Hot Tub, Gonna Make Ya Sweat-a!
That might be what Eddie Murphy sang when he impersonated James Brown on Saturday Night Live, but don’t worry: the hot tub itself might make you sweat, but putting it in won’t.
Seriously? It’s easy to put in a hot tub?
“Easy” is a relative term, so let’s just say with the proper planning and a little knowledge, it’s possible. One word of caution: we can’t definitively say you’re not going to sweat. We don’t know you that well. We can say it’s probably not something you need to worry about, however.
Does a hot tub affect the value of my home?
It might, in either a positive or negative way. A built-in hot tub can increase the value of your home… if it’s in good shape, fits in with the property and landscaping, or it’s built into a deck or gazebo. One way to make an older hot tub look good is to simply buy a new cover. No one has a mathematical formula to determine the added value of a hot tub. It usually depends on how interested your potential buyer may be in your hot tub. If they want a hot tub of their own, yours may spark their interest and help increase value.
On the other hand, hot tubs take up space and require constant maintenance. While some buyers might think a hot tub is pretty cool, others may want it removed. Some may see your hot tub as an unwanted and costly hassle, which could make your home less appealing.
One solution to that potential problem is to install a portable hot tub you could easily remove. Of course, while portable hot tubs won’t detract from your home’s value, they won’t add anything to it either.
Are there any other benefits to installing a hot tub?
Yes! You might think the only reasons to install a hot tub are so you can relax and impress your friends (don’t pretend that’s not part of your reason for wanting one), but like the guy on TV says: “Wait! There’s more!”
Hot tubs can be beneficial for your health. Here’s how:
Mental Health
Relaxing in a hot tub helps you reduce stress hormones and helps your physically and mentally recover from your day. Your psychological health affects your physical health and taking time to relax can strengthen your immune system and that helps you avoid colds.
Circulation
A hot tub can increase your heart rate and circulation. Regular use can even strengthen your heart through the increased exertion.
Weight Loss
When you’re hot, your body uses energy to keep you cool and any time your body uses energy, you lose weight. It’s not like running a marathon or doing cardio but relaxing and not doing anything in a hot tub will burn a few extra calories. So you got that going for you.
Muscle Health
You’ve sat in a hot tub, right? Ahhh. The massage you get from the heat, bubbles and jet spray relaxes your muscles just like a real massage (and you don’t have to leave a tip!). A hot tub massage after a workout improves muscle recovery and helps you avoid pulled muscles and other injuries. Why do you think you always see professional athletes in a hot tub?
Skin and Hair
Hot tubs make you sweat and that can get rid of toxins which will improve your skin tone and appearance. Reducing oils also improves the glossiness of your hair.
How much does it cost to install a hot tub?
That’s kind of like asking “How much does it cost to buy a car?” You have a ton of choices, and you could spend a little or a whole lot. For our purposes, let’s assume you want a “mid-range” hot tub that fits three to four people. That would probably cost around $3,500 to $8,000, depending on the number of jets and extra features. And that’s just for the hot tub.
To maintain a hot tub properly, you’ll need to invest in some extra equipment, too. First, you’ll need a foundation for the tub like a cement slab, gravel patio, or gazebo. Then, you’ll need a portable pump to empty the tub. You should also look into weatherproof stairs for climbing into the tub. Finally, a cover helper that will lift and manage the tub cover is important for sanitation and maintenance purposes. Cover helper not only makes the job easier, it helps eliminate damage to the tub.
Consider all of these things before you decide whether or not you want to install a hot tub. If you decide it sounds like too much work, you’ll save yourself some money. If you decide you want a hot tub anyway, then you’re probably ready for one. Once you’ve made up your mind about a hot tub, all that’s left is to install it. We can help with that, too.
…Oops, out of time. We’ll get into how to actually install your hot tub in part two. If you’re interested in putting in a hot tub yourself, you won’t want to miss it.
Thanks for reading! Good luck with your hot tub consideration. Remember: Early Bird is always available to help or answer questions if you need it.
