What Questions to Ask Before Buying a Hot Tub

The idea has popped into your head: You too, could have a hot tub. 

“How do I buy a hot tub?” is possibly your first question. But we know it won’t be your last. 

We know this because we get asked questions all the time at our stores and people call us at Hydropool headquarters with questions as well. We have been in business for 40 years, and we get asked all kinds of hot tub questions on a regular basis. 

Here are some of the most common questions:

• How much will a hot tub cost upfront? 
• How much will a hot tub cost per month? 
• How do I hook a hot tub up for power? 
• What kind of cleaning and maintenance do hot tubs need? 
• How long will my hot tub last? 
• What hot tub should I buy? 
• What do I do if I don’t know what to do?

We believe in answering questions as best as we possibly can at Hydropool! So let’s have a look at these toughies, one at a time. 

 

 

How Much Does a Hot Tub Cost?

This is, without a doubt, the most common hot tub question we are asked. In 2024, the range is roughly $8,000 to $25,000 (all dollars are in Canadian) with stops anywhere in-between.  

• A budget hot tub is about $8,000 to $10,000 
• A mid-range hot tub is about $11,000 to $15,000
• A high-end hot tub is about $15,000 to $25,000. 

You also need to budget an additional $1,000 to $4,000 for installation, which requires a flat surface and electrical hook-up. We’re giving a range here because it can vary considerably depending on whether it’s on a deck or if you need to put in a concrete pad or if you’re using paving stones – we’d encourage you to consult with a local dealer to figure out your exact needs (here’s an article that breaks down what you need to put your hot tub on). 

• Most hot tub companies don’t make their pricing public. We do. You can check out the Hydropool website anytime you like. Just click on any model and you’ll see the price listed for it. 

How Much Does a Hot Tub Cost per Month? 

You’re not going to be surprised to hear that this is the second-most common question we get. In Canada, it’s about $60 a month, including both the electrical and the cost of sanitizing chemicals. 

Electrical costs are about $30 a month, or a dollar a day. These will vary on a wide range of factors, with the most important being how much you use the hot tub. Like lifting a lid off a pot of cooking rice, it makes a big difference every time you lift the lid off the hot tub. 

Chemical costs are also about $30 a month. This is your chlorine or bromine, designed to help sanitize your hot tub so that you and your family can use it. You also need some chemicals to clean your tub when you drain it. 

• We have more on this as well! Check out an in-depth look at monthly costs here. 
• And here’s our best way to minimize chemical usage. 

How Do I Get Power to my Hot Tub? 

First, you’ll need a licensed electrician, unless you’re purchasing a plug-and-play model, which plugs into a standard plug-in.  

Hydropool retailers have electricians who can help you, and most local retailers of any major hot tub brand will offer support here if you ask. 

What Kind of Cleaning and Maintenance is Required for a Hot Tub? 

The most important thing for your hot tub is to maintain your water balance. Check your pH balance once a week with testing strips and adjust as needed. Turning your air controls off every time you leave the hot tub and rinsing your filter bi-weekly will solve most ongoing water issues before they happen. Cleaning isn’t a rinse: You need to put it in a degreasing, cleaning solution in order to be at 100 percent.

If you don’t clean regularly, then things can go wrong. For a look at what can happen, click here. 

How Long Will my Hot Tub Last? 

This will depend on a lot of factors, but generally we say 15 years is a good life expectancy. Many last far beyond that. Again, this will come down to things like weather conditions and how the hot tub is maintained overall.  

What Hot Tub Should I Buy? 

Here’s the biggest tip we can give you: Buy the hot tub for the people who are going to use it the most. Most people buy a hot tub that holds too many people, for those once-a-year occasions. Our suggestion is to take turns using it when those times come. If it’s mostly going to be you, your partner and your two children, then a four-seat hot tub is all you need, not a six. 

• For a look at some of the best hot tubs in Canada that aren’t Hydropool, check out this article (yes, we write about our competitors, as honestly and as fairly as we can). 
• For a deeper look into Hydropool’s hot tubs, head here. 

Who Can Provide Support for my Hot Tub?

This is one part where it pays to be careful, and we admit we are totally biased here. But if you Google around, you’ll see it’s not just us who says this, but everyone does: buy your hot tub from an established, local, retail network. A warranty is no good if there isn’t a business behind it who will support it. And especially in the first year, you will have questions about how your hot tub works, how to keep it clean, how to prepare it for the winter, and so on. A retailer can help you with all those issues. 

Secondly, a hot tub is like a car in the sense that it will sometimes require maintenance. As a result, having a local dealer with you is like having a mechanic available for your hot tub, any time you want. It will save you hassle later if you forge a good relationship with your local retailer when you buy. 

• Find your local Hydropool retailer here. 

Common Hot Tub Questions

We wrote this article to try and answer common hot tub questions that people have (do you know what we don’t get asked a lot about, but love talking about? Insulation! You can read more about that here). We know that buying a hot tub can be confusing and while we wish it wasn’t, we want to make it as easy as possible for people (for a level up, try considering a swim spa, which has everything a hot tub has, but you can swim in it too).

Maybe you have more questions? We totally understand. It’s that kind of purchase, after all. Here’s how we can help:

• We have a whole Learning Centre designed to answer your questions.   
• We have a retailer network, who would be happy to speak with you.
• And lastly, your next step could be our ultimate guide to buying a hot tub or swim spa, which you can find here.