A hot tub is the ultimate home relaxation asset, offering a huge range of health and lifestyle benefits for you to enjoy all year long.
With many different types and styles available it is essential that you understand the benefits and limitations of each option before investing in your new home spa.
For starters, you may have heard the terms hot tubs, Jacuzzis, and spas used and be unsure what the difference is between each of these products.
Hot tubs and spas offer many of the same benefits with the major discrepancy between the two being that a hot tub is freestanding whilst a spa is built into the ground itself.
A jacuzzi, on the other hand, is simply a popular brand of hot tub.
Almost all Hot Tubs for sale Glasgow and home spas offer a fantastic relaxing experience but before you make your decision, read our expert hot tub buying guide to learn how to choose the perfect type for your needs.
Price
The great thing about the rise in popularity and availability of hot tubs is that there are now products available for all budgets and deciding how much you want to spend is the first step to narrowing down the market.
The cheapest tubs are usually inflatable and portable rather than built-in and can be a great choice for those who aren’t looking to experience all the wonderful benefits of taking a soak without the high installation and maintenance costs of a permanent fixture.
The most affordable inflatable hot tubs start at around the £200 mark, but the quality and features offered by such products will be limited as a result.
At the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive tubs will be much more durable, and will offer a range of fancy features such as more powerful massage jets, in-built speaker systems, and much more.
As well as the initial cost of installation, you should take ongoing maintenance into account when making your decision.
Space
Hot tubs can be quite bulky and the space that will be taken up by its installation is another important factor to consider.
An in-built spa, or a hard-shell/wooden hot tub is a permanent addition to your garden, and you should be sure that you are happy to commit a significant section of outdoor space before taking the plunge.
If you are looking for a temporary option that can easily be taken down and stowed away, giving you added flexibility when not using your tub, an inflatable option may be the better choice.
Hot tub types
Hard Shell Hot Tubs
If someone says the words ‘hot tub’ to you, a hard-shell hot tub is probably the first thing that would spring to mind.
Hard shell hot tubs are freestanding, installed on a hard often concrete base, and are furnished with hard side panels that may be made from any number of materials including plastic, acrylic, wood, and metal.
Hard-shell tubs can be fitted with many different fantastic features such as LED lighting, sound systems, Wi-Fi, pumps, and massage jets, allowing you to design your perfect relaxing environment.
As well as their extensive customisation options, hard shell tubs are incredibly durable, and can be used all year round thanks to their excellent insulation.
These types of tubs range from £3,000-£10,000
Inflatable Hot tubs
Inflatable tubs are exactly that, inflated using an air blower that will also power the jets, and fitted with an external heater which warms the water inside the tub once installed.
Inflatable tubs can be fitted with quite as many fancy features are permanent tubs but, for an extra cost, can with headrests, flashing lights, drinks holders, etc.
There are two main attractions of inflatable hot tubs.
Firstly, as mentioned, they are vastly cheaper than hard shell tubs, typically costing between £300-£1,500.
Secondly, they are portable, meaning you can store them away when not in use, allowing you to make the most of your outdoor space at all times.
Besides a lack of features, the main drawbacks of inflatable hot tubs are that they are much less durable, meaning you will have to fork out for a replacement much sooner and that they are not suitable for use in extremely cold weather, limiting the amount of the year that you can use them each year.
In-ground hot tubs
In-ground hot tubs, or spas, are often custom built and will usually be attached to a swimming pool or similar.
They are usually bespoke and designed specifically for you, and what you are looking for in a home spa.
For example, swim spas will come equipped with a counter-current jet that allows you to swim in your tub, and a hydrotherapy tub aids injury recovery by using strategically placed jets to help tackle certain medical needs.
In-ground hot tubs offer a huge range of premium options, and you should expect to pay slightly as a result with a spa typically costing upwards of £10,000.