Hot tub? Yay or nay? Update: Huge YAY!!

[raysachs]

We had one on the deck of of our house from about 2000 until we sold the place in 2007. I was doing a LOT of cycling in those days and it was really nice in the evening after a long ride. My wife and I used it a lot and our daughters used it some. A couple of our daughter’s friends threw some unauthorized parties in it when we were out of town - hearing about those from our neighbors and then trying to get in touch with the troublemaker’s parents were always fun phone calls!

I honestly have no memory of what we paid for it. What I have vivid memories of was the quarterly draining, scrubbing, refilling, adding chemicals, etc. That got really old pretty fast, but you really had to stay on top of it or things could get pretty nasty. I enjoyed having it, but when we downsized to a condo, I wasn’t sorry to leave it behind. It was nice to have when we were in our early 40’s, the prime of life. I wouldn’t want to have to deal with one now, in our mid-60s.

-Ray

[Mr. Paul]

If you and your wife like the hot tub and use it they're worth it. We live in a nice area and most of our friends own and use them regularly. I didn't replace ours when it wore out only because my wife doesn't like getting in.

If you don't use them they are a royal pain

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by Mr. Paul

If you don't use them they are a royal pain

Does that mean they are a royal pain which is worth it if you use it?
(similar, yet different!)

[Silly Moustache]

We are poor folks, so impractical in our small garden but Nanny Jane and I were invited to join other couples twice in the past. We didn't realise that you are supposed to go nekkid! i think I enjoyed it better than Nanny Jane!

[jmagill]

I'm an athlete and I've played sports (tennis, basketball, volleyball, running, racquetball) 3-4 days a week for more than 50 years. When Covid hit and we got kicked out of the gym, a few of us 'racquetball refugees' took up pickleball, and we now play outside 3 days a week, year-round. I've got painful knees (thanks, cortisone!) and other arthritic symptoms that I used to take painkillers for.

A few years ago, my kids got together and bought me an inflatable hot tub, which lasted less than a year before problems developed with the pump, etc. and we had to get rid of it. I used it all the time. By the time it failed I was absolutely sold on hot tubs, so I did a lot of research and bought a Sundance. It wasn't cheap, and our deck needed to be reinforced to handle the extra weight. An electrician had to run a 240v line to power it, adding to the expense. All told, it cost as much as a good used car.

Yes, it's not cheap and requires maintenance and the regular purchase of various chemicals, but I and my wife (who has fibromyalgia) agree it was worth every penny.

I use it every day and can't remember what it was like not to have one.

If you're thinking about it, remember a few things:

- An inflatable is not going to be much more than a big kiddie pool of hot water to soak in and has a limited lifespan.
- Tubs in the $5-8K range use a rotomolded shell that won't support its own filled weight, so it needs support from its frame and has a lifespan of 8-10 years.
- Acrylic-pressed shells are more expensive, much sturdier and last 20-25 years.
- Plug'n'play tubs have a single motor so most can't run the jets and circulating heat pump at the same time. 240v models can.
- Bromine works as well as chlorine, doesn't have that 'chlorine smell' and leaves your skin smoother.
- Whatever you buy, you'll need to learn about the chemicals you'll use. There are plenty of YouTube videos on this topic. You'll also have to replace the filters and water occasionally (use a submersible pump for this, around $50-$80 at Amazon)
- If you have arthritis or similar joint problems, and itemize on your taxes, you can get your doctor to write a letter recommending a hot tub for therapeutic hydromassage, and write off the costs of the tub as a medical expense. A few (but not many) health insurance policies will actually reimburse you the cost of the tub.

So, yeah, they'll cost you time and money, but in the 20+ years we've lived in our current house, no home improvement we've made has increased our quality of life as much as a good hot tub.

.

[The Watchman]

Hot tub always sounds good, but the reality is I cant spend more than 10 minutes in one without wanting to get out.

[leew3]

We've owned hot tubs for several decades and use them regularly. Using it in the winter is a favorite of our as it seems like a vacation in the midst of the snow. Maintenance (e.g. chemicals to keep the water balanced and clean) is minimal if you stay on top of it. Our first one died and we didn't have one for a couple years. However, a significant anniversary came up and we decided that we could buy a new one for less than an extravagant trip, so now we have a spiffy new hot tub.

A 240v system will be less expensive in the long run in terms of electricity use, and more enjoyable. With a 110 system, your heater and jets can't run at the same time so the tub cools off as you're enjoying your time in it.I agree with those who enjoy it after a good workout. It's nice after standing at a gig for three hours as well (which is actually just a different kind of workout). By way of context, we are 66 and regularly active.

Provided you have sufficient funds to do it without regrets, I say go for it!

[joe white]

I'd like to echo a post above about buying a refurbished tub from a high end, reputable store. Our dealer actually gave us a very substantial trade value for our tub because it was one that he originally sold us and was a quality tub tgat he could easily re-sell. Also, ask the dealers about demo tubs. These are tubs that they often set up at trade shows or home improvement shows and even local county fairs. They can't be sold as new (price wise) but will still have the factory warranty. These can often save you a considerable amount.

[J Patrick]

…..we’ve had an up and running hot tub for over 20 years…..we had to replace our first one about 5 years ago…..the only time we don’t use it daily is in the summer when we’re usually taking a dip in the local swimming holes to keep cool….good maintenance is the key to keeping it enjoyable……buy the best one you can afford to maximize enjoyment……

[RoyBoy]

I would think the determining factors would be:
•can you afford/justify the expense? This comes down to your income and how much you plan on using it.
•how important is it to be able to use it socially? (with the wife and/or friends)
•are you prepared to deal with the chemicals and maintenance, winterizing, etc? Pool owners are familiar with how much work it can be.
•I would second the notion of considering an indoor option. The energy involve in heating it is WAY lower and there are no chemicals to deal with. When I built our home 30 years ago, we sprung for a 6' acrylic jakuzzi tub without the jets. Made to lie back in with arm rests, etc. That tub got a LOT of use over the years
* for myself, I am single, living alone now. In my elder state (67) I still use/abuse my muscles a lot, cycling mostly, and soak in a very hot bath just about daily- it works wonders.

[Talk2Me]

Originally Posted by catdaddy

As a retired pharmacist I'm well aware of the relatively low risks of taking ibuprofen (which, btw- isn't much of a challenge to the liver). Take a look at the data of outcomes for falls for septuagenarians sometime if you want to see serious risks.

I wasn't saying it has to happen. Just a different risk and certainly if someone has one of many preexisting conditions (of which they may or may not be aware) it's certainly not a good idea. Again, falling can be avoided in many cases (with the assistance of a person, handrail, etc). The damage from these drugs is less obvious if/when they occur and so are far harder to avoid.

[Daniel Grenier]

Hard Nay. We had one for a dozen + years. Very time consuming, expensive to buy, run and maintain and outrageously expensive to fix (the main computer was $5000 in mine!) and they ALL breakdown sooner or later. Mine sprung a leak and that was a huge mess to try and fix. Once used, they are impossible to sell and near impossible to even give away. So no. I'd never repeat that lousy experiment.

[Mr. Paul]

Originally Posted by Dogma

Does that mean they are a royal pain which is worth it if you use it?
(similar, yet different!)

They take regular maintenance with chemicals, cleaning. It's just a price you pay if you like the tub, if there's no reward it's just a pain.

[Dirk Hofman]

We're not finding the cleaning and chems to be much of a chore. Add some shock treatment after a few uses, measure Ph maybe once every two weeks, add some water, clean up the ring around the tub once a month. We probably use it every other day.

[Tyeetime]

We've had one for about 5 years now, and it is great. We use it all year round - love it in the winter. It is a salt water tub, so we don't buy chlorine.