Cheap Hot Tub? Do you really want one?

Have you ever stood in the line at your local video rental chain and realize that the movie you are renting was one that you've rented 2 or 3 times before? Why, at this point, you could have just bought the movie outright for the cost of all the rental fees and then you would have that great flick to watch whenever you want - for as long as you want. The bottom line is just this: why be nickled and dimed for something when for a equal one-time payment, you can have endless enjoyment?

The same line of reasoning hold true for many consumer goods - and for this hub in particular, I'm going to show you how it definitely applies to purchasing a hot tub or spa. When it comes to hot tub shopping, this simple philosophy of paying once and saving forever is one that can add value to your life but still keep money in your pockets.

Often an inexpensive price tag will make an item an easy "impulse buy". When you are talking about hot tubs, it is best to avoid the impulsive approach and consider a few factors to ensure that you will be spending your money wisely. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How many years do I want my spa to work before I would have to buy a replacement?
• What kind of wear will my spa be able to withstand? Will I use it often, want to have hot tub parties or young children using it, etc?
• Am I willing to settle for less features or poorer performance in order to save some money?
• How much am I willing to pay for maintenance or repairs?

These questions are important to remember if you are shopping at a spa show room. Sales are often influenced by emotion, and a good hot tub salesperson will know exactly how to talk you into a purchase whether it be a good investment or not. By keeping these questions in mind, you are less likely to get overwhelmed with the "buyer's high" that sometimes doesn't pay off in terms of value. A bit later, I will outline what elements you want to look for in a quality hot tub - and which ones you want to avoid!

The term "cheap" is a word that can mean two very different things. It can either mean that you got a great value for your money - or it can mean that you would have been better off putting your money in the toilet and flushing it!

When you're shopping, you definitely want quality, but a good price never hurts either. In order to make sure that you are getting a high-quality, luxury, fully loaded spa or hot tub without paying an arm and a leg, you need to understand what types of spas are out there and what you can expect to pay.

Here is a quick over-view of what different type of hot tubs are available to you, as well as the a few things to be careful of when shopping.

These spas are currently the priciest spas to own, and have seen waning popularity over the past years. Prior to portable acrylic hot tubs, these were considered the most durable and equipped spas available. There are a wide selection of features available for this type of hot tub, yet few people consider having this type of hot tub put into their yard these days. There are several reasons that the majority of buyers are deterred:

1. They are the most expensive spas
2. They require the most work (excavation, plumbing, wiring, etc.) in terms of installation.
3. They demand the longest wait from the time of purchase to the moment you get into them.
4. Maintenance is often difficult due to underground plumbing and wiring.
5. The quality and features available are directly comparable to less expensive portable models.

What you can expect to pay: $5,000 and Up.

What to be careful of when shopping: Poor workmanship. Often the telltale signs of bad construction are only seen a few years after the spa's completion. After time, cracks will appear in the cement often from rushed or sloppy workmanship or poor preparation of the ground. Repairs are costly and sometimes don't even fix the problem. When you are considering an in-ground or above-ground permanent hot tub, make sure that the contractors would are working with are reliable and have a good reputation. An honest, good spa contractor usually will be willing to stand behind his work or have certain warrantees covering cracks.

These round hot tubs constructed out of planks of teak, redwood or cedar were wildly popular during the ‘70's, but largely disappeared from the hot tub scene during the ‘80's. Today, there are a few companies that still make wooden hot tubs. This rustic hot tub has had a few modern upgrades, though it is not as luxurious as permanent or acrylic portable spas. There are benefits to soaking in warm wateralone, but this spa usually does not offer the type of massage you get from other types of spas. When jets are installed, the tubing connecting them is quite visible and unsightly because there are no protective or insulated walls on wooden spas to hide them. Often owners stand or sit on simple benches as opposed to the molded seats available in other spas. This type of hot tub is most like the traditional Japanese hot baths and offers a simple, rustic charm.

What you can expect to pay: $1,500 to $7,000 on average.

What to be careful of when shopping: Just be aware that this type of hot tub requires the most amount maintenance out of all the different spa types. Wooden Hot Tubs are easily ruined if the water levels are too low or if there is any water freezing, because this causes the wood to shrink (if it dries out) or the wood to expand too much (if water freezes) which can cause cracks and leaks. This type of tub requires a "breaking in" period when it is first set up, which means emptying and refilling the tub several times. Algae build-up can also be a serious problem in wooden hot tubs, because the rough surface of the wood gives it a foothold to grow.

These are portable spas that are the easiest to move from one place to another-or be put into storage. They tend to come in a round shape only and usually have no seats. Fold-up and inflatable hot tubs can loose heat quite easily, especially if the jets are running. This is partially because of the thin, un-insulated walls and the fact that this type of spa uses jets that blow air instead of water. The air bubbles being expelled into the water cause the temperature to drop very quickly - so in general, more energy is used to power the hot tub.

What you can expect to pay: $800 to $2,000 for most

What to be careful of when shopping: Be aware that these hot tubs are often constructed of flimsy materials like nylon, vinyl or plastic which easy tear or break with heavy wear. These probably are not suitable for someone looking for a long term investment. Cold or lukewarm water is also a problem that is quite common, because of the air jets rather than water jets. For this reason, it is best for soaks for only 15-30 minutes. Some owners feel anxious about the simple wiring on these tubs mixing with water and causing an electrical short or fire.

This variety of spa most popular with buyers and has replaced the cement spas that were popular in the past. The most recent models of portable hot tubs and spas have become very luxurious and low maintenance due high quality features and self-contained design. Seating is softly molded to better suit the contours of your body and jets are often high quality, expelling water rather than air to give a good massage and also conserve heat. Portable acrylic, Roto-molded spas are easy to get started and most only require a standard outlet to plug into for power and need no additional plumbing. There is a wide variety of styles available to choose from as well as many different features. These spas are the best all-around choice when it comes to quality and durability.

What you can expect to pay: $2,000 to $6,000 for most

What to be careful of when shopping: Keep an eye on the weight of the tub. A hot tub is most portable if it is under 300 pounds. The hot tubs that are specifically made from Roto-molded plastic, like those made by DreamMaker, are good combination of durability and portability - they have a lifetime warranty on the spa shell no matter how many times it is moved. Some acrylic portable tubs need a cement slab poured for them to rest on, while others, like DreamMaker only require a solid foundation (i.e. deck, level spot in your yard, etc).

Wooden and cement hot tubs are often more costly and require more maintenance than the cheaper portable hot tubs. Just beware of being too cheap! Hot tubs that fold up or inflate often are going to be a short-lived experience and only offer some of the comfort of "real" hot tubs. Are you willing to go out and buy a replacement hot tub when your "cheap" one breaks down?

There is a reason that the roto-molded spas are very popular - they are a combination of affordability and durability, require very little maintenance, but do not skimp when it comes to luxurious features. For most people, this type of spa is ideal.

Why pay twice or three times for a cheap hot tub, when you can pay a little more money up front and keep your investment and it's health benefits for a lifetime? (For a list of health benefits, see my Hub on Hydrotherapy.)

So remember what you've learned from this article while you're shopping for that "cheap" hot tub. Don't be afraid to spend a little extra on a hot tub that will last for years - because in the long run, this is going to be the smarter choice money-wise!