Thinking about getting a hot tub for outside on the patio-am I mad?

[shopalot]

Any advice would be gratefully received. I am aware they are expensive to run-have been told £1 a day. Is this realistic?

Are they hard work with the water changes etc?

If you have one do you still use it after the initial novelty has worn off? (I know it would be far better to move to Florida and have one there!!!!)

Do you get what you pay for as the prices do vary so much?

TIA

[shopalot]

No one has one then........

[cheesesarnie]

My neighbour has and from the sound that come over the fence, it sounds like he enjoys his very much

[shopalot]

Omg......not quite what I had in mind.

[Herbsmum]

Brilliant in theory, but I will never get over staying at Friends , very drunken party, in bed with with window open... Older parents doing it, very obviously, in said hot tub.
Certainly wouldn't want kids in it agin, never mind me or anyone else.

[shopalot]

Maybe not such a good idea. We may get a reputation!!!

[Panzee]

Well we've certainly had the weather for it lately. :o

[Gatorade]

One came with the house we bought last year....I am going to get it removed.

We used it a handful of times last year, we haven't even bothered to fill it up this year.

To answer your questions:

• I don't think I ever considered it to be a novelty as such (infact when I spotted it during the house viewing my first thought was that it was going to be a PIA to remove!), however I did enjoy it the first couple of times I used it but now really can't be bothered with it.
  
• We left it on for about 5 months, about £1 is right for electricity, you also need various chemicals, no idea how much they cost as the previous owners left theirs.
  
• Water changes are easy if it is all plumbed in, or I guess you could just use a hose pipe but you need to think about where the run off will go.
  

In summary I wouldn't bother unless you really think you will use it a lot. Another tip would be to make sure it isn't overlooked by neighbours and consider some sort of open side wooden gazebo thing so you can use it in the rain...tis the UK after all.

[Rhubarbgarden]

I briefly rented a room at a friend's auntie's house, many years ago, and they had one. They were definitely swingers.

[shopalot]

I was thinking it would be great for sore muscles and hadn't thought about the other uses lol. ( so innocent me!!!)

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Shopalot I really want one. Friends of ours have one and NO they are not swingers (as far as I know...). First thing they do when they get home from work is pile in the jacuzzi together with any of their kids (3 teenagers) who happen to be around. My friend says that it is fantastic family time and they get to catch up on what is going on in their DC's lives.

[out2lunch]

he he they have got a bit of a rep nowadays but years ago i went in one on holiday - it was lovely and i would have loved one at home

[Ploom]

Dh really wants one - has even been on hottub websites to see how much they cost but I really think it would be a novelty the first few times then we'd never use it.
He has ideas about going to sit in it when its snowing . Granted where we live there is a lot of snow but I dont fancy going out in my swimsuit in the cold to get to the hot tub.

Sorry that wasnt more positive!

[insancerre]

why?
just use the one in your bathroom
can't think of anything less fun than sitting in a bath in the back garden being overlooked by all the neighbours in the cold

[Babylon1]

I really really want one too, been chasing a few on eBay locally!!

DH says no, but only cos he'd have to build a pergola around it!!!

[shopalot]

Thanks for all your input. Am still wondering. No problems being overlooked by neighbours as our garden is very private. Kids are only young but I take your point once the boys reach teenage hood!!!!!!!

[ajandjjmum]

We have one - installed about five years ago. I had wanted one for years, and DH eventually agreed. It has been a huge success for us - DH has back problems and has found it helpful, but also loves relaxing in there after work. DC (now 19 and 20) have loved using it with their friends - we always clean it after one of their parties!

I love it most in the winter, with or without snow, clear sky, lots of stars, the odd satellite/aeroplane and a nice glass of wine.

And it is somewhere we can chat as a family - bit like driving the kids to school used to be. They'll now say 'can we go in the tub and talk'.

Maintenance, not onerous at all. Emptied and cleaned every 12 weeks and just checking and topping up chemicals every 2/3 days.

I suspect the cost is rather more than £1.00 a day though!

[StillSquiffy]

We have one. Installed because DH is ex professional rugby player who still insists on playing in the 'vets' even though his body gave up years ago. If you have anyone in family who does very hard sport of any kind you will find it is worth it's weight in gold.

You only need to change it a few times a year (and after a heavy party), chemicals easy enough to use. If you are in a hard water area it can be trickier to stop calcium build up.

We prefer it in winter, especially when it's snowing. In the summer only the kids use it - we turn temperature down to lukewarm and they use it as a big paddling pool.

It goes without saying that owning one is very, very chavvy