are hot tubs worth it

Looking for a hot tub to buy and interested if it’s worth it?

If so, you’ll want to know the ins and outs of buying one and owning. Owning a hot tub is awesome, especially if you live in a colder environment. Of course, there are hundreds of other reasons why owning a hot tub is great, though, as with everything, for every advantage, there is a small disadvantage.

There are many considerations to take into play when buying a hot tub, including price, maintenance, etc. These considerations are what scare many people from buying a hot tub in the first place, and is exactly why people question whether or not owning a hot tub is worth it.

If you’re looking to buy a hot tub for the first time, we’re here to help. Come sink in as we give you the true hot tub pros and cons while answering the question,

“Are hot tubs worth it?”

Pros and Cons of Owning a Hot Tub

Hot Tub Pros

Pro – Hot Tubs Wonderful Sources of Entertainment

Whether you want to spend time with friends or family in the hot tub, they are wonderful sources of entertainment. They help families spend talking time together without the phones in hand, as well as friends get together for a few drinks and fun times on the weekends. Hot tubs are not only great for larger groups, but they can also provide a sense of intimacy for couples. 

Pro – Hot Tubs Are Great For Stress Reduction

The modern world is a stressful one, to say the least. People are constantly looking for new ways to help manage their stress levels. Hot tubs just so happen to provide one of the most natural forms of stress management known as hot water therapy. Hot water therapy is one of the best ways to unwind after a long day at the office. 

In fact, the National Sleep Foundation is a major proponent of getting a good soak in before you lay down and sleep for the night. The cool thing about hot tubs is that they go far beyond hot water therapy with included massage jets. You’ll get to take advantage of both hot water and hydrotherapy. 

Pro – Hot Tubs Provide Pain Relief

A primary reason that many people use hot tubs is to help reduce pain and inflammation. Whether you have pain in your joints due to arthritis, pain in your neck from sitting at a computer all day, or back pain from heavy lifting, hot tubs can help. When you combine heat and massage therapy, that combination works to provide one of the best and most natural remedies for pain and injury.

Just ask the people over at the Arthritis Foundation and they’ll tell you how important having a new hot tub in your home is, especially if you’re looking to boost circulation or minimize swelling. Suspending yourself in hot water helps to take gravity out of the equation, essentially giving us a break from the daily pressure that we experience on land.

Many scientists believe that hot tubs can also provide lower blood pressure and help for those with type 2 diabetes!

Pro – Hot Tubs Can Increase A Home’s Value

If you have a new hot tub in your backyard that is built-in, it can increase the overall value of your home by a considerable amount. This is especially true if the hot tub has been integrated into the aesthetic of your yard really nicely. If an appraiser doesn’t want to include the hot tub in the value of your home for whatever reason, you can still use it as leverage when selling your home, as prospective buyers might see it as a cool feature.

Hot Tub Cons

Cons – Hot Tubs Require Care and Maintenance

The amount of care and maintenance that you have is mostly dependent on the type of hot tub that you have and the area that you live in. You may get a hot tub that has self-cleaning features, which is great for those who can afford the high cost, though, for most of us, spending tons of money on a hot tub isn’t on the list. The average person is going to have to make sure that the filtration system is in good condition every month to keep water quality up, as well as make sure that the water is staying clean. If you live in an area with lots of trees hanging overhead, or in a desert where there is lots of sand and rocks, you may be cleaning out your hot tub a lot more than the average city dweller. 

Of course, hot tubs have a lifespan as well, and you’ll likely have to buy new parts at some point down the line when it starts to get old.

Cons – Hot Tubs Can Cost A Lot Upfront

As we know, the hot tub price range for hot tubs is quite wide. No matter what your budget is, it is possible to find a hot tub for you. With that said, they do still cost a considerable amount of money for the average buyer. If you’re looking to get a nice, working hot tub, you should expect to spend at least $3,000. Of course, once you start getting up into the high-end, luxury hot tub range, you’ll begin finding hot tubs as much as $20,000 or more. 

The cost doesn’t stop there. Beyond installation costs, you’ll have to pay for back-end hot tub costs, including energy costs, maintenance, etc. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hot Tubs Expensive To Maintain?

As you likely know, especially pool owners out there, there are a few different upfront costs that you will need to consider when you are looking for hot tubs to buy. Be prepared to spend some money on a few one-off costs, including the hot itself, the site preparation and installation costs (including possible back yard deck building or concrete slab/concrete pad pouring), and electrical connections, which can costs anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars depending on your current setup.

Beyond that, there are a few hot tub costs to take note of:

Hot Tub Energy Costs

Your electricity costs will be dependent on a few factors, including the temperature you like to heat your hot tub to, your unit price per kilowatt-hour, and how often you use your hot tub. You can expect to pay around $20 per month, especially for newer models, if you are an average hot tub user. 

Hot Tub Water and Chemicals

You’re going to need to drain and clean your hot tub every three to four months to make sure that it stays in good condition. There are a couple of ways to figure out how much this will cost, though we have a little equation to help.

Multiply the capacity of your hot tub by the number of times that you drain your hot tub during the year. Next, divide the total number that you got by 12, which will create your monthly water use number. Lastly, multiply that number by your cost of water per gallon. 

Of course, don’t forget that you will likely need to purchase chlorine or bromine to balance and sanitize your hot tub water, which hovers around $10-20 per month.

Are Saltwater Hot Tubs Worth it?

A large portion of the market is shifting to saltwater hot tubs, as they provide a healthier way to enjoy soaking every day. Modern saltwater hot tubs are great for those who want to take advantage of natural healing properties rather than soaking in chlorinated water, which can dry out your skin. Here are a few reasons why you should or shouldn’t look for a salt water hot tub:

Need a Hot Tub?

Saltwater Hot Tub Pros

Pro – Saltwater Hot Tubs Don’t Have A Chlorine Smell

Chlorine is one of those chemicals that seems to stick to your skin, even after you’ve been out of the water for hours. Salt water system hot tubs create a preventative measure for that smell so that you can come out of the hot tub feeling revived without everyone knowing it.

Pro – Saltwater Hot Tubs Are Better For the Skin

Compared to full-fledged, chlorinated hot tubs, saltwater hot tubs use a very moderate amount of chlorine to help keep your skin feeling soft when you get out. Not having to deal with skin dryness or hair discoloration, especially if you soak often, is a huge advantage for hot tub lovers. 

Pro – Saltwater Hot Tubs Cut Down On Maintenance

Salt is one of the best natural sanitizers. Compared to chlorine, salt continuously sanitizes the hot tub water every day. The more you use your hot tub, the more it helps to boost chlorine production, keeping your hot tub cleaner for longer. 

Saltwater Hot Tub Cons

Con – Saltwater Can Be Corrosive To Your Hot Tub

If you’ve ever been to the beach and looked at all of the buildings and fixtures nearby, you’ve probably noticed rust and corrosion. This is because a salt system can be corrosive when the salt water comes in contact with metal. If you’re worried about damaging your lighting systems, liners, or heaters, having saltwater could potentially be more of a risk.

Con – Saltwater Hot Tubs Are More Expensive Upfront 

If you can’t afford to buy a hot tub that is really expensive right off the bat, saltwater hot tubs might not be for you. You could easily end up spending a thousand dollars or more on a saltwater hot tub with the same features as a traditional hot tub.

So, Is It Worth It To Get A Hot Tub?

There are many advantages to buying a new hot tub. If you ask us, we believe that those advantages trump the disadvantages by a long shot. Whether you are looking to relax and burn off a little stress after a long day at the office, soak after a good workout session to help get rid of muscle tension, or use your hot tub for entertainment purposes, there are a ton of reasons to buy a hot tub.

There are hundreds of different hot tubs and spa manufacturers on the market, all of which have different features, designs, and seating arrangements. Do your research so that you can buy a hot tub that is worth it to you in terms of cost so that you can become the hot tub owner you’ve always wanted to be! 

Swim spas are a great variation of hot tubs, see our are swim spas worth it page to compare.

If you’re trying to find the right hot tub for the best price, save some time and money by filling out our free questionnaire. In doing so, you’ll get price quotes from local dealers based on your perfect hot tub setup!

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