Hot Tubs Sales are Hot!
by Wendy Croix
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
Is yours one of the 6 million homes that already sports a hot tub? Or are you shopping for your very first spa? The rate of hot tub sales has doubled in the last decade, so if you're hankering for a spa, you're not alone. Ironically, the biggest increase in hot tub sales has come in the spas with the biggest price tags. In some parts of the country, the growth in hot tub sales is nearly twice that of pools, says Suzanne Barrows of the National Spa & Pool Institute. If you've been considering an above ground pool, perhaps you should think small.
Hot Tub to Go
For those who want a spa--but only sometimes--the temporary, portable, soft hot tub has arrived. Spa2Go from Comfort Line Products is an inflatable hot tub that sells for under $900. Just plug in this self-inflating spa, fill, and enjoy those 127 "microjets" with three of your friends. Spa2Go is made from heavy-duty raft vinyl, so it's plenty tough. Just think, your guests can sleep on an Aerobed and treat themselves to a soak in the hot tub; then, you can pack up the bed and the spa once they leave.
That's a Luxury Spa, Not a Hot Tub, Pal!
In the spa business, high end really does mean high. Whereas a standard spa or hot tub for six might grace your deck for $6-8,000, and economy models can still be found for around $4,000, the high end starts at about $30,000. What do you get for all that money? Laser lights, fire effects, imported Italian tile, individual jet controls, surround sound, and the essential DVD home theater. High end or low, you'll need a 220/240-volt line and outlet (about $250), a reinforced deck or base for the hot tub ($1000), and chemicals to keep the water clean ($120 a year). And your electric bill will go up, say $15 or so, depending on your location.
But the luxury? Priceless!
Sources
- Comfort Line Products
- "Getting Warmer." Popular Mechanics 182.7 (Jul 2005).
- "Haute TUBS for your deck," by Sean O'Neill and Elizabeth Kountze. Kiplinger's
Personal Finance 59.8 (Aug 2005).
- "Outdoor home spas spark a cascade of luxury," by Marco R. della Cava. USA Today
(May 7, 2004).
About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and university professor. In her twenty years as a professional educator, Wendy has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.
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