Hot Tub or Spa and what about Portable?

After several years in the business, I realize that people often aren't sure whether they want to purchase a hot tub or spa. There can often be extra confusion when they hear the popular industry terms; portable hot tubs and portable spas. What is the difference?

Hot Tub or Spa
If I may start with a bit of honesty, I don’t know if there is truly a difference in the use of the terms these days. Based on many conversations over the years, I believe the term hot tub was originally used for the classic round wooden hot tubs we have all seen in the movies. Early models may not even have had water jets, but instead were simply an outdoor hot tub full of hot water.
It is my understanding that the term spa has become popular when referring to the more modern models, which are very upscale. They may have multiple pumps, dozens of water jets, sometimes air jets, blowers, fancy lighting packages, stainless steel accented jets, high quality stereo sound systems, and even spas with built in hi-definition TV’s. What a list! Can this simply be called a hot tub, or does it need a specialty name, like spa?

In reality, the terms seem to be very interchangeable. Some folks say hot tub, some prefer spa, and of course to complicate the matter further, there is the registered trademark of Jacuzzi, which can often be thrown around as a generic term. I get frequent calls from folks wanting to purchase a “Jacuzzi spa.” I quickly discover they aren’t necessarily interested in a brand, but a hot tub with any number of the upscale features one would find in a “spa.”

Portable Hot Tub or Portable Spa?
Believe it or not, the official industry terms for the hot tubs offered at Spas N Stuff, are "portable hot tubs" and "portable spas." Although portable hot tubs may weigh six hundred to eight hundred pounds, they are completely self-contained. All of the spa equipment is housed within the cabinet. You’ll find pumps, the computer for controlling the system, the heater, all water and air hoses, insulation, and in the case of the deluxe models, the specialty hot tub stereos and the spas with a built-in waterproof TV.

When positioning a spa, once it is on a concrete pad, portable spa pad, deck, etc., the only connection required is the electrical line. No plumbing is required; simply fill the hot tub with a garden hose. If you want to move the portable hot tub at a future date, perhaps to a new home, simply drain it, disconnect the electrical, and it can be relocated like any other large piece of furniture. You will likely need a small crew with some equipment for the move, but the hot tubs are considered portable. In most areas of the country, that means they don’t get taxed as a typical home improvement.

So buy a hot tub (or spa if you prefer that name) today and enjoy a backyard vacation every day.