Hot Tub, Spa, Jacuzzi or Spa Pool, Which is Which?

It is a hot tub? Maybe it’s a Jacuzzi. No wait, is it a spa or spa pool? Are they all the same or are they different?

It is not uncommon to find the terms jacuzzi, hot tub, and spa/spa pool used interchangeably. But they are not the same. Although they are similar in some ways:

• They are all heated pools of water
• They were conceived and are used to provide hydrotherapy
• They are used to help people relax, rejuvenate, and even have fun

Certain specifics like location and use are what has given rise to the different terms and what sets them apart from one another. Read on to learn what makes hot tubs, jacuzzis, spa pools similar – but different.

What Is a Hot Tub?

A large size tub (as compared to a bathtub) filled with heated water that is built to accommodate several people all at once is a hot tub. It can be as simple as that, or it has additional bells and whistles like jets and bubblers. A hot tub setup has its own plumbing and electricals, with inbuilt controls. And it is moveable, in that you can uproot it and take it with you when you move houses.

Hot tubs are predominantly installed and enjoyed al fresco, though they can be put into an indoor space like a summer house or gazebo if required. You are most likely, however, to find a hot tub on someone’s deck or patio or maybe in the backyard, and it will be above the ground, unlike a pool or jacuzzi.

In terms of maintenance, because hot tubs are above-ground fixtures, you need to accommodate for access to the side panels. It is important to check and clean the hot tub’s covers and filters regularly as given that they are usually outdoors, they are exposed to the elements across the various seasons.

What is a Jacuzzi?

As Q-Tips are to cotton swabs and Kleenex is to tissues, so is Jacuzzi to hot tubs. Jacuzzi is a brand that dates back to the 1950s, with the Italian Jacuzzi brothers inventing an underwater pump to create a hydrotherapy bath. Fast forward some years, and the company created jet whirlpool baths, and indoor tubs with jets that allowed several people to relax or enjoy its therapeutic effects together, and a slew of other related spa equipment.

Hotels and spas of repute will sometimes use branded Jacuzzis, and they are also available for home installation and use. A Jacuzzi can be installed in the privacy of your bathroom and there are also larger sized ones for the backyard or patio.

While all Jacuzzis’ are hot tubs, not all hot tubs are Jacuzzis’. It’s North American based these days, and so it is more common to mention Jacuzzis’ in the US.

What is a Spa or Spa Pool?

A spa is more often than not an in-ground installation, though above the ground portable versions also exist. A spa is a standalone unit that is utilised to offer therapeutic treatments for health and wellness. Spas are basically water treatments, but there are numerous options available, including spa resorts, spa pools, jetted tubs with strong jets.

Spa resorts are a popular iteration, where water therapies of various kinds like healing baths are offered using natural hot springs, whose waters are known to be full of minerals.

Jetted hot tubs fitted with strong jets that shoot out and provide a massaging effect also constitute a spa. Usually, this level of hot tub has seating and jets spread out across the space, so that several people can enjoy the therapeutic action at the same time. These can be portable and above ground or are built to fit into a deck or floor space.

Spa pools are in-ground units that are heated and feature jets. Some are built attached to a pool (partly earning that moniker of spa pools) and feature jets and seating. They can be either indoor or outdoor installations. Spa pools, being built into the ground, require similar maintenance and care as a swimming pool. This means cleaning the jets and filters, doing the requisite chemical balancing of the water and taking care of grout and cleaning the tiles.

What Is the Best Choice for You?

If you’re considering buying, a hot tub is the most flexible, simplest, and most common option. As they’re above ground, installation is fast, they are moveable, and they can go almost anywhere. Contact us to talk about your UK hot tub options; here at Sutton Spas, we are the local experts on quality, above ground hot tubs.