Is A Pool Spa Worth It? It Sure is!

Is a Pool Spa Worth it?

Owning a pool spa will prove a worthwhile investment if you desire to have the best of both worlds of a pool and a hot tub. The name says it all; pool spas are a cross between a swimming pool and a spa and are becoming more popular in the last ten years. Hence, they are a perfect choice because they provide the entertainment of a pool with the combination of hot tub hydrotherapy.

Moreover, having a pool spa is much easier and cheaper to operate than an ordinary pool. Pool spas are smaller, take up less of your backyard space, and use less water, making them easier to maintain and treat with chemicals.

Most users like the attractive and fancy look they add to your backyard, making it look more luxurious. One of the best benefits of owning a pool spa is that you can use it all year round, regardless of the season. In addition, since they are portable in most cases, you can take them with you to a new home if you intend to move.

However, using them all year round might seem like an enormous electricity cost because pool spas require heating. But, if you buy a pool spa of better quality that is well insulated and energy-efficient, your electricity bill will be insignificant compared to the health benefits of warm water and spa massaging jets.

What are the benefits of a spa pool?

A pool spa offers numerous benefits to your health and your well-being:

• Tension relief in sore muscles and joints 
• Stress relief and body relaxation
• Weight loss
• Managing sleep disorders

People who own a pool spa claim to feel much relaxed and have more energy after soaking in hot water with massaging jets after a hard day at work. 

Moreover, pool spa users have a habit of using a pool spa after a day spent in a gym or after a match because warm water offers relief from tension in sore muscles and joints, which can improve possible injury recovery.

On the other hand, hot water slows the heart rate and increases body temperature, which helps you get rid of insomnia. Sleep disorders are often a side effect of hectic and disorganized lifestyles that have a negative impact on your overall behavior. Poor and irregular sleep makes you irritable and nervous. However, after relaxing in a pool spa, you will feel better emotionally and have a better quality sleep.

Pool spas affect your well-being with the help of heat, buoyancy, and massage. Hot water increases circulation by raising your body temperature, and jets help you relieve tension with a powerful massage. In contrast, buoyancy relieves the pressure on muscles and joints, helping you reduce body weight simultaneously.

Should I get a hot tub instead of a pool?

Whether to get a hot tub or a pool depends entirely on the focus of your needs. The fact is that they both offer numerous benefits and contribute to your well-being in different ways.

However, before opting for one of these two, you should consider the size of your backyard. Pools, in general, require more space because they are much larger and spacious, while hot tubs are typically smaller and thus need less space to be installed.

On the other hand, pools are suitable for fitness and entertainment, especially if you have kids or invite friends and relatives. Meanwhile, hot tubs are designed for more intimate gatherings because they can accommodate two to seven people depending on the hot tub model.

Another critical factor that might affect your decision to get a pool or a hot tub is the usage period. The downside of the pool is that it can only be used for a couple of months, i.e., during summer mostly, while a hot tub is good to use all year round.

Lastly, not to forget the installation cost. It is much cheaper to buy and operate a hot tub than a pool. Additionally, hot tubs also prevail in easier maintenance and running costs, even though hot tubs require heating. If you decide on a hot tub, it would be best to buy one of better quality with good insulation and energy-efficient to cut down on electricity costs. Moreover, using a cover while heating or not using the hot tub will also help you save electricity costs.

Also, installing a hot tub requires less time, under 24 hours to install, fill with water and start operating. As opposed to this, pools need nearly a month to install, depending on the size of the pool.

Are spa pools expensive to run?

When well and adequately maintained, spa pools’ running costs tend to be lower than expected, and they are cheaper to run than traditional pools. However, even though a more affordable pool spa might seem attractive at the time of purchase, it will eventually cost you more to maintain and run the pool spa. On the other hand, purchasing a good quality pool spa well insulated and energy-efficient might cost you more, but it will pay off and save you money in the long run. 

As I have said previously, good insulation plays a significant role in reducing operating costs. It would be best if you looked for a pool spa that is fully foam insulated to prevent losing heat. Additionally, it would be wise to invest in a thick heavy cover with a good seal. A quality cover will prevent the heat from escaping the pool spa while heating or when the pool spa is not in use. All of this affects the amount of electricity spent on heating, thus reducing the costs. 

Besides the quality of the spa, insulation, and cover, other factors affect the cost of running the pool spa: outside temperature, how frequently you use the pool spa, and at what temperature you like to soak in.

For example, to run a premium pool spa in an average climate that is used up to 4 times a week will cost between 30 and 50 dollars per month over summer, while it might cost between 60 and 80 dollars per month over winter. On the other hand, the same pool spa might cost less to operate in a much warmer area.

However, nowadays, you can attach your pool spa to a solar panel to help you reduce heating costs.

How heavy is a spa pool?

The weight of a spa pool depends on its size and can range from 700 kg to more than 3000kg when filled with water. They range in size from 1.6m long for two persons to 3.5m long for up to 10 people that can fit a whole family who loves entertaining.

However, you can find the spa weight, size, number of jets, etc., on a model specification sheet.

For example, Fisher 2™ for two people, size 1.65 x 1.65 x 0.74m weighs 186 kg when dry, but when filled with water, it weighs 713 kg. Thus, Fisher 2 is one of the smallest pool spas, a perfect solution for couples with limited space. 

On the other hand, one of the largest pool spas, Palladium™ Hydroplus™ for ten people, size 3.52 x 2.29 x 0.90m, weighs 752 kg when empty and 3432 kg when filled, including a cover. 

The Fisher 2 pool spa volume amounts to 519 ltr, while the Palladium Hydroplus volume is 2650 ltr.