Hot tub or spa? What's right? - The Hot Tub Doctor

Hot Tub or Spa?

You say tomato, I say tomato; or something like that.

You may be wondering, "What is the difference between a hot tub and a spa?"

The short answer is: absolutely nothing.

Although some companies make a distinction between the two terms, it is a common practice in the
industry to use hot tub and spa synonymously.

The more in-depth answer is that hot tubs and portable spas are manufactured tubs that can be installed
above-ground or in-ground and do not necessarily have to remain in the same location. Permanent
spas, on the other hand, are typically built in-ground, often accompanying or connected to a swimming
pool; they become an integral part of a it. These non-portable spas are usually made of poured
concrete, while hot tubs and portable spas are composed of an interior shell (typically made of acrylic
or another synthetic material) and an exterior cabinet, most often made of real or synthetic wood.

Both a hot tub and a spa can be distinguished from a whirlpool tub, which is found in a bathroom and is
filled and drained after each use. A hot tub or spa uses sanitized, filtered and circulated water and is
only drained several times a year for maintenance.

More importantly, a hot tub or portable spa offers a number of benefits that will not only increase the
value of your home, but will also improve your health, your well-being and your relationships with
those you love. With advantages like these, the thought of unwinding in warm, swirling waters after a
long day is almost too hard to resist. But among the vast number of hot tub models, which vary in
everything from size to number of jets to entertaining add-ons, how do you decide which one will fit
your lifestyle?