Hot Tubs- Novelty or regular use

[quicklybeingdrivenmad]

Never really thought about having one, but DH seems to fixated on the idea, can see its appeal as will not being going abroad etc for a while. If you have one is it used regularly (and glad you bought it) or just occasionally (and wish you never had) currently having garden done so need to make a decision before they start back Tuesday as it will need to be factored into the design. Any help greatly appreciated.

[Miljea]

We've had an inflatable one for 4 years, now; originally a Lay-z-spa, now an Intex.

It's out in the open with a shade sail over it; unless the weather is miserable we use it every evening, DH and I, to 'decompress' after our work day. No music, absolutely no TV! Just chat, and I usually put the bubbles on, but it's tucked more or less alongside our detached house, away from any neighbours.

Yes, you have to keep on top of the maintenance; daily filter change, detritus skim with a net; every other day chemical check and balance. This is absolutely key. If you can't be arsed, do not contemplate getting one. This is where bad ear infections and 2-year folliculitis originate from. You can't just (literally) dip in and out of a hot tub.


I think the 'issue' with hot tubs is, frankly, a lot of the sort of people who love the idea of them have the patience of a gnat and do not engage with any process that requires a modicum of commitment; oh- and maybe anti-social behavioural traits!

[yomommasmomma]

The plastic jacuzzi type one are awful and look dreadful. You need a proper wooden one with a chimney and no bubbles. Perfectly relaxing and looks beautiful in the garden.

[HildegardNightingale]

Absolutely agree about looking after your tub. We do daily chem checks (dipstick)and use chems as needed. We are on our 3rd hot tub (4th if you count the one in our house in Spain) and have never had any infections etc. This is in 16 years.

[newnortherner111]

Please don't. Just have a few weekends away in overpriced spa hotels.

[LuubyLuu]

We've had one for about 5 years, love it. Use it 3/4 times a week, more in winter than summer. I'm about to get into mine as my hips are aching after a long day.
Never had a big or infection, didn't realise that was a thing, but we use the chemicals weekly and dipstick test semi-regularly.
We live in a country where loads of people have them, so I don't really understand the hate!

[elastamum]

We have a lazy spa that looks like wood. We use it in the summer and get it out at Christmas and when the DC are home. We don't use chemicals but refill with fresh hot water and drain it every 2-3 days. We have a well, so water use isn't a problem. It's fabulous.

[Wegobshite]

@rookiemere
We had to hire a crane to get ours in 😂 a proper hot tub company will come and do a site survey and tell you what you need
They will tell you if you need to upgrade the electrics
our tub has it’s own switch in the electric box and and an outside waterproof box for the plug

[TheChosenTwo]

We’ve recently bought a big 8 seater permanent one, can’t bloody wait for it to arrive but I was happy with just getting an inflatable. Dh was not so keen so sprung for the hard standing one.
Haven’t quite finished the garden yet so it hasn’t been delivered but I envisage being out in it at least 4 times a week, we have teens and we’ve had them in holiday houses before, they’re a great way to chat with no distractions.
No idea on running costs because we haven’t actually got it yet, we’ve been told and also read in various places that you need to change the water every 3 months and test for chemicals every day. Dh was fastidious with the pool pH levels last year and so I think we’ll be okay with this once we’ve found our feet a bit.
I have already explained to the children that they will need to be clean before they get in it!!

[rookiemere]

@Wegobshite how much did a crane cost ? It's all gone a bit quiet on the neighbours hot tub front so I'm thinking it's quite a lot. The way we're positioned I think we could get it in without a crane, but as I've just paid for David Lloyd membership primarily for outdoor pool it seems a bit unnecessary.

[blue1000]

The lay z spa website says that an inflatable hot tub uses 2050w of electricity whilst on the heat function. So if you check how much you pay for your electricity you can work out how much it costs to run.

[blue1000]

So I've just done some adding up and worked out that it costs me approx 30p an hour on heat mode. If I kept it on heat mode for 24 hours a day for a full week it would cost approx £30 - but I don't know anyone who does that. I just whack the heat on for five hours or so before I want to get in. Of course it depends on the outside temp but this gives a rough idea of costs.

[Branleuse]

I know 3 people who have proper ones and they all use them a lot

[Newnamefor2021]

Mumsnet hates hot tubs. We have one though, use it most days when it's not raining and occasionally when it is 😆

It costs more than we anticipated to heat etc, but we still enjoy it. We change the water every other month, sometimes more, we test everyday and add chemicals as needed. We usually have a quick shower before getting in.

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

Having wanted one for years we decided to get one on our last holiday (Aug '19). Missed out on before Christmas delivery so got it mid-April and bar maintenance we use it every day. Sometimes more than once. We absolutely love it! The kids practically lived in it last summer😁

Ours is massive (10-people capacity) because we have 7 kids.
I'm so glad we bought it, it's been amazing for both fun & health benefits (relaxation/pain relief).

[MsTSwift]

Hardstanding proper one remodelled garden around it so it’s like sitting in a bower. Got put in in 2017 I use it most days at minimum twice a week. Best Buy ever.

[Youngatheart00]

Random question but do you find the chemicals in them dry your skin out massively? Having just got back from a holiday cottage with one my skin feels awful.

[MsTSwift]

Oh and we couldn’t get one in without hiring a crane so gave up on idea we were really disappointed which made us realise how much we wanted one. Then found roto spa whose tubs roll through a doorway... sorted

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

@Youngatheart00

Random question but do you find the chemicals in them dry your skin out massively? Having just got back from a holiday cottage with one my skin feels awful.

nope.
as long as the pH level is correct, which you check with test strips, it should be no different than being in a public swimming pool

[Youngatheart00]

Thanks @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba I don’t even have particularly sensitive skin. I think the cottage owners had been a little over zealous with the chemicals

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

we use chlorine tablets to keep it clean.
but there are chlorine-free stuff, bromide based is one option (I think there's another type, can't remember)

[yumscrumfatbum]

We have an unflatable one, bought it 3 years ago. We put it up in the summer months and go in it most evenings. I do check the chemicals daily and we've never had any skin or health issues. We use old costumes and hand rinse them. Detergent from clothing creates issues with excess foam and generally upsets the chemical balance. My husband has a chronic back issue and the tub makes a huge difference to him.

[Newnamefor2021]

To whoever asked about chemicals and chlorine. You can have systems or buy things that eliminate or reduce the amount of chlorine you need, so if that's an issue then there are options. DH usually maintains chemicals but I did once and was over generous with the chlorine and i was a little itchy, we just drained water and added more to balance it out.

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

I think it's possibly more the heat than the chemicals - hot showers & baths do dry out the skin just the same.
we only went for it because on that holiday we could test if anyone had any adverse reactions during the week stay, and thankfully nobody reported anything.
even after being in it for 4 hours on one day🤣

[Desmondo2021]

I think the inflatable ones look awful and I wouldnt want one in my garden in a million years. I love the look of the permanent ones but to me it would be a massive expense and probably just become a headache that didn't get used as much as I envisage it would.

[LemonRoses]

Random question but do you find the chemicals in them dry your skin out massively? Having just got back from a holiday cottage with one my skin feels awful.

Yes, my husband reacted and got a horrid erythema type rash. We swapped to an enzyme based system and it’s all fine again- doesn’t dry the skin at all.