In this guide, we will walk through a series of steps that should ultimately help you narrow in on the type of hot tub that you should purchase. If at any point you feel like you need a better understanding on any of these topics, please do not hesitate to give us a call as we are happy to talk and help you out.
Step 1: Ask yourself “Why am I purchasing a hot tub?”
There are so many different hot tub options that are out there and before you can embark on the journey of purchasing one, you need to understand WHY you are purchasing a hot tub. Is it Hydrotherapy? Entertainment? Relaxation? Family time? Home value? Aesthetics? Or just cause?
Once you have a solid understanding of ‘why’ you are purchasing the hot tub, you can use this information to narrow in on the type of hot tub that you should purchase, along with the features that go with it.
Step 2: Determine your budget
Hot tubs vary significantly in price ranging from $4,000 on the lower end to $25,000 on the higher end. The price tag on the spa will vary depending on the size, materials, and features of the tub, among other factors as well. We will outline those factors further in this guide.
There are other costs that you should be aware of that you should build into your purchasing budget.
Hot Tub Moving Fees: Most hot tubs are delivered to your door, and it’s the responsibility of the hot tub owner to coordinate the move to its final destination. Moving fees can range from $200 for simple hot tub moves and range up to $1,500 for more complicated hot tub moves (e.g. if a crane is needed to move the hot tub to a difficult to access final destination). Fear not though, most hot tub moves are simple and do not require a crane.
Installation Fees: These fees will again vary depending on the type of hot tub that you purchase, as well as how you want your hot tub installed.
- Electrical & Set-Up: Most high-quality hot-tubs require 220V electrical connection. This higher voltage helps provide more robust jet power, as well as heating capabilities. A standard electrical outlet in your home is 110V, so if you purchase a high-quality hot tub, you will need to engage with a licensed electrician to connect your spa to an electrical source. These electrical installation fees will cost between $200-800. We suggest asking around locally for several quotes to understand what these fees will cost. There are low-quality hot tubs out there that will run on 110V voltage. These hot tubs are referred to as “Plug and Play”, and will not require any electrical set-up fees.
- Other Installation: A hot tub can weigh anywhere from 400 to 1,200 pounds. As such, it’s important to lay proper foundation to rest your hot tub, which can cost up to $2,000 for labor and materials. Many hot tub purchasers love the aesthetic of an “in-ground” hot tub (as shown below). Custom installations like this will obviously be expensive, however installations like these can significantly increase the value of home, which can in many cases can be a worthwhile decision.
Maintenance Fees: Hot tubs need to be maintained regularly, which includes checking water chemical levels weekly, cleaning the filter every 2-3 weeks, and cleaning the inside of the tub every few months. These are maintenance activities that can be done by yourself, in which case expect to pay $20 per month in cleaning materials. Pool cleaning companies can also do these cleaning fee activities for you, charging anywhere from $50-200 per month.
We share all of this information because it’s important to be aware about all of the upfront and ongoing costs associated with purchasing a hot tub, not to scare you away. At Comfort Hot Tubs, we have financing solutions available to our customers to help them if upfront costs are an issue or concern.
Step 3: Understand the basics
There are four main different types of hot tubs that are out there, each having their pros and cons.
Inflatable Hot Tubs: This is a beginner hot tub, perfect for that person looking to make a low-investment purchase, but they still want the capability of that warm water soak occasionally. These hot tubs are low weight, low cost and have zero/minimal installation fees. When you no longer want the tub, you can deflate it and store it away. With that said, you are bypassing water filtration systems, hydrotherapeutic massage jets, aesthetics.
Plug And Play Hot Tubs: The Plug and Play hot tub is another perfect ‘beginner hot tub’. These hot tubs are cheaper and lighter weight, and can be a good decision for someone that wants something a little more permanent than an “Inflatable Hot Tub”. The major upside to a “Plug and Play” hot tub, as mentioned earlier, is that the electrical hook-up requires 110V, meaning that it can be plugged into any normal electrical outlet. The installation fees are low. The downside to this hot tub is that they feel and look cheap, they do not insulate warm water very well, they can take a very long time to warm up, and they frequently ware down quickly.
The Standard Hot Tub: The Standard Hot Tub, is a significant step-up from the “Plug and Play” model. These hot tubs are more expensive, and for a good reason. There are many different models and types, which we will continue to dive into, but its important to note that these hot tubs have jet systems, water filtration, aesthetic designs, insulation, etc. These are long-lasting spas, if chosen correctly.
Swim Spas: Swim Spas are another step-up from The Standard Hot Tub, with most of the same features. The swim spa is the granddaddy of them all though in terms of size. They can hold from 8- 15 people at once, and are perfect for entertaining large groups of people. You can think of these as ‘warm pools’.
Step 4: Decide on hot tub size
Standard Hot tubs come in a variety of sizes, from small two-person models to large eight-person models (and then the much larger swim spas well!). To understand what size hot tub you should buy, it’s important to reflect back to WHY you are purchasing the hot tub. Consider how many people will be using the hot tub at one time and how much space you have available in your backyard or indoor area. If you have a small backyard or plan to put the hot tub on a deck, you will want to make sure you choose a smaller model. If you have a large family or entertain frequently, a larger model may be a better choice.
Here is a table for average size of hot tubs depending on how many seats it can fill:
Number of People | Size (Length) |
2-3 People | 5-6 feet |
4 Person | 6-7 feet |
5-6 People | 7-9 feet |
7+ People | 10+ feet |
The larger the hot tub, the more expensive the hot tub will typically become. With that said, don’t be shocked by expensive smaller 2-3 seater hot tubs as well. These are just as high quality and can sometimes be more expensive than larger models when you are seeking all of the bells and whistles.
As we said earlier, Comfort Hot Tubs specializes in hot tubs that seat 4-6 people. We additionally have larger swim-spas that are significantly larger.
Step 5: Understand the pros and cons of different materials
The inside of standard hot tubs can be made from a variety of materials, each having their pros and cons. Most high-end hot tubs are made from Acrylic. At Comfort Hot Tubs, we rely solely on Acrylic, for reasons that you will see below.
- Acrylic: These hot tubs are the most commonplace in the market and for good reason. They are highly durable and ensure that your hot tub will last for many years. They handle difficult weather well. Acrylic does an excellent job at retaining heat, which is good for colder temperatures. Manufacturers make Acrylic shells by heating a sheet of acrylic, and then placing the sheet over a mold. Acrylic is also easy to clean and resistant to fading. If you can afford to go with Acrylic, then that is the sure path!
- Fiberglass: Fiberglass hot tubs are lightweight and frequently used to make hot tubs because they are easy to install. With that said, they can often crack and cause leaks, which can cause damage to areas beyond the hot tub itself (e.g. a deck). For that reason, we recommend avoiding fiberglass hot tubs.
- Rotomolded Plastic: These hot tubs are made from polyurethane. To make these hot tubs, manufacturers apply a powder to a mold, and then melt the powder to the mold. These hot tubs do not retain heat well and therefore should definitely be avoided in lower temperature areas. These tubs are significantly less expensive and can range from $2,500 – $6,000, however you can expect more expensive energy bills.
- Wooden: Wooden hot tubs offer a more natural and rustic look, but require more maintenance than Acrylic, Fiberglass, and rotomolded plastic and are therefore not recommended for that reason.
Lastly, decide on the exterior cabinet style that you love and fits with the aesthetic of your home!
Step 6: What features are important to you?
There are many important features to consider when deciding on your perfect hot tub. We’ve highlighted the features and consideration factors that we deem most important below:
- Seating Design: The size of the hot tub will impact the seating design that is available to you. To determine your ideal seating design, its important to understand how the hot tub will be most frequently used. Some hot tubs have standard seats, while others have lounger seats incorporated into them. Lounger seats are very comfortable, however they limit how many people can be inside of the tub. In our experience, we have found that most customers want 1-lounger in their hot tub, and the rest to be standard seats. As such, we have designed most of our hot tubs to be in line with our customers desires.
- Jet Count: Jets provide hydro-therapeutic massage benefits and is something that should be looked at very closely by customers. Most novice hot tub buyers think “the more jets, the better.” We will be the first to tell you that that is not the case. Let us explain…
Have you ever been in a hot tub and plugged one of the jets with your finger? What happened when you did so? The water pressure from the other jets that were not plugged increased. Therefore, less jets can often be better. If you do have a lot of jets, then you need more jet pumps to maintain the high water flow. Having too many jet pumps (we have seen as much as 6!) can be expensive because it uses more energy.
We have perfectly designed our hot tubs to optimize for jet water pressure, plus energy efficiency. We have designed our standard 4-6 person hot tubs with 51 jets and with 2 (3 horsepower) water jet pumps. This gives them a ratio of 25 jets to 1 pump, which is optimal for hydrotherapeutic massages as well as ideal for being energy efficient. This is an important decision that should be closely evaluated when determining your hot tub. - Other Features: We touched on the most important features, but there are other factors that can significantly increase the price of your hot tub. As example, you can customize hot tubs with bluetooth speakers, LED light configurations, waterfall features, drink holders, headrests, etc. If these factors are important to you, you can have them customized.
With our standard hot tubs, we find that LED lights, headrests, and waterfalls features are a must! Be careful once you start adding more features, as hot tub companies will begin to significantly upcharge you.
Step 7: Where should I buy my hot tub?
We have talked about most of the major factors that you should be aware about before purchasing a hot tub. The next question is, who should I turn to? While we would love for you to turn to us, we want you to make the best decision for you. So here are your four options:
- Spa Dealers: Local dealers are a good option if you want to customize your hot tub and/or see and feel your hot tub firsthand. When purchasing a hot tub through a dealer, be aware that they are significantly up charging you. Since they are localized to a specific area, they have significant overhead costs and typically have low sales volume. To make up that difference, they charge significantly more for hot tubs than they are worth.
- Big Box Stores: These stores do not specialize in selling hot tubs. While you may be getting a good deal on a hot tub, you will have no-one to turn to in the case that you run into issues with your hot tub.
- Used Hot Tubs: Well, it goes without saying…proceed with caution!
- Online: This can be a great route to purchase a hot tub for buyers that know what they want, and don’t want any customizations. There are two very important considerations to keep in mind when purchasing online. First, make sure that the shipping is reliable. Hot tubs are very expensive and if not properly shipped, it can lead to damaged product at your doorstep. And trust us, that is nothing that you want to deal with! At Comfort Hot Tubs, we have proprietary packaging technology that ensures all of our hot tubs are delivered from our facilities in its original manufactured condition. Secondly, read for company reviews and ensure that there is a support team in place to assist you in case you have any questions. There are many online retailers that don’t provide after-purchase support that can lead to future problems. Here at Comfort Hot Tubs, we pride ourselves on being on the ‘Customer’s Side’ and there for you every step along the way of your hot tub journey. As we like to say, the best customer support around!
Congratulations again on embarking on your hot tub journey. We sincerely hope that this has been a helpful guide to you. We said it before, and we will say it again… purchasing a hot tub is a big decision, and its important that you purchase from someone that you trust. If there are any hot tubs of ours that you think are the right decision for you, we would love to talk to you and do not hesitate to give us a call.
