Hottub - yeah or nay?

[TheLetterZ]

It is a cold, wet miserable December day so I am indulging in some pleasant day dreaming.

Do you have a hottub? An inflatable or rigid one? Do you love it, hate it or indifferent?

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MNHQ

Stayed in holiday cottage with p e once. Was lovely, not overlooked, etc. But after the second go it seemed a bit dull, and after the fourth or fifth time novelty had definitely worn off, and it was just dull. They just seem pretty expensive and a lot of hassle. I’m sure that makes me far more chav-tastic than anyone who actually owns one is.

I’d just as much enjoy a sit outside with a couple blankets and glass of something warming.

We have had a blow up 4 person one for 3 years and love it, once we worked out chemical balance they are easy to keep clean and clear and the bromine we use is a lot less smelly than chlorine. Our 4 year old is really water confident due to it despite swimming lessons not being possible due to Covid. But we have a totally private garden, I’d not be up for it if overlooked.

Hi .
I have never been a fan .But this year did get one. Its a 4 person fixed/rigid one.
Costs about £10 a week to run.
It needs the chemicals checking every couple of days and filter cleaning/swapping every week and then its crystal clear and hygienic.
Ours is in a large rear garden with good privacy.
If you can be assured its nice and private then go for it.
It is very relaxing .
Its also probably the only place where we can be with the children and have a good old family chat with no screens in hands!

Ugh, no.

We are house-hunting and I automatically discount any house with a hot tub in the garden. I feel the same way about them as I do about garden bars.

Love ours. It’s an American style rigid one in a private part of the garden. We check chemical levels every other day and have it serviced every year including full clean, empty and refill. We clean the filters in between and that keeps it clean so not human soup. I love using it with dc as it means we chat with all electronic devices out of sight. It was here when we moved in so I have no comparison re electric but I don’t think our bill is too high. If it’s well insulated then it’s not re heating all the time so shouldn’t be expensive. Ours stays at temp unless it’s freezing out and the lid is open for 2 hours or more, then it drops 0.5 to 1 degree.

No way ours costs £10 per week to run. That is mad!

No way.
Cost too much to run for the benefit.
Look like noisy neighbours who have parties.
Dare I say it - a bit chavvy

We have a wood fired one.

Advantages are it’s quiet, rustic, much cheaper to buy (3k), cheaper to run if you don’t use regularly. We use with fresh water, max 2 days in a row, but you can chlorinate for longer use. Takes less general maintenance. No need for electricity. Looks nice as wooden outer but fibreglass inner for easy cleaning.

Disadvantages are you have to fill and fire it up 4 hours in advance, checking the fire every 30min. Not a big problem for us as we wfh. We tend to use it one weekend a month, firing it up on Saturday morning. You can’t just jump into it on a whim.

We also use it as a plunge pool in the summer, just heat a little and the kids splash for hours. We love it!

Essentially what I’m learning here that if you care what others think then no. If you like hot tubs and the thought of relaxing evenings sipping wine and watching the stars which dh and don’t care what others think then yes. This is what ours is used for in the winter. In the summer we turn the heat down and the dc use it a lot with friends. I’ve only ever had a couple of close friends in it with me and dh doesn’t want to share it with other couples so just us or used for nights with my best friends.

Not for me.
Our next door neighbour has one, she kindly asked me and DH if we fancied joining them one night.
I was non comittal and very glad I was.
My DD bedroom overlooks their garden. They were naked in it

We have two, one in Spain and one in the U.K. We love it. It’s tucked away in our garden. We don’t have a next door to that side of the house so it’s completely private and isn’t a noise nuisance to the neighbours. Love looking at the stars on a cold winters night.

Love ours, rigid 5 seater, nice private corner in the garden so no bother to anyone (big gardens, no direct neighbours). Chlorine every other day and filter change every week. Amazing place to relax after a long week of kids and work 😊

@Mydogisagentleman

Not for me. Our next door neighbour has one, she kindly asked me and DH if we fancied joining them one night. I was non comittal and very glad I was. My DD bedroom overlooks their garden. They were naked in it

Brilliant!

No they are bloody noisy and inconsiderate to neighbours

I had one, loved it for the first 4 years, then got bored. It was worth it though , we really enjoyed it.

We have an inflatable one and love it. The kids think it’s great and it’s far less grotty than a tiny paddling pool full of leaves, plus safer as it has a lid that means they can’t get into it without my assistance- I can’t get into the bloody thing sometimes! Easy to keep on top of chemicals and filter etc and is now all scrubbed clean and packed away for winter. We have no neighbours and a huge garden so no worries on that front. No idea what it costs to run- our house is on the same meter as the farm buildings- but I’d hazard a guess that it’s considerably less than running a milking parlour twice a day every day!

@DougRossIsTheBoss

I love em at holiday cottages with a beautiful view and someone else to clean and maintain it

Not sure it would be quite so delightful in our little suburban terraced house garden blessed as it is with a view of the arse end of a block of flats.

This really.

Our previous house, mid terrace, small back yards. Neighbours had one, it’s one of the reasons we moved. They stayed out late in it, talking loudly, shrieking the sound of it...,before they had it they went inside when it got cold so you couldn’t hear the shrieking.

Friends have one in a smallish back garden, but v considerate of neighbours, I’m not entirely convinced they keep it clean but they love it.

I’d quite like one, but we don’t really have room.

We only use ours in the winter - nothing better than cold air around your face and hot water up to your neck.
Ours is family only - we don't use it with friends and it can't be seen by neighbors. It's coming up to 7 years old and has had 2 repairs on the pumps. It was about £8k when we bought it. Assuming it lasts just one more year - between repairs, the purchase price, electricity and chemical maintenance I'd say it's averaging costing us £1,500 a year. So I guess it all comes down to how you want to use it and willingness to maintain - they are worth very little second hand

Bought an inflatable one. Used it one summer and it's sat in the shed since. I was put off when a friend came around to use it and she was peeling. I had to empty it and clean it thoroughly to get all her she's skin out. Not worth the hassle.

We have a wood fired ofuro one. As long as it's emptied regularly and you use chemicals it is fine and dandy.

It is amazingly wonderful!

Hi can anyone give me some advice please? Our extension has been changed to a hot tub room however I really want voile drapes across the ceiling, and was wondering whether it would be ok because of the condensation created whilst hot tub is on? Any help would be greatly appreciated 😁