Hot Tub Buyer’s Guide for Second Time Buyers
When you’re shopping around and looking for the very best, we invite you to compare…
Why? It’s because we’re so confident in the quality of Hot Spring® spas, and we know they are built to last.
We also want to help you shop smarter. So, we put together this hot tub buyer’s guide for second time buyers. But, if you’re a first-time hot tub buyer, this guide is for you, too!
First or Second Time Buyer – This is For You
Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of owning a hot tub, but you don’t know how to make that dream a reality.
Or, maybe your family members are eager to add a hot tub to your household, but you aren’t sure how it will fit your lifestyle or your budget.
Perhaps you already own a spa, but you think it’s time to replace it. You know you want something different, but you aren’t sure where to start.
Regardless of your circumstances, this buyer’s guide takes you through your most pressing questions and concerns about buying or replacing a hot tub.
When Should I Consider Replacing My Hot Tub?
A state-of-the-art hot tub can last from five to twenty years.
Even a well-made but less luxurious model should remain in excellent working condition for several years. Nothing lasts forever, though, and at some point, you want to consider replacing your spa.
Over the years, your situation and your needs may have changed. If the size of your family has increased, for instance, you might want a spa that can accommodate more people. Or maybe you’ve finally reached the stage in your life where you feel it’s time to upgrade from a value-priced hot tub to a premium or luxury model.
Or maybe technology has moved beyond the limitations of your old model, and you’d like to add features or accessories that aren’t compatible with your spa.
Today’s spas are much more energy-efficient than the models of just a few years ago. If you’d like to see a decrease in your monthly electric bill, it may be time to consider a replacement.
Bottom line – the time to consider replacing your spa is whenever you feel like your old spa is no longer the best choice for your current needs.
Why Buy a Hot Tub?
Everyone’s personal reasons for wanting to own a hot tub are unique. For many, though the reasons are similar:
Hot tubs help you relax.
Modern-day living is stressful and hectic. Reclining in the luxury of warm, soothing, gently bubbling water is one of the best ways to unwind at the end of a grueling day
In the morning, soaking in your hot tub can help you face a full day of new challenges.
Owning a hot tub is like having your own personal masseuse on call at all times. Use your spa’s combination of heated water and powerful jets to give yourself a relaxing massage anytime you feel like it.
Hot tubs help you entertain.
Your hot tub makes you the envy of your neighborhood. If you enjoy entertaining at home, hot tubs can give you a built-in social life.
Your friends and neighbors are delighted to get an invitation to come over and enjoy your spa.
Hot tubs promote wellness.
Soaking in a hot tub before and after exercise can prevent muscle strain and damage and promote healing. A hot tub soak before a workout can relax muscles, which might help you avoid injury. A soak after exercise might help you recover from exertion faster.
Hot tubs can temporarily alleviate the pain of some medical conditions.
Soaking in hot water, known as hydrotherapy,may temporarily relieve joint and muscle aches and pains. The pain and discomfort of some medical conditions, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, may be temporarily relieved by soaking in your tub. If you have a medical condition that causes you recurring pain, ask your physician if hydrotherapy might be beneficial to you.
Where Should I Buy a Hot Tub?
The local dealer is your best place to buy a hot tub. While you could buy online or purchase a used hot tub off Craigslist, you don’t have a complete idea of what you’re getting. Buying off Craigslist is risky.
Buying a hot tub online doesn’t make good sense because you can’t sit in the tub or take a test soak. You don’t have the opportunity to touch and feel the hot tub.
Plus, neither option will help you install your hot tub or providing ongoing support and service should you need it or chemicals.
This is why buying from your local dealer is the best plan. They have they most in-depth knowledge and can guide you through your purhse.
What Should I Think About?
Hot tubs come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, with a dazzling array of features. Having some idea of what’s most important to you before heading to the dealership helps you both find the right tub for your needs. Consider the following:
- Your budget
- Ongoing costs such as replacement filters and water care chemicals
- How you plan to use your hot tub – how many people does it need to fit? Will you just be using it alone?
- Where you’ll put it in your backyard – your local dealer can help you with this by providing you with a backyard consultation.
How Much Will It Cost?
The total purchase price of a hot tub depends on such variables as size, features, and the quality of the manufacturing, engineering, and design.
Hot tubs are divided into four levels of price and quality, ranked from lowest to highest: entry-level, value-priced, premium, and luxury.
- Entry-level hot tubs are generally made from molded plastic and may be plugged into a traditional electrical outlet. They’re simple to use and have very few features. Expect to pay in a starting range of $3000-$5000 for one of these very basic spas.
- Value-priced hot tubs generally cost between $4000-$8000. They have acrylic shells and more jets and features than their bargain-priced entry-level cousins. The quality of the craftsmanship in a value-priced spa fluctuates from brand to brand, so if this is your price point, do some research first to make sure the hot tub you have in mind will satisfy your expectations.
- Premium hot tubs feature high-quality design and engineering, complete with ergonomically-designed seats and powerful motors and jets. They’re engineered to be energy-efficient and will save you money on your electric bill. Premium hot tubs start at about $6000 and may go up to around $10,000.
- Luxury hot tubs are, as the name implies, the best money can buy. Luxury hot tubs have the best features, the best engineering, and the best design available. They generally cost in a range from $9000-$16,000, though that price can go even higher.
Unless you’ve purchase an entry-level hot tub that plugs into a standard outlet, plan on hiring a licensed electrician to handle all the necessary electrical wiring. In addition, there are additional recurring expenses, including routine maintenance, supplies, and energy costs.
What About Installation?
In order to install a hot tub in your backyard or on your deck, you need the following:
- A sturdy and level foundation. If you’re planning on placing your hot tub on your deck, you’ll need to make certain your deck is structurally sound, with a load capacity that can accommodate the significant weight of your filled spa. If you’re going to place your spa on the ground, you need to place it on a firm, level foundation. A thick concrete pad is a good choice, though stone, brick, wood, plastic, or even gravel may be possible foundation alternatives, depending on the weight of your tub. Ask your dealer which surface would work best for your location and your hot tub model.
- A source of electricity. As mentioned above, some inexpensively-made hot tub models can be plugged into a traditional 110-volt electrical outlet. Higher-quality hot tubs, however, require either a 220-volt or 230-volt outlet, which must be installed by a licensed electrician.
- A source of water. You only need two items to fill your hot tub with water: a working faucet and a garden hose long enough to reach from your faucet to your hot tub.
To Conclude
At Townley Pool and Spa, we trust Hot Spring® Spas, our favorite manufacturer of high-quality premium and luxury spas.
They feature state-of-the-art design and engineering to give you years of relaxation and enjoyment. To complete the first step in the process of buying a hot tub, contact us today to find your perfect hot tub!
