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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think hot tubs in back gardens are a bit shit and anti social?

227 replies

ManicUnicorn · 15/08/2018 20:46

I'm sure they're nice and realxing and perfectly acceptable if you live a house with a huge garden and no close neighbours nearby, but my neighbours have just bought one. We live in a row of terraces, with small gardens and are overlooked from every direction. It's slap bag in the middle of the back yard and I can actually see them sitting in it if I go upstairs.

All weekend Ive heard the constant hum from the pumps and the stench of chlorine filling the air. Now they're sitting in, shouting like they're deaf because they can't hear themselves talking over the pump.

If I'm honest I also find them a bit tacky. I can't think of anything worse. Just have a sodding bath! DB's next door neighbours have and he's been moaning about it for ages, thought he was being a killjoy until one was installed here! Now I get it.

OP posts:
WelcomeToShootingStars · 15/08/2018 22:01

No, some of us just know what we're talking about.

The risk from hot tubs isn't in the water, it's in the vapour. Bacteria thrives in the hot air. I don't much care about people's dead skin cells.

Ozone isn't shown to be wholly effective as a sanitiser for hot tubs, though it is for pools. They generally need a full rig to be effective and most people don't have a proper condenser dryer. And you can use chlorine in heated water.

Typically, if you can't smell chlorine I wouldn't get in the water.

DollyDayScream · 15/08/2018 22:02

Hot tubs a where make me think of human broth. All that skin and grot bubbling away in hot water. Yuk.

Biologifemini · 15/08/2018 22:06

Hot tubs are just that - hot. Bacteria grows best around 37 degrees.
Swimming pools are kept much cooler for that reason.
Having said that they are both filtered and treated with chlorine. But it is the temperature that makes me feel sick about a hot tub.

Fatbelliedgirl · 15/08/2018 22:08

We are getting one soon. Can't wait.Grin

HelenUrth · 15/08/2018 22:13

Mrjoepike what made you pick that one as opposed to all the other ones listed on this site: hottubsandportablespas.blogspot.com/

ihavecoldfeet · 15/08/2018 22:13

My neighbours got one today and I fucking hate it already, it's right on their patio next to our fence . Their two kids aged 8 and 10 have been screaming all day and they've only just turned it off and gone in. I'm hoping the novelty will wear off in time but bang goes our lovely peaceful garden for the rest of the summer

honeysucklejasmine · 15/08/2018 22:20

So do none of you hot tub haters ever use public pools, or hot tubs at the gym? I'd much rather use ours, only used by my immediate family and kept scrupulously clean by DH, than one in a public facility.

And no, we've never had sex in it. Gross.

FlyingElbows · 15/08/2018 22:24

I love our sex pond. It's infinitely quieter than next door's motorbike collection and nowhere near as "chavvy" as two doors down's sports bar in the garden. It doesn't smell because the chemicals are properly monitored, the water is changed regularly and we're not all going to die from the heat because the heat level is adjustable. In the colder months I might hire it out for the thorough cleaning of judgey pants!

Willow2017 · 15/08/2018 22:27

I secretly would love one but they are such a pia to maintain. Neighbours have one its huge (only for 4 adults though) and they are always putting chemicals in and testing it and cleaning it, it humms for hours when they arent using it.

Have to say they dont have sex parties in it though, just them and friends and kids but its a pia to have to pretend they arent there sometimes. (can see them from my doorway)

When they got it last year they did say we could use it but still waiting for them to tell us!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 15/08/2018 22:27

I don't use public swimming pools, but that's because the chemicals make me itchy not because I fear legionnaires. I definitely wouldn't go anywhere near a public hot tub let alone get into one.

Bluebell878275 · 15/08/2018 22:28

What a miserable bunch of snobs you all are Grin
Don't you know anything about keeping it clean and scum free?? We love ours, don't even have the bubbles going most of the time. Love the silence, the stars and conversation. Much better than sitting in front of the telly every night not talking to each other!

RedBlu · 15/08/2018 22:29

We have one, to be fair it doesn't get used much. If we do use it, we only use the jets during the day as I think it's too noisy to use at night. Ours isn't an inflatable one though, those can be really loud!

We used it the other night, sat outside in it and watched the meteor shower.

BigBlueBubble · 15/08/2018 22:29

I’m sure it’s lovely if you’re the hot tub owner. Not so lovely if you’re the neighbour who has to listen to bubbling, buzzing, raised voices and kids screaming.

PurpleFlower1983 · 15/08/2018 22:32

We have had one for about 18 months and we love it! No parties just relaxing with my DH at the end of a long day in the garden all year round. It’s taken us away from the TV/phones which is lovely! I can’t go in at the moment though as I’m pregnant.

We’re definitely not chavvy although I understand the stigma.

Oysterbabe · 15/08/2018 22:35

My friend has one that he likes to entice ladies back to. We call it the gene pool 🤢

smallchanceofrain · 15/08/2018 22:37

The people over the road from us have a sex pond. Their house is on a corner and our bedroom window overlooks their back garden. They must have worked out that we can see them because they have recently erected an awning type structure to hide the sex pond. OH has tried kneeling on the dressing table and leaning out of the window but even with the binoculars he can't get a good view. Grin

Seriously though, they have a small garden. The sex pond is right next to the fence they share with their neighbour. They like to play music while enjoying the hot bubbling water under the night sky / awning thing. When it's not being a sex pond the kids are playing in it. It's noisy for us so it must be hell for their next door neighbours.

Timefortea99 · 15/08/2018 22:43

I used to have a colleague who kept inviting me and my husband around to their house. I didn’t know her well, and didn’t live near her but she was very keen for us to visit. She had a hot tub, and kept saying bring your bikini. Do you think she had something less innocent in mind? I used to find her a bit creepy.....

MozzchopsThirty · 15/08/2018 22:43

You're all so uptight
Me and the boyf have sex in the tub late at night
We get pissed and strip off Grin
I couldn't give two fucks, we're not moaning and shouting in there

It's treated with chemicals daily so when the kids want to use it it's all clean

LondonSouth28 · 15/08/2018 22:46

As a child I got very very sick from having gone in one. I must have been 6/7 years old and I can still remember that I was very unwell. The sight of them makes my stomach flip.

aquashiv · 15/08/2018 22:48

we didn't buy a house as the neighbours had one within view of the kitchen.

Timefortea99 · 15/08/2018 22:52

Mozzchops. Don’t think we are uptight at all. We just don’t like the thought of chavvy goings on in close proximity.

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 15/08/2018 22:55

Mozzchops. Don’t think we are uptight at all. We just don’t like the thought of chavvy goings on in close proximity.

This is hysterical snobbery.

FlyMaybe · 15/08/2018 22:56

Eeeuuuwwwww

Timefortea99 · 15/08/2018 22:58

Glad you found it funny Twi.

Alltootrue2u · 15/08/2018 22:59

We love ours! We have a pool party at the start of very summer - may bank holiday and it’s always loads of fun!! We have managed 10 people in it, kicking drum and bass and loads of booze. We don’t shag in it though!! That’s pretty gross!!

We live in a detached house and only have neighbours on one side. We don’t like them so we don’t care. They have their own hot tub anyway so they can’t exactly complain!!