Portable Hot Tubs/Spas - Do You Use Yours? (Dallas: new home, buying)

[SimpleLife2]

I'm thinking of buying a portable hot tub/spa for my backyard. Boy, oh boy, those things are expensive!

I started thinking about getting one for two main reasons: 1) my muscles are often deeply sore, and 2) I think I'd sleep better after a good, hot soak!

Friends say it's a bad idea -- that people who own them use them a lot the first year or so, and then they stop using them altogether.

If you have a portable hot tub/spa, how long have you had it, and how often do you use it?

[Falafelosophy]

We have an in ground spa with our pool and it gets good use specially in winter when its not too affordable to heat up pool every night but every one is different. You may enjoy it more or less than others.

[SimpleLife2]

Any other forum readers who have a hot tub? How long have you had it, and how often do you use it?

[MckinneyOwnr]

I'd recommend getting an inground spa put in if you're looking to have a spa. They look better and will increase the value of your home. Portable spas just don't look as good, and most people I know that have one, if they move they never take them with them, too heavy and too much trouble to mess with.

My parents have a large 8 person inground spa, we've used it for years, had it since 1989. In the summer my parents still use it about once a week or so, they use it in the winter as well but not as often. Very refreshing to get into a hot tub when it's 40-50 degrees outside, then get out. If you have sore muscles/bad back/whatever, I imagine you'd use it frequently.

They are looking to sell their home now, and if they buy a new home without a spa, they will add one.

[RonnieinDallas]

They are expensive! However, everyone I know with one use it. They are therapeutic and useable year around. I just went to a friends place and used theirs this weekend, they've had their above ground for 3 years and it gets regular use and has minimal issues.

I disagree with the previous poster. In ground spas do look a lot better, but they are WAY more expensive. I have a friend who built one out in Rowlett and it was more expensive than most pools. Its gorgeous and has a beach entry and water fall, but she will never get a return on her investment. Realtors I've spoken to say you won't get a big return on an in ground spa purchase. My parents have an in ground at their house in Colleyville attached to their pool and it has lots of problems. I don't know if it's the equipment or the builder. Its not ver old, it was built while the house was under construction in 2004. The hot tub has been serviced at least a dozen times. It still never gets very hot.

If you don't have enough patio space, you can save a lot by pouring the slab you need yourself. It's not too hard to do. There's also options to make them look better my friends have one in their tiny yard and installed benching around it for seating. It looks great.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by RonnieinDallas

I disagree with the previous poster. In ground spas do look a lot better, but they are WAY more expensive. I have a friend who built one out in Rowlett and it was more expensive than most pools. Its gorgeous and has a beach entry and water fall, but she will never get a return on her investment.

They are more expensive, but not way more expensive, it depends on what you want. I've seen above ground spas go for 12k that have a waterfall feature and a million jets. When I was looking to price spas for my home, the going rate was about 10k for a standard, 6-8 person spa. A good comparable above ground would be about 6k.

Sounds like your friend has a completely custom spa, that's not a fair comparison.