Hot tub/ spa, who's got one? Need advice

[tbill]

As the title says, who here has one, and what advice/reviews can you offer?

My wife has decided we 'need' one, and truthfully, I would not mind a nice warm water jet soak after a long days work.

I have been looking on line at reviews and such, but there seems to be a ton of manufacturers out there with similar products and warranties.

So I thought I would ask you all what your using, what brand, what model, and what your experience has been with what you bought. Obviously the having to get it serviced if broken will depend on the location and the experience of the tech involved in the repair, so I may not need that info, but overall, what has your experience been with the quality of what you bought?

I figure this is as off topic as it gets, so please indulge me.

Thanks,

Tom

[High octane]

I believe we had a Nordic Spa for 'bout 12 years and it was great, especially when the weather got a bit chillier. We had ours outside and could just step off our deck into it. In the winter, the hardest part was taking off your robe and entering the tub. I kept it at a constant 95 degrees when I was not in it, and when I was I would bump the stat to 104 degrees which is only 6 degrees above body temp. It was awesome to be sitting in the spa drinking a beer and seeing steam rise from the tub as the snow was all around the tub. Getting out was a piece of cake, as I was able to dry off, put on the robe and ditch the trunks, put the cover back on the tub and go inside. After all your body is nice and warm from getting out of the relaxing warm tub. Go for it!

[Tom Geiger]

I have two hot tubs. Both came with our house. Hot tub one is built into the master bath. Hot tub two is part of our in ground pool. My experience? The thrill wears off rather quickly. The one in the master bath has been used maybe half a dozen times in the five years we've been here. It relies on the water heater and it takes more than 50 gallons to fill it. Just too much of a task to fill it etc.

The hot tub in the pool is only good during the pool season and gets winterized. At first we used it all the time, but we ran out of folks who wanted to sit there and drink. It gets used very little. When we move from here I wouldn't be owning another hot tub, or pool for that matter!

I'd put a hot tub in the same category as that barely used exercise equipment you can buy at any garage sale!

Edited June 12, 2015 by Tom Geiger

[Mark]

I'd put a hot tub in the same category as that barely used exercise equipment you can buy at any garage sale!

With the exercise bike, at least you can hook a few clothes hangers on the handlebars...

[Rob Hall]

I have an in ground one next to the pool, came w/ the house. I mostly use it in the off-pool season..fall/winter/spring. It does feel really good to get in after an tiring day in cubeland... one thing I'd like to have in a future house is a sauna...some friends in Denver have one in their basement, very nice. The pool I try and use every day during pool season (late May to late October).. I love swimming and it is such a great stress reliever..

Edited June 12, 2015 by Rob Hall