Hot Tub: Expensive hole in the ground or indispensable luxury?

[NJblue]

We are considering one but in talking with a neighbor she said they put one in a previous home and used it every day - for a month, and then not at all. What has been the experience of others who have had one? Do you use it a lot or did it turn out to be a waste of money?

Also, can anyone give me a ballpark estimate for the incremental cost of an in-ground hot tub? We already have a quote for a birdcage and are now considering doing a hot tub as well. We have someone from T&D coming out in a couple of weeks to give us a quote, but I'd like to get a rough idea first. (Side note: couple of weeks to get a quote??? Wow, business must be good!)

How about ongoing costs of heating it and chemicals? Is the maintenance a real chore or just a minor item?

[redwitch]

Can't comment on the cost, but I'm sure somone will come along and help with that.

As to whether it would be used, I think that depends on you. I have one friend who would die if she didn't have her hot tub. She uses it daily, usually has friends over to share it with her at least once a week. Yes, even during the really hot months (I skip those visits). I have another friend who I doubt has used her tub in the past two years. So, it really is up to you and how much of hot tub fiend you are.

[Jazzper]

NJ -- Please post what kind of info T&D comes up with.

After moving down in Mid-June, one of the first things we plan on doing is to get a couple of quotes on expanding our lanai and putting an in-ground hot tub in. I believe T&D put our lanai in for the previous owner so they'll definitely be in the running.

Thanks!

[Talk Host]

We used our hot tub regularly for about 15 months. Then stopped.

5 months later, we sold it.

[Ooper]

We had a hot tub in upstate NY and used it all the time... even when we had to shovel to it in the winter time. We thought we would use it all the time down here but like some of the previous posters, we used it a lot to begin with and now, hardly ever use it. A number of factors may be responsible for this, two of which are that it is not as private in TV and it is too warm, especially in the summer, for it to feel refreshing. If you talk to a partner or guests while in the tub, you have to raise your voices so the whole neighborhood can hear your conversation. Some people really enjoy theirs... we have lost interest in it. I would think long and hard before making the investment. I figure it costs about a dollar a day to keep it heated to a temperature of 100 to 103. We turn the heat down to about 98 in the summer.

[graciegirl]

I think I said this before....It seems like it would be like a really big bathtub where the water is not changed.:22yikes: Please correct me.

Sweetie, who is not lazy, doesn't want a pool. He said it is too much like work to maintain them. I would like a short, round water feature on an expanded lanai. Kinda like a little kiddie pool (that looks like concrete) with water splashing around. I saw one a couple of years ago in Ohio. Maybe with a fish or two in it??

[Russ_Boston]

We used our hot tub regularly for about 15 months. Then stopped.

5 months later, we sold it.

Ditto - except for the selling it part - I'm selling with the house next year.

After I turn the tub on to show how wonderful it is to the new buyer! :)

[spk7951]

We added our spa to our pool about 1 1/2 yrs ago and use it often. Had extra landscaping done in that area of the yard to give us privacy. Since it is tied into the pool we only adjust the temp when we are using it. Chemicals are not needed because we have a salt chlorinator so I can not comment on what costs you might expect for a stand alone spa. Had one up north and used it just as much as this one except up north we had to close it for the winter.

[Xavier]

Our spa came with the house. It's concrete and in the ground. It is probably a 10 or 12 seater - pretty large. We have had a pool in the past, but no hot tub. I use it almost daily when the outside air is 60s and higher. My wife needs the outdoor temp to be 80 or higher before she can enjoy it. Go figure! In the hot weather we don't heat it and use it to cool off in. Very nice.

I really haven't tracked how much it costs to heat it. The day to day maintenance is almost nothing. I check the chemicals once a week. It takes almost no bromine to maintain it. I do have to put in a little acid every week or two to balance the PH. I buy my chemicals on the Internet and they are very reasonable compared to buying them locally. If we are going to be away for longer than two months we have T & D take care of it once a week. They provide everything and charge $14.50 a week. They built the spa originally and are excellent folks to deal with.

[JohnN]

I'm with your neighbor and Talk Host,

I had one, used it for a bit, then not much.
By the time I took the cost divided over the number of uses over the 10 years or so that I had it, it was a very costly toy.

I thought of one again when moving to TV, and talked myself out of it.

[smsgtdaves]

Just my two sense. We live in Pennsylvania and were considering a hot tub for years but we wern't sure if it would get used enough to justify the 8 to 10 thousand dollars. We ended up buying a Dream Maker hot tub to try out and if we liked it we would get a more expensive on later. The one we bought only cost $3000, new, it is a 6" round one and it is great. It dosen't use a regular electric heater it uses some kind if friction heater which is alot cheaper. They are built in a factory somewhere in Florida. You can find them on the web. I don't think we are going to get another until we move to TV but it will probably be another Dream Maker.

[K9-Lovers]

We've had a hot tub for over 8 years and have never stopped using it. We do the same as a previous poster -- keep it warm in the winter, and cooler in the summer so it is always refreshing. But, we sold it with our home and are moving to TV, and will be considering a pool/tub combination. A hot tub is very relaxing, and I always feel healthier after a soak.

GracieGirl, it is not like a bathtub that is never cleaned. Hot tubs have very good filters that are cleaned periodically, and the chemicals also keep it clean. And, about once a week, I take a cloth to the inside just to eliminate a water line. Think about how a swimming pool stays clean . . .

[golfnut]

ok smsgtdaves need more info, your hot tub is 6 inches round, just what do u put in it....gn

[smsgtdaves]

Sorry Golfnut, typo, big fingers, I meant to say six feet. I guess if it was 6" it might make it as a foot bath for small feet.

[Russ_Boston]

Sorry Golfnut, typo, big fingers, I meant to say six feet. I guess if it was 6" it might make it as a foot bath for small feet.

You know what they say about guys with small feet....


Small socks!

[cleanwater]

We bought village house with hot tub in enclosed lanai 5 years ago. We have a very private lanai which makes a big difference to us. This is our first hot tub. We use the spa nearly every day and love it. Great for all those aches and pains and relaxing before bed. If our hot tub was not private I doubt we would use it.

The chemical costs and upkeep work are minor. The energy costs are noticeable and probably in the range of 20-50 dollars/mo. There are also replacement parts costs. The pumps and heater probably have a 5-10 yr life and are cost about 1000 combined. We have had some part fail every year which is a pain. We love the convenience of our own hot tub and all our future houses will have spa.

[LB2848]

We have an above ground hot tub at our house on East Coast of Florida. Our house is sold and we are shopping for a new home in TV. I have seen some with the inground hot tubs and swim spas. They do look nice. The instructions for our above ground reccomend draining the water and refilling it every three months. The folks at the place I buy my chemicals and have the water checked say that the heat in a hot tub causes the chemicals to "build up" in a short time, unlike a pool. I called TD about the inground hot tubs and they say you can't take the water out because the unit will pop out of the ground. If that's the case, I am wondering if not being able to drain them creates a problem, especially if you leave the house for an extended period of time.

[Nipper]

The spa was already in the lanai when we moved in three years ago. It was expensive and took up a lot of room. We spent $2300 having it removed and the space filled in. We wish we had done it sooner. We now have lots of room and installed a small conversational fire pit. It's lovely.