Hot Tub, Spa, Swim Spa. What is the difference?
All use heated and treated water and jets to relax, soothe or provide a luxury massage.
- Hot Tubs are self-contained, portable units, requiring only filling with treated water and connection to an electricity supply.
- The term Spa is derived from the word for a curative spring or well and came to be used for locations where these were found. It is now used to describe any premises where treatment using heated water and jets is provided. By extension, the word has now become loosely used for any body of heated water with jets for sitting in but not swimming, whether portable or not, and is often used as another name for hot tubs.
- Swim Spas, also known as exercise pools, are considerably more ambitious. Effectively, they are swimming pools and spas combined. You can exercise vigorously, swim against the current - or just relax luxuriously.
Here are some other things you ought to know about Hot Tubs.
Prices start at:
- From around £3,000 for a basic Hot Tub, to over £15,000. Running costs about 75p - £1 a day.
- An above-ground 14'x7' Exercise Pool will cost around £17,500 + the costs of a solid base and installation. Your dealer will advise on this, and surrounding decking, landscaping and the like will also add to the cost. Running costs will depend on usage and heat insulation.
- Obviously, you can spend a lot more if you want to - there are many luxury extras from lighting and CD players to TV and DVD equipment.
Safety
It goes without saying that you shouldn't leave a young child near an unattended hot tub. It is not advisable for pregnant women or people with medical conditions that may be aggravated to use a hot tub without taking medical advice.
But the main safety issues concern:
- Water purity. Follow the advice given by your BISHTA supplier, concerning filtration and chemicals. Change the water about every 12 weeks, or as advised by the manufacturer.
- Electricity. Like a washing machine, a hot tub brings water and electricity into close proximity. Wiring is a job for a qualified electrician.
These are just some of the ways in which your BISHTA installer will work to provide pleasure and safety, for you, your family and friends. But in the meantime, here are a few more of your questions answered.
