There is something luxurious about sinking into a bubbling hot tub after a long day of skiing. It is even more spectacular when you can sit outside and gaze up at a starry sky while sipping a cold beer.

One of the first purchases we want to make, after we take possession of our new vacation property, is a hot tub. According to CottageBlogger, “It is a hard fact that most renters in the fall and winter will rent a cottage with a hot tub in favour of one without, even at a higher cost.” Since our new property is located at a popular ski destination, having a hot tub makes good business sense with the added bonus that we get to use it too.

Budget for $7,000 plus

A good hot tub from a reputable dealer that can seat six people is likely going to start around $7,000 and that’s before installation and maintenance. It is strongly advised we buy from a dealer who will offer a good warranty program.

Installation

And then there are the installation costs. The best installation calls for a poured reinforced concrete slab, or an already well-constructed LEVEL patio or deck. Most hot tubs require a dedicated 220 volts service in addition to a GFCI breaker - not sure what this is going to cost, but we will need to hire an electrician to assist with the installation. Cottageblogger recommends budgeting an additional $2,000 for electrical upgrades.

The other challenge will be getting the hot tub onto the deck, as access from outside is virtually impossible. It is going to have to go through the condo. Hmmm - need to look into this.

Maintenance

Operating a hot tub will drive up our electricity bill by an estimated $40 a month. Chemical supplies will likely run between $12 to $15. And then there are the extras:

• Submersible pump - it helps to change the water faster
• UV sterilizer, recommended over an Ozonators - good for people who forget to add the chemicals
• Zorbies - oil sponges that help obsorb oily lotions

The hot tub will need to have the water checked and chemicals added to it on a regular basis, especially if it is being used by a lot of people. We will need to make arrangements to have someone perform the maintenance on our behalf, again, adding more cost to it’s maintenance.

Test Sit

It’s also recommended we try out a few hot tubs for comfort before we purchase one. This will entail calling up the dealers and arranging for them to fill them up so we can go and have a soak. This just makes me giggle to think I’ll be sitting in a show room in Burnaby having a jacuzzi.

There is a lot research that will go into the final purchase, so stay tuned. If anyone has purchased a hot tub recently, I would love to hear from you.

Cheers,

Julie

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 6:46 am and is filed under Décor. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.