Hot tubs this summer

theonlywayisup

We have half a dozen and they are Hot Springs or Arctic Spa.  They are a tad more than the money you want to spend but they vary in size.  Both cost a similar amount to run.

Hot Spring have quite possibly the worst after care in the world.  However both are huge companies and spares are easy to get hold of.

Things to consider if I was thinking of buying one - buy a reputable make, do your research and look at their insulation and what the covers are made of, do not believe the hype about costs to run, ask them for a breakdown and evidence of the usage in KW/h.  The outlay isn't the only expenditure as you know.  Ours are all 1.5 or 2KW heaters, the jets are used probably for 30 minutes a day.  They are set to 38.5 and run all year round.  However, we have solar power energy which helps with the cost of running.

Water for us is changed after each guest but domestically you should be looking at 3 months per cycle of water depending on usage (time in and amount of people).  Water testing should be every single day and appropriate chemicals used.  Usage will be chlorine and a ph increaser/reducer in the main, depending on your water hardness. 

Sitting outside in the rain/sleet/snow/sunshine in a tub is tremendous fun, you may want to consider a shelter to cover from some of the weather whilst allowing you to still have the 'outside' experience.  

We've had our own (Hot Spring) for years and the enjoyment and relaxation has been worth every penny.   I know they aren't everyone's bag but goodness, there is no need to get your knickers in a twist when someone ask for advice on something you deem non essential.  Thankfully we can all spend our money on whatever we want.  Good luck OP you won't purchase a better feel good item.

boots_babe

If you're new to hot tubs, can I suggest getting started with a non-hard tub first? That will give you chance to see if you really use it as much as you think, give you chance to get your head around the chemical maintenance, and also real running costs (obviously a hard tub would cost more).

We have a Lay-z-spa Palm Springs hydrojet, got it in August and have used it regularly ever since. I do understand that not everyone sees the point, but for me it's really a few minutes of downtime in a hectic life, and it does my mental health a world of good. 

Not really sure why some people have jumped on you for this. Everyone has their own priorities, and for someone lucky enough to have a good supply of spare cash available, this could be a great way to help make the lockdown a bit more enjoyable :-)

Bexster1976

We’ve had an inflatable Lazy Spa for 4 years  It’s given us a great idea on what maintenance is required, and we’ve experimented with its location within the garden. The unit is startIng to fail so we’re looking at proper units now.  

Here’s some of my rambling thoughts to see if they help. 

The inflatable ones are not as comfortable as solid spas but they’re a couple of hundred quid.  Might be worth considering an inflatable to see if it’s just a holiday thing or way of life? Also helps work out the where and how, and additional costs that might be involved. (Electric point, base etc)

Either way. Make sure you’ve a good solid base. Think about the route into the house. You want it close and not across grass or muddy areas. You could do with somewhere to hang robes and towels.  I like to be able to see the stars, so I don’t use a gazebo or solid covering. But it’s good to avoid being too close to trees or shrubs, otherwise you’ll be fishing bits out and cleaning the cover of bird poop.  Also makes it difficult to trim hedges. Good luck and happy tubbing!

cpbackhouse

If you are on facebook there is a great and very active group called "Hot Tub Owners UK".

Loads of good advice and answers to questions there. Wish I'd know about it before buying ours.
Hope this helps

foxy33

If running costs are a concern (probably not for the original poster) take a look at Octopus GO tariff.  Four overnight hours at 5p / kWh, which for around 40p per night is almost enough to maintain the temperature on my Bestway inflatable.  This tariff actually saves money even if you just have a fridge and freezer (perhaps not if A+++, but mine aren't LoL).

TRUCKSAJ

Hi Eric and anyone else wondering,

The hot tub industry is currently saturated with demand following Covid19 both with increased sales and delays in production. In the past you could negotiate a decent hot tub into the £4-5k price range comfortably or buy a secondhand tub quite easily. However, at the moment you may find dealers are less likely to flex on the RRP and many ex demo and secondhand tubs were sold after the UK's first lockdown.

Having said that, you can totally get a good mid range or "value" tub between £5-9k. There are, however, a few things to consider. Firstly, wait times for tubs at the moment can be anywhere between 3-12months :O dependent on the dealer and stock supplies.

Secondly, where possible try to buy directly from a local dealer. Hot tub maintenance can be a b**** when you first get started. It's like owning a second car! It will need regular cleaning and services/general maintenance. For this reason you may benefit from having a local dealer who can provide ongoing support. On that note, a local dealer can also help by providing contacts for your initial installation. Remember you may need electrics installed (£200-600),  crane hire (£300-600), and some sort of base (ie concrete, reinforced patio or pavers). Note prices are rough guides based on quotes I received over the past 4months and will vary based on location.

Thirdly, ongoing running costs is always a biggy! Typically the cheaper the tub, the worse the insulation tends to get, which means you could find your heater having to work twice as hard thus costing you more in electricity bills. Avoid inflatables as they are the worst for eating electricity bills.

So to answer the big question, who should you from?! Personally, I would start with the main industry players:
Jacuzzi (a.k.a Sundance) 
Hot Springs 
Master Spas 
Bullfrog...to name a few 
See where there affiliated resellers are based and head to their showrooms. Make sure you sit in the tubs and test them out - showrooms have been open inbetween lockdowns and are based on appointments.

Why not buy from Argos, Costco and other online retailers? Simple...because they literally deliver your hot tub curbside and you get no ongoing support. 

Why listen to me? Proud owner of new hot tub purchased during lockdown after doing over a years research on the topic. Best of luck

johnkelon

The beautiful weather can surely encourage just about anyone to head outdoors and get active. With more incentive to go outside, chances are that the body might take a toll from all of the added physical activity.

Activities such as hiking, soccer, cycling, golf, and baseball, among many others, can put a strain on the body. The added pressure and overuse of the muscles and joints can result in aches, pains, exhaustion, and sometimes even result in a minor injury.

These aches and pains can slow anyone down. Spending time in a hot tub can help the body relax and unwind after a day of physical activity and exercise. Let the warmth and massage of the jet-infused water relieve tension and soothe sore muscles, while the buoyancy relieves pressure from the body.

Rosa_Damascena

johnkelon said:

The beautiful weather can surely encourage just about anyone to head outdoors and get active. With more incentive to go outside, chances are that the body might take a toll from all of the added physical activity.

Activities such as hiking, soccer, cycling, golf, and baseball, among many others, can put a strain on the body. The added pressure and overuse of the muscles and joints can result in aches, pains, exhaustion, and sometimes even result in a minor injury.

These aches and pains can slow anyone down. Spending time in a hot tub can help the body relax and unwind after a day of physical activity and exercise. Let the warmth and massage of the jet-infused water relieve tension and soothe sore muscles, while the buoyancy relieves pressure from the body.

I see the hot tub sales force rise early.

lemondrops69

With the massive rise in energy costs its only a toy for the rich 

980233

lemondrops69 said:

With the massive rise in energy costs its only a toy for the rich 

Do they run on gas then ?