Does anyone have a spa/jacuzzi at home ?
If so, are they a good idea, do you find them useful ?
What’s the maintenance etc like ?
Thanks
I used to have a hot tub, big enough for 6. I used it quite a lot in spring, summer and autumn evenings, usually with a 
or 2. Upkeep takes a bit of getting used to - keeping chemical levels right, cleaning filters etc but not that a big issue. Main thing was the running and heating (electricity) costs. I believe now you can heat them using a PAC which would reduce heating costs by about 80%.
Now we’ve moved, I’m considering getting another one 
You’re more likely than ever to need one given where you’ve moved to 
My son has one of the €400+ Intex ones that he has outside and constructed wooden decking around it and to house the electrical stuff in. This is his fourth summer using it and it began to leak around the filter so he bought some special glue from the pool place and so far it has worked and no further leaks. He religiously keeps it oxygenated twice per week and disinfected every saturday with the filter removed and cleaned evry two or three days this time of year. I went in it for the first time last week, it was quite deep to sit down but my 3 year old grandson just throws himself in and uses it like a swimming pool. The family use it all year round as it is heated and because their back yard is completely shuttered off, they can go without clothing. Whatever you do though with these inflatable types is never to empty it and try to fold it for storage, they need to be left inflated. Maintenance fairly cheap as you buy many makes of oxygen tablets and sachets of disinfectant and that is it. Forgot to say it has a big cover and also a bâche type cover which straps down in the wind.
Before we moved we were thinking about a pool, bloody stupid idea …
2 Likes
We built our own and it has been a godsend this year. It is solid and sheltered from the wind but not the sunlight. Designed for two adults it has a separate filter and water heater which is rarely used. It holds less that two cubic metres of water. We use it mainly to cool down during the hot weather. Water loss due to evaporation can be a problem during a heatwave.
Gus
1 Like
Great comments from you all, thanks.
I was thinking of putting one inside the property. I thought it might be refreshing in the warm months and therapeutic all- year round as a relaxing dip to help with various aches and pains, especially my partner who has serious problems with fibromyalgia.
Her GP, a fellow sufferer says it helps her a lot
2 Likes
Ah a therapy spa, in which case I would recommend using magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) in a salt pool/spa way. Very often used in therapy pools.
Put a simple cover over it.
There are Brits just the other side of our hill(ock) with a pool. I’ve never ever seen it used…
Might get more use out of it as a skating rink in winter I suppose…
1 Like
I don’t think there would ever be a problem keeping it topped up
I suppose that could be regarded as a plus
We bought an inflatable one 2 years ago, can seat up to 4 adults. It works fine in late spring and summer, but is fairly expensive to run in terms of electricity for the heating of the water in our area (nearly 600m with the amplitudes of temperature +/- 20°C, and exposed to the north wind), and once temperatures dip below 10°C in the morning (like now, for example), it is simply too expensive to get it up to anything worth dipping into.
Thats the difference between you and my family with the inflatable one. It never gets cold here and has been 40°C+ most of the recent months. They don’t find it expensive to run via electricity as the sun heats it up naturally sometimes too warm so they have to add a bit more cold water.
2 Likes
It depends on the site, in sun or shade, prevailing drafts etc.
Fitting an evacuated tube panel sould be easily enough to keep it up to temperature and could also be used to pre heat the hot water tank. Its about economising on energy whilst getting what we want and need.
1 Like
Just offering my thoughts on this… noting that the Spa is intended to help with an existing condition…
All year round use… needs to be sited in an area which can be kept reasonably comfortable… which for me means “indoors”… and I note this is what @Peter_Bird is intending…
I’d choose a sunny aspect rather than north-facing… and I think I’d link it to the hot water supply (if suitable) or its own exchanger thingy …
and, frankly, I would not invite friends/neighbours or anyone other than my OH to use it…
(Back in UK, OH installed a large spa-bath thingy for us … a lifetime ago… linked to the HW boiler… absolutely marvellous, so relaxing… but no way did we want “them uvvers” joining us… 
)
2 Likes
With indoor, a heat recovery ventilation will be needed to lower the humidity to avoid mold growth.
One of my BIL refuses absolutely to ever go in a spa that has been used by other people. He does not trust the hygiene régime by any owner at all and definately not one in a rented cottage etc. I am the only one not of the immediate family in the house to go in their spa and I made sure I had a shower first.
1 Like
windows are useful and open freely…
it’s not clear if it will be used everyday or just a couple of times a week…
(but I understand what you’re saying… if it’s to be steamy hot 24/7)
1 Like
And just loose the heat which you have to replace at additional cost. We are meant to be moving to reducing energy usage world.