NGKUR: Hot tubs.

[mosdub]

I got it in my head that I want a hot tub.  We live in the great cold north and I think soaking in 104 degree water under the cold stars would be a marvelous way to enjoy winter.  My aunt and uncle have one and it's so lovely (aside from running through the snow in your bathing suit to get to it).

Anyone out there with recommendations on what brands are good?  Any recommendations on what not to get?  Tips?  Advice?  Encouragement?  Ridiculous hot tub gifs?


I'm probably just dreaming and I know there are a million other better ways to spend money...but who knows....  

This could be my future:

 

[mosdub]

Oct 11, 2015 17:26:29 GMT -5 @wickedcandy said:

No idea, but if we didn't have an patio that opened to the adjoining greenspace to out complex, I told my H we would get one

Could you put up a little wall/fence?  Or would that go against HOA? 

[TheEleventhHour]

We really want a hot tub too! Definitely following this thread.

[britta]

My parents have one. Sitting in the hot tub while it's snowing out is the BEST, but it never got much use in the summer. They now drain it every spring to save the money.

I couldn't tell you the brand. All I know is that they went with a Chlorine free system, so all the chemicals were Bromine. It didn't have the pool smell to it. It's also a bit of work; weekly cleanings and such.

We would totally get one but we're thinking of selling our house next summer so it's kinda pointless right now.

[aprilz81]

I like the *idea* of a hot tub (my parents used to have one), but the reality of one is a different story.

My parents hated the maintenance required... Checking chemical levels, water levels, water temps frequently wasn't fun, especially in the winter. If the chemicals were out of balance you had to know what to do to balance them and of course keep them on hand. Their electric bill was higher when it was in use and they had to add water to it fairly frequently to keep the proper water level.

I think that it is one of those things that you will either love or hate once you have it for a little bit.

[mosdub]

Oct 11, 2015 17:39:46 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

I like the *idea* of a hot tub (my parents used to have one), but the reality of one is a different story.

My parents hated the maintenance required... Checking chemical levels, water levels, water temps frequently wasn't fun, especially in the winter. If the chemicals were out of balance you had to know what to do to balance them and of course keep them on hand. Their electric bill was higher when it was in use and they had to add water to it fairly frequently to keep the proper water level.

I think that it is one of those things that you will either love or hate once you have it for a little bit.

Yes, good points.  

I don't know how we would add water to it in the winter because I'll have the hose shut off to prevent freezing.  Could I just shovel a path to it and shovel the snow into the tub?  HAHA just kidding.  
I remember my parents had one when we were a kid and I vaguely remember her checking chemicals but I don't know how big of a pain it was.  I definitely wouldn't want to deal with emptying/refilling during the winter.  Not sure how long you can go without refilling before it's just gross.


ETA:  Just researched- you should empty and refill every 4 months.  So if you emptied and refilled in October you'd have to empty re-fill in February which is the coldest month!  Brr!  I guess you just deal with it and do it.  

[jubilantsquirrel]

The chemical part isn't that hard. You can bring a water sample to a hot tub/spa place and they'll tell you what chemicals you need and how much of each to use.

We tore out our hot tub this summer, it was old and we never used it (mostly because it was old). I do love sitting in a hot tub surrounded by snow though.

[mosdub]

Oct 11, 2015 18:12:13 GMT -5 jubilantsquirrel said:

The chemical part isn't that hard. You can bring a water sample to a hot tub/spa place and they'll tell you what chemicals you need and how much of each to use.

We tore out our hot tub this summer, it was old and we never used it (mostly because it was old). I do love sitting in a hot tub surrounded by snow though.

I get not wanting to use an old one.  I thought about maybe getting a cheap one on craigslist but thought then I won't know it as well if parts go bad.  I feel like starting new will be easier to maintain.

[jubilantsquirrel]

Oct 11, 2015 18:17:33 GMT -5 mosdub said:

Oct 11, 2015 18:12:13 GMT -5 jubilantsquirrel said:

The chemical part isn't that hard. You can bring a water sample to a hot tub/spa place and they'll tell you what chemicals you need and how much of each to use.

We tore out our hot tub this summer, it was old and we never used it (mostly because it was old). I do love sitting in a hot tub surrounded by snow though.

I get not wanting to use an old one.  I thought about maybe getting a cheap one on craigslist but thought then I won't know it as well if parts go bad.  I feel like starting new will be easier to maintain.

I would definitely go with a new one! It just seems the best way to go, especially since I'm sure there will be a warranty with a new one. I would have loved to replace ours but there's more updates inside the house I would rather spend that money on. 

[ellabee]

We were house sitters for a year at a place that had a hot tub. I can second the fact that it takes a good amount of effort for maintenance. The testing and chemicals kinda got annoying. We didn't use it as much as I thought we would, but on the nights we did use it, it was awesome.

[onesweetworld]

I want one of the blow up hot tubs

[GOmamab15]

My in laws have one of those blow up ones, but it's really much more substantial that I would have ever imagined. You can sit of the side so the wall is that solid. Theirs makes me really want one because it is so easy and relatively cheap (They got theirs for about $400 from WalMart online)

I think this is the brand they have. We want one.

www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage-Spa-Set/34480054

[mosdub]

Oct 11, 2015 18:45:03 GMT -5 GOmamab15 said:

My in laws have one of those blow up ones, but it's really much more substantial that I would have ever imagined. You can sit of the side so the wall is that solid. Theirs makes me really want one because it is so easy and relatively cheap (They got theirs for about $400 from WalMart online)

I think this is the brand they have. We want one.

www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage-Spa-Set/34480054

I wonder how well it would hold heat in 15 degrees? 

ETA:  researched - only good up to 39 degrees

[TheEleventhHour]

Oct 11, 2015 18:50:18 GMT -5 mosdub said:

Oct 11, 2015 18:45:03 GMT -5 GOmamab15 said:

My in laws have one of those blow up ones, but it's really much more substantial that I would have ever imagined. You can sit of the side so the wall is that solid. Theirs makes me really want one because it is so easy and relatively cheap (They got theirs for about $400 from WalMart online)

I think this is the brand they have. We want one.

www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-PureSpa-Portable-Bubble-Massage-Spa-Set/34480054

I wonder how well it would hold heat in 15 degrees? 

ETA:  researched - only good up to 39 degrees

Yeah, we wanted to go with a blow up one because it fit in our budget but it would be a no go with the kind of winters we have! 

[GOmamab15]

Oct 11, 2015 19:18:00 GMT -5 TheEleventhHour said:

Oct 11, 2015 18:50:18 GMT -5 mosdub said:

I wonder how well it would hold heat in 15 degrees? 

ETA:  researched - only good up to 39 degrees

Yeah, we wanted to go with a blow up one because it fit in our budget but it would be a no go with the kind of winters we have! 

Oh yeah, they live by the beach so it never freezes. I forgot about that.

[onesweetworld]

There goes my dreams of a blow up hot tub

[dashook]

I know nothing about hot tubs so I really have nothing of value to contribute. But I did want to let you all know that I clicked into this thread thinking it was going to be a survey on how we feel about fooling around in hot tubs, or something.

[Deleted]

Ooo, random Wallie hot tub facts.
1)I broke my front tooth when I was little when I slipped and fell in an empty hot tub.
2) I pass out when I sit in them now. I can't do the high heat.

[rungirlrun]

I feel like the odd man out here. I hate hot tubs. I put one foot in and the heat gets to me - makes me crazy nauseous and lightheaded. I wish I liked them. My H loves them - especially in winter at a ski house. He hates that I am super anti ever having a hot tub or pool at our house.

[spicysalmonroll]

We really want one. When we go on vacations, we always try to book a room with a jet tub if possible and we each take like 2 baths a day just to relax on vacation since our tubs at home are too tiny to use. So I know we would actually use a hot tub. It's just the cost factor for us right now- a wood stove to save money on heating oil is more practical so we're trying to save up for that first.

Growing up, we had one in the finished basement (in it's own room built of the drywall used in bathrooms) so I got spoiled not having to trapse through snow to enjoy it!

ETA- that gif in the OP is one of my all time favorite skits ever

[graysweater]

We have a hot tub on our deck. We only run it in the winter time. We usually get it going end of October/beginning of November. Then it is usually drained end of February/March. Chemical maintenance is easy and we rarely have to add water. It is so nice to sit in while it is snowing.

For the chemicals you just dip a strip daily. Also there is a spot for continuous chemical tablets and then every few days H will throw in some of the quick release powders. The hardest part is the beginning and end when we have to dry and wax.