Are Hot Tubs Worth It?

After owning several hot tubs over the span of 17 years, countless friends and family have asked me...

Is a hot tub really worth the cost?

Will the benefits of a hot tub make up for expenses I incur?

As a seasoned hot tub veteran, I'll help you narrow down your initial buying decision so that you can feel more comfortable buying a hot tub and have peace of mind that you made a great investment (or not!).

Hot Tub Pros and Cons

Hot Tub Benefits

Hot Tubs Provide Relaxation and Rejuvenation

In the digital age, we spend so much time staring at phones and computer screens. Soaking in a hot tub provides people with quality time away from the noise of the world.

A Hot Tub Can Help With Healing

Beyond the general relaxation that hot tubs provide, most hot tubs come with hydrotherapy spas jets, which can soothe sore, aching muscles by providing hydrotherapy massages. Studies show that hot tub hydrotherapy is one of the best ways to revitalize the body. If you are someone who suffers from back tension or neck tension, hot tubs can take the pain away.

Hot tubs are great for people with arthritis as well, as they work to ease joint pain. Speaking of...

A Hot Tub Can Help With Arthritis

People who have arthritis know just how painful the condition can be. There is plenty of evidence out there that suggests just how helpful hot tubs can be when it comes to improving arthritis symptoms. The massage jets that you find on hot tub models provide high-pressure massages, which can soothe just about any part of the body that they hit.

There are plenty of different jet system options out there, depending on your preferences too.

While hot tubs may not heal your arthritis or create any long-term benefits, they will certainly work to ease the pain for the time being.

A Hot Tub Can Provide Entertainment

A hot tub provides a setting for you to bond with loved ones in a fun and natural way. Whether you want to get romantic with your partner, chat with the family, or party with friends, hot tubs provide the space to do so.

A Hot Tub Can Promote Weight Loss

Right off the bat, it may be hard to understand how soaking in a hot tub can help you cut off unwanted weight. However, experts say there are several ways in which soaking in a hot tub can help.

For starters, when you put your body in hot water, your heart rate increases. An increased heart rate helps you burn calories. While the number of calories you burn isn't wildly significant, even a slight bit helps.

If you exercise while in your hot tub, you'll take greater advantage of this benefit. Plus, you'll get added resistance and buoyancy, which will make your exercise a bit more pleasant.

A Hot Tub Can Promote Sleep

Do you struggle with getting enough sleep?

There is no better way to end the day than with a good hot tub session. Hot tubs provide peace, warmth, and tranquility, helping people to unwind and prepare themselves for a restful sleep. In the busy environment that we live in, sleep is incredibly vital.

It's so easy for the average person to cut back on the amount of sleep that they get with so much happening in the world. A hot tub can help return your body to its natural state and help you to get more sleep so that you can be your best self on the daily.

Hot Tub Drawbacks

Costs

While there are many benefits of owning a hot tub, there are some clear drawbacks too. One of the most obvious drawbacks to owning a hot tub is the cost. A hot tub is a luxury item. On average, the purchase price of a hot tub will cost you around $10,000. Depending on the layout of your house, you will need to factor in installation costs.

You'll need to create a foundation for your hot tub to rest on. Whether you choose a concrete slab or wooden deck is completely up to you, though you will have to incur these costs if you don't have something in place already.

Beyond the initial purchase price of a hot tub and the costs for installation, you will need to factor in the expenses as well.

A high-quality, modern hot tub might only cost you around $10 per week to run in terms of electricity. On the other hand, if you have a much older hot tub model, you could end up paying considerably more.

You will need to consider the hot tub maintenance costs as well, including water filtration, sanitization (cost of chemicals), and water refilling.

Much like a pool, you will need to add chlorine, bromine, or other hot tub chemicals to keep your hot tub as clean as possible.

While a new hot tub should be pretty reliable the majority of the time, any serious issues that need fixing could mean pretty hefty costs. Do keep in mind that if you install your hot tub in your current home but decide to move later down the line, moving your hot tub can be incredibly expensive and difficult.

Ongoing Maintenance

As we said, there are costs beyond buying a hot tub. Plenty of people get deterred from buying a hot tub due to the ongoing maintenance costs. While modern hot tub models don't require as much maintenance, you will need to spend some time cleaning your hot tub and checking the water chemistry every now and then.

Beyond that, you should plan on draining and refilling your hot tub every four months at least.

Environmental Impact

While we hate saying it, it is true. Traditionally speaking, the hot tub industry has not been the most environmentally conscious. For starters, there are many hot tub manufacturers that utilize incredibly non-eco-friendly materials, such as plastic.

Hot tubs use quite a fair bit of water as well, especially when you consider the fact that you need to refill your hot tub with water every four months. The more water needed in your hot tub, the higher the cost and the worse it will be on the environment.

Unless you invest in one of the many salt water systems out there, you'll have to deal with harsh and abrasive chemicals too.

Of course, the hot tub industry is changing as consumers consider the environment more and more these days. There are plenty of hot tub manufacturers out there who make hot tubs with far less environmental impact and completely recyclable materials.

Make sure to look into different hot tub manufacturers to see if you can find one that promotes eco-friendly manufacturing if this is something that you care deeply about.

Are Hot Tubs A Good Investment?

The question of whether or not you should buy a hot isn't as easy as yes or no.

Let's say that you like the idea of owning a hot tub. The question is, will you actually use your hot tub on a regular basis? If you use your hot tub on a regular basis, then a hot tub might be worth the cost. However, if you are someone who tends to get excited about purchases for a week after you buy them before you move onto something else, a hot tub might not be the best choice for you.

You need to do your own cost-benefit analysis to find out what you are looking for from your hot tub purchase to find out whether or not a hot tub is worth it.

If you're looking to cut down on the initial price of a new hot tub, we recommend looking into buying an inflatable hot tub. While you might not get the luxurious features found on hard shell hot tub models, you can still enjoy hydrotherapy. Plus, you don't have to stress out as much about installation costs.

Many hot tub owners boast about the benefits of buying a hot tub, as there are plenty of reasons why to get a hot tub. We recommend keeping these pros and cons in mind as you venture out to find the best new hot tub for your needs.

To see our list of the top rated companies, check out our best hot tub brands page. 

The last thing you want to do is overpay for your new hot tub. Luckily, we provide a trusted service that matches consumers with hot tub companies based on their location and preferences. Click the button below to find out more!