Hot Tub Pros And Cons: Are They Worth It?

So you’re thinking of buying your first hot tub, are you?

In that case, knowledge is power. There is no doubt that you are going to love having a hot tub, especially when the cold winter rolls around. With that said, owning a hot tub isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. There are price and time variables that you’ll need to consider before purchasing your first one.

Unfortunately, these variables keep people from buying hot tubs in the first place. If you truly want to understand whether or not a hot tub is going to be worth it in your situation, you are going to need to do some homework.

Okay, enough talk! Let’s dive in and check out the hot tub pros and cons!

Take the quiz below to see if a hot tub would be worth it for you:

PRO’S AND CON’S OF OWNING A HOT TUB

PROS OF OWNING A HOT TUB

PRO - HOT TUBS PROVIDE A SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT

Hot tubs help to provide instant entertainment for both guests and families. You can either spend an evening hanging out with your family and chatting it up, or invite some of your good friends over for a few drinks and late night socialization. Having a hot tub can even help to spice up your romantic relationship!

PRO - HOT TUBS CAN REDUCE PAIN AND INFLAMMATION

When you mix both the heat, buoyancy, and massage therapy that you get from hot tubs, they can help you to avoid or treat various pains and injuries. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation is a huge proponent of hot tub time, as it can minimize swelling and inflammation while helping to boost circulation. Hot water therapy is one of the best things for reducing day-to-day pressure from gravity, which will in turn help to reduce sore limbs and joints.

PRO - HOT TUBS CAN INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME

CONS OF OWNING A HOT TUB

CON - HOT TUBS WILL COST YOU A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY

In general, a good hot tub will cost you at least $3,000. That price can easily move up to $15,000 for luxury tubs with top-notch features. If you go for a regular 240 V tub, the installation will cost you money, as you'll need to hire an electrician familiar with hot tub electrical requirements. Every use of your hot tub will be reflected in your energy bills, which is why an energy efficient model with good insulation is recommended. Our hot tub prices article further breaks down the costs.

CON - HOT TUBS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE

In addition to an easy weekly maintenance routine, draining your spa should be done at least every 3 to 4 months. Of course, there are hot tubs that have self-cleaning features, though you’ll have to pay top dollar for them. If you don’t want to pay extra, checking the filters often and making sure that the water is staying clean is a good idea. Spa filters need to be replaced once a year. You'll need to purchase hot tub chemicals to keep the pH balanced, and add them once a week. Beyond that, you'll have to pay for parts down the line, as machinery inevitably breaks after getting old. Or you could trade your spa into a dealership and replace it for a new (or newer pre-owned) one before this takes place.

ARE HOT TUBS WORTH IT?

If you are using your hot tub regularly and reaping all the intended benefits, then having a hot tub is definitely worth the investment.

Whether you are investing in a hot tub to have social time with friends or family, to positively affect your well-being, or to increase the value of your home for when you sell it, you’ll want to make sure that you find a high-quality hot tub with a long life!

To start researching and shopping for hot tubs, we recommend comparing pricing from the brands that have what you're looking for.

To take this approach and compare top brand prices, click the button below. It's FREE, there's ZERO pressure to make a purchase, and you'll save time in obtaining price quotes from dealers near you

SALT WATER HOT TUB PROS AND CONS

There are many people out there that are looking for healthier ways to enjoy hot tubs. A solid, modern saltwater hot tub is made to produce healing and soothing properties that utilize clean, natural water instead of chlorinated water. Here are the pros and cons of owning a saltwater hot tub:

PRO - SALTWATER HOT TUBS ARE SOFTER

Saltwater hot tubs create a moderate amount of chlorine, which helps to keep your water soft for much longer than a full-on chlorinated tub. This means that you won’t have to drain your tub as often. Plus, the flow of salt to the skin instead of chlorine can help to reduce the risk of cracked, dry skin, which is a negative effect of chlorine.

PRO - SALTWATER HOT TUBS DON’T HAVE AN UNPLEASANT ODOR

We all know that unpleasant chlorine smell that sticks to your skin, even hours after you are out of the water. Saltwater hot tub systems can help to prevent the foul smell that chlorine produces.

PRO - SALTWATER HOT TUBS ARE EASIER TO MAINTENANCE

The salt system acts in a way that continuously sanitizes the water. Some top-notch hot tubs even boost chlorine production when you are using the hot tub more, which helps to keep it clean. You won’t have to purchase chlorine tablets and bromine, or handle dangerous hot tub chemicals.

PRO - SALTWATER HOT TUBS HAVE MORE BUOYANCY

Salt helps to increase the buoyancy of the water in your tub, which can help to create a more soothing and weightless experience compared to chlorinated tubs.

CON - SALTWATER HOT TUBS HAVE A HIGHER INITIAL COST

Saltwater hot tubs tend to be more expensive right off the bat. Going for saltwater instead of chlorinated water can end up costing you an extra thousand dollars or more.

CON - SALT CELL REPLACEMENT CAN BE PRICEY

Hot tub salt cells can last you anywhere from 3-5 years, though it depends on how often you use it and how high-quality it is. The lifetime can be shortened due to a lack of maintenance or wear and tear.

CON - SALTWATER HOT TUBS CAN BE CORROSIVE

Salt is corrosive to metal. There are many people out there who claim that saltwater systems have damaged their liners, heaters, or underwater lighting systems.

NEXT STEPS

There are tons of different different features, including jet types, seating, entertainment features, building materials, etc. Make sure that you compare brands before you buy.

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