primary cooking experience but you can also add on a special tray that allows you to cook with both gas AND charcoal at the same time on the same grill. What's more, you can light the charcoal directly from the tray - so no messing around with lighter fluid. It's a pretty amazing solution to giving you a great range of cooking flexibility.

Of course, the grills are the high-quality products that you expect from Leisure Depot. The high-end model even has integrated electricity with an electric starter (no more messing with batteries!) and a spare outlet for running whatever you might need to - including the electric rotisserie. They have special side burners that can heat to 1800 degrees in thirty seconds for searing and finishing the perfect steak. Plenty of stainless steel to handle Mother Nature all while keeping your family well fed with minimal fuss and muss. Come see us at Leisure Depot and check out the new Napoleon and figure out if it's the perfect fit for YOUR backyard!

Charleston, South Carolina, is a great place to live.  Unfortunately it is also a bit prone to hurricanes.  This past week we were hit by Hurricane Matthew.  Thankfully it was on the lower end of the scale in terms of strength and the damage in my area was minimal, though some were not as lucky.  That said, my family did lose power for 72 hours. Fortunately, I was prepared.

When I first heard about evacuation orders, my wife and I agreed that we would ride it out here. I immediately thought about how we would get along for at least 3 days without power. I said no problem, we have our XL Big Green Egg and our Yeti Hopper 30. I went to the store and stocked up with cases of water, 2 whole chickens, a boston butt, and 3 bags of ice. Julie also pre-cooked some meals to store. I figured that I could grill enough food to feed our family of five for multiple days and we would be able to store ice when our freezer went out. We kept the cases of water in the garage and would load bottles into the Yeti to get cold and refill as needed.

I am not a big spender by any means, but I’m also not afraid to pay for quality, and these items are just that. The Big Green Egg and Yeti products are high quality and live up to their reputation! Now I know first hand that they will do what I need them to do when I need them most. Both my Egg and Yeti provided comfort to my family when the lights were out and for that I am very thankful.

Living in a region that must weather the occasional Hurricane, you hear a lot about preparing for big storms, but what about the storm impact on your swimming pool? For the most part, there's little you can do to prepare your pool itself for the harsh weather. However, make sure you factor in the usual risk of small items that might easily become dangerous projectiles in a strong wind - like your accessories, maintenance pole, vacuum, hoses, etc. Secure everything somewhere that the wind won't carry it away or hurl it into a structure. Resist the temptation to cover your pool.  High winds could simply tear the cover and then you're still not avoiding debris in your pool plus you'll need to replace the cover!

There is nothing you can do chemically speaking to prepare for the large influx of rain water and debris that is likely to enter your pool. Those factors will, however, impact your pH balance and other water chemistry so make sure you test your water after the storm and restore the chemical balance to your water. Also, make sure you return your water line to the normal operating level. If your skimmer is submerged completely, your filtration will not work properly and, in the case of above ground pools, the overflow could wash away some of your backfill.

Overall, your normal maintenance routine is best, even in the face of a coming storm. You don't have to worry too much about preparing your pool in advance, but make sure you check on it in the aftermath. Storms can be stressful. Stay safe during any major storm, take care of your pool after it passes, and enjoy a stress relieving swim after the clean up is done!

Have you ever heard of the Juicy Lucy? A Juicy Lucy is a cheeseburger backwards. The cheese is stuffed into the burger patties and melts inside as it cooks. I first saw this concept on a cooking channel show a while back and thought, this is AWESOME! I had tried it on my old grill previously, but not knowing what my grill temp was, I ruined it. Based only on the show, and not knowing how long to cook the burgers on each side to make sure the cheese was melted, I over cooked the burgers.

Even after owning my XL Egg for almost a year now, and having cooked so many delicious meals, Julie said that we haven't cooked Juicy Lucy burgers. I took that as a challenge. So tonight I fired up the Egg, pattied up the burgers (1/4lb burgers), and stuffed them with Pepper Jack. Got the Egg to 400 and cooked for 4 minutes per side.

The end result was the Juiciest Lucy burger I have ever had. The Big Green Egg is something special. You really do have to try something from the Egg to understand the quality of taste. Thankfully Leisure Depot hosts many events where we cook on the Egg. There is nothing like it. If you would like a taste test, bring whatever you would like to cook to the store. We will fire up our burn unit and cook your lunch for you. Taste for yourself how amazing the Big Green Egg really is and why we call it the Ultimate Cooking Experience!

As most of you know, I am a YETI guy. I own a Hopper 30, 2 - Rambler 30's, a Rambler 10, and a Colster. Most recently I purchased my 11 year old the new 36 ounce Rambler Bottle for his birthday. He plays soccer and baseball and it holds a little more than the famed sports drink green plastic bottle. Then I bought my 8 year old the same one. Going into summer soccer and baseball camps, I know the YETI will keep their water colder longer and that is good for their hydration given our Southern heat.

My 11 year old made a team which involved travel. We booked a room but the hotel didn't have a fridge or offer breakfast. Enter our Hopper 30, our fridge for the weekend. We stocked it with a 2 gallon milk jug, plenty of waters and sodas for Momma and it lasted all weekend. The 36 ounce Rambler bottles have been great for the players AND family members in the stands. There is nothing like a YETI.  Leisure Depot stocks a large variety of YETI products.  Come see what YETI can do for you!

Get the kids excited again before their studies fully take over and have some friends over to share your appreciation for a Summer well spent or a return to the normalcy of school schedules. Leisure Depot has some great ways to accent your fun. Do you like to lounge around in your refreshing pool as long as possible? You'll love our super cool Mega Chill Floating Cooler. Keep a cooler full of ice and your favorite beverages floating next to you and soak away to your heart's delight. 

How about a little twilight magic?  Floating lights add the perfect touch of magic to your evening with luminous colors dancing across the ripples in your pool. Of course the kids can have plenty of fun with a Flood Force Water Cannon that uses your whole pool as it's reservoir. It's an endless barrage of water for hours of fun.

For slightly older kids and adults move your basketball game off the courts and into the pool! Of course we also have a great selection of floats, rings, and other toys for kids of all ages.  Don't let Summer go out with a fizzle - make the last days of Summer sizzle with a party full of fun assisted by Leisure Depot!

Leisure Depot has a new treatment for spas and it's a great product for maintaining your hot tub. A spa typically uses much less water than a pool and therefore can be more sensitive to variations in chemical treatment.  Leisure Depot has developed a new product called Simple Blue Spa Manager.  Simple Blue Spa Manager Uses natural zinc and copper to help sanitize water and includes odor eliminators as well as water clarifier.  The result? Water feels better on your skin, and your spa is much easier to maintain.  With all the primary spa maintenance chemicals handled by Simple Blue Spa Manager, you'll spend less time balancing your water or juggling multiple treatments, and more time enjoying your spa.  Simple Blue Spa Manager contains a clarifier, stable oxidizer, scale inhibitor, water conditioner and balancers (pH, TA and CH) to keep spa water clean, clear and trouble free. Spa water treated with Simple Blue Spa Manager is scale and foam free.

If you're using another system with your spa and you're happy and comfortable with it, there are a number of specialized chemicals that will work with other systems. Simple Blue Fresh Start removes metals, phosphates, and organic debris and is the normal way to start off a newly filled spa.  Spa Power Boost gives a stronger weekly sanitizing to your water.  Simple Blue also has a full range of balancers for use with most systems.  Simple Blue Simple Stick reduces chlorine and bromine use. Come talk to one of our spa specialists and ask how Simple Blue Spa Manager and companion chemicals can revolutionize your spa maintenance.

Congratulations!  You've decided to add one of the most relaxing, refreshing, and exciting features to your yard - you have a pool!  Whether you are a brand new pool owner or you've had a pool for years, you know that there is a little more to it than just floating and soaking up the sunshine.

While some might be intimidated by the various chemicals and accessories used to keep a pool in tip-top shape, you shouldn't worry.  Leisure Depot is here to help you get the most out of your pool.  Just attend our Pool School on any Saturday from 9-10 am and we'll explain anything you need to know.  It doesn't matter if you're entirely new to the pool experience or if you've been running your pool for years. Everyone is welcome at Pool School!

Even better, bring a water sample and we'll give you a free water test and explain how to balance your specific water so you can relax and enjoy your pool.  Our pool specialists will be on hand to help you understand chemicals, maintenance, accessories, and more.  You'll be able to ask any questions you might have and get simple and direct answers.  We want you to love your pool and we're here to help.

So while Summer is far from over, we hope to see you in school... Pool School!

Want to keep up with new products and helpful tips to maintain your pool? Make sure to follow Leisure Depot's Pool School newsletter and maintenance schedules for the latest! Sign up here.

So how do you know which solution to use?  One new product - Gold N Clear Clarifier - aims to help you narrow down the source of your cloudy water.  The brilliant part of Gold N Clear is the simple test you can do - before you use it - to see if it will work for your situation.  You simply take a small sample of your pool water and put a very small amount of the clarifier into the sample you took.  If you see a blue swirl in your sample water, you know that Gold N Clear Clarifier will work to clear your water.  If not, you know the issue with your water is from another source and will involve further investigation.  If Gold N Clear will work for your situation, you'll only be using 1 oz.  per 6,000 gallons of pool water.  The clarifier contains no dyes, is non-toxic, and is 100% biodegradable.  If your cloudy water is coming from another problem, bring a sample of your water to Leisure Depot and one of our pool specialists will help you diagnose your water and find a solution to get you clean and clear!

You may know my husband Luke from Leisure Depot, either from meeting him in the store, or from reading his blogs.  Luke is often off on Tuesdays and that makes Tuesday an exciting day in our household because Luke's days off usually mean that we are cooking on our Extra Large Egg. On one such Tuesday, I bought some filet mignon to cook and was really excited for him to cook dinner!

However, I wanted something different from our usual steak (as good as that is!). So I told him he was cooking bacon wrapped filet! He was a little nervous about it. Bacon grease had caused a flare up before, but I knew he could do it.  If you have read Luke's blog posts about the 6 minute steak and the all night 8 minute salmon, I knew he would need to be free to monitor everything and not be consumed with homework and tubbie time.

Our oldest had soccer practice and got home close to 7pm. I told Luke not to worry, get the Egg lit, and do your magic. Of course he asked what he could do to help, but I had other things in mind. I had already seasoned the filets with a Brown Sugar Bourbon rub and then triple wrapped the filets with bacon. I could only imagine how they would turn out...epic fail or success for me?

I knew he wasn't sure about the best temperature to cook the combination of steak and bacon, but he came in with the filets cooked to an amazing medium rare, with crisp bacon wrapped around them! He said he cooked them at around 550 degrees at 5 minutes per side. They were utterly delicious, melt in your mouth steaks.

I have said before that I was apprehensive about the investment in our Big Green Egg, but at this point, I have to say I have no regrets. Luke has never cooked food on any other grill that has tasted as good as it does on our Egg. I love it and can't wait to keep throwing more recipe wrenches in his direction!

Keep on Grillin'!

Bottom line: your family needs a place to have fun and relax that doesn’t involve social media, ipads, or virtual realities. It should also involve no malls. In fact, no road trips at all! No gas stations, no parking lots, no traffic jams. Just your own private oasis in your own backyard!

A swimming pool offers all kinds of benefits as well as ALL KINDS OF FUN!

- A pool provides a place for your couch potatoes to be active and healthy while having a great time.

- It’s a spot for them to reconnect, to interact, to restore those face-to-face relationships that get kicked to the curb in today’s technology enabled families.

- It can encourage other relationships as well! Invite the neighbors, host a pool party for your extended family, or relax under the stars with your special someone.

Whether you own sizable acreage or just a small patch of grass, there is a pool that will work for you. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are available in a price point for every budget. Above-ground, in-ground, round, oval or free form shaped, the options are unlimited and the benefits are endless!!

There is plenty of summer ahead of us to get your kids outside and having fun in your very own pool. At Leisure Depot, we showcase a variety of different pool options, and we invite you to come in and see how we can help you create the backyard of your dreams.

So Jules came home with a boneless pork loin for us to cook on the Egg. I have cooked a lot of things on my Egg but this was a first.  I searched for recipes online to find the "right" one.  In the end, I decided to go it on my own and I came up with this little gem.  Give it a try.  I hope you'll agree that it's delicious!

Ingredients:

Steps:

Light the Egg and using the Plate Setter, Legs Up, get the Egg to 350.
Generously cover the fat side of the loin with the Butt Rub
Top with Cinnamon Applesauce
Place on Egg for 2-3 hours depending on temperature.
Once the meat temp gets to 155 degrees, take off the Egg.
Let it rest for 15 minutes, while the meat continues to cook.
Once the meat temp reaches 165 degrees, dive in and enjoy!

LD_Mira6ButtonSpaControls from Leisure Depot on Vimeo.

Is cloudy pool water spoiling your visions of crystal clear liquid relaxation?  No one wants cloudy water in their pool.  Fortunately there are some simple solutions to this problem.  Vacuuming is typically the easiest solution but, as you may have experienced, vacuuming can also stir up debris and actually make things worse.  If this has happened to you, you may need a way to enhance your pool's normal filtration.  If you have a sand filter, this is usually the time to use a clarifier or floc agent.  These chemicals work to either help the filter grab smaller particles from your water or force the smaller particles to clump together to allow the filter to grab them.  If you have a cartridge filter, you can use a natural enzyme combined with a neat vacuum trick.  You flip your manual vacuum over in the center of the pool with the bottom of the vacuum pointed towards the sky.  This creates a kind of bottom drain effect, enhances the pool circulation, and allows you to filter 100% of your pool water.  If these solutions don't clear up your problem (and your pool water!) bring a sample into the water test experts at Leisure Depot.  It's possible your water could be running low on chlorine or an imbalanced alkalinity.  It's always a good idea to test your water every couple of weeks to check for chemical balance issues.  Most importantly, don't worry!  We'll have you floating in clean, clear, refreshing water in no time.

Did you know that swimming isn't just great exercise and fantastic family fun?  Learning to swim can actually help your child develop mentally and physically.  According to a study led by Griffith University in Australia, children under five years old who learn to swim showed more advanced development by up to fifteen months ahead of their non-swimming counterparts.  That's not just physical development and confidence either.  Their cognitive skills, problem solving in mathematics, counting, language, and ability to follow instructions were all more developed by at least six months up to around fifteen months.  That's quite an impressive head start for someone who has only existed for up to 60 months!  So when you consider the improvements a swimming pool can make to your life, don't forget to include better grades for your small children.  Splish Splash, they'll be acing that class! Let the Pool Specialists at Leisure Depot help you plan an awesome summer AND a head start for your family.