Given Canberra’s status as Australia’s chilliest capital, it isn’t a surprise that hot tubs are becoming so popular here. The ideal antidote to a chilly evening or a fresh morning, a hot tub allows you to enjoy the ACT’s great outdoors in comfort and style, no matter the weather.

But a spa isn’t exactly an everyday purchase. When you buy a hot tub in Canberra, you’ll come across systems, terms and technologies that you’ve never encountered before. So how do you know what to look for? Or how much to pay? How do you tell the best from the rest?

In this guide we’ll tell you all that and more. Here’s how to buy a hot tub in Canberra.

Start with the basics

Why are you thinking about buying a hot tub in the first place? Your goals and motivations will be the main factor in determining which model is right for you.

There are any number of reasons for wanting a hot tub, because these machines aren’t just a luxury, they’re an investment capable of delivering a range of returns:

• Health and wellness: Warm water immersion is proven to deliver a range of health benefits, while hydromassage can offer unmatched relief and relaxation.
• Interpersonal relationships: Hot tubs are a place where you can disconnect from your devices and reconnect with the ones you love, whether your partner, family or friends.
• Lifestyle: If you’re one of Canberra’s social butterflies, a backyard hot tub is the ideal way to lure friends around for weekend fun, and can make you the host with the most.
• Finances: Adding a hot tub to your Airbnb or holiday rental can help you secure more bookings and charge more for each one. It can increase the value of your home (or you can take your fully portable Hot Spring hot tub with you when you move!)

When you have a clear idea of what you want from a hot tub, consider the limitations on your purchase, most notably:

• Space: How much room do you have in your Canberra backyard? Choose your preferred spot and measure it up, being sure to allow for some space around the spa for accessibility, cleaning and maintenance.
• Budget: How much are you happy or able to spend on a hot tub? When crafting your budget you should view the hot tub as an investment, not a cost, because focusing too much on sticker price can ultimately mean you spend more in the long run.

Speaking of which…

Making sense of cost

When setting your hot tub budget, it’s important to understand that the sticker price only tells part of the story. Consider the other upfront costs (delivery, installation, setup), and the ongoing costs that you’ll pay over the life of the machine (power, water, chemicals, maintenance).

A hot tub is a long-term investment. Choosing a quality machine not only gives you a better soaking and ownership experience – it can save you real cash in the long run. Higher quality machines will generally have lower running costs, and they’ll also last longer than a cheaper model, particularly in the often challenging Canberra climate.

Key hot tub cost considerations include:

• Energy efficiency: The most significant ongoing cost of hot tub ownership is power. Choose a machine with high quality, efficient insulation. (At Hot Spring we’re the home of Australia’s most energy efficient hot tubs.)
• Smart water care: Choose a machine with automated water care technologies that reduce the amount of work you need to do, and the amount of water and chemicals  you use, like Hot Spring’s and FreshWater IQ and FreshWater Salt Systems.
• Warranty: You can learn a lot about a hot tub brand’s confidence in its products by how long and comprehensive the warranties are. At Hot Spring we’ve been proving the quality of our hot tubs since 1980, and we offer warranties that reflect that fact.

Types of hot tubs

When you start to shop for a hot tub in Canberra, you might be surprised at exactly how many different types of machine are available:

• Permanent vs portable: You can choose from a permanent, custom-built hot tub versus a portable, self-contained, prefabricated machine, like a Hot Spring.
• Seating and sizing: At Hot Spring we offer hot tubs in all manner of sizes: 2-7 seats, footprints of 2.2m²-6.5m², and volumes of 450L-1900L.
• Cost-effective vs premium: The more premium the hot tub, the greater the quality, efficiency and range of features will be. At Hot Spring we offer four collections built to cater to different budgets: Freeflow, Hot Spot, Limelight and Highlife.
• Installation options: Depending on the machine, you may be able to install it in-ground or above-ground, indoors or outdoors.

• Hot tub vs swim spa: Imagine a hot tub that you can enjoy a toasty swim in – and that you will never reach the end of. Welcome to the world of a Fastlane Pools swim spa owner!

Features and accessories

The best hot tub brand will let you customise your Canberra hot tub with all manner of features, accessories and options:

• Aesthetics: With your choice of cabinet and shell colours, you can make your hot tub fit in or stand out in your backyard.
• Hydromassage: When comparing the hydromassage jets across different hot tubs, remember that quality is more important than quantity, because a single high-end jet, like the Moto-Massage DX, can offer more relief than half a dozen basic jets.
• Mood-setters: Mood-setting options like water features, lights and speakers let you control the atmosphere of your spa pool, ranging from peaceful to party.
• Functional add-ons: Add pillows and umbrellas for comfort, and spa side enhancements for accessibility. Reduce power bills and maintenance with a hot tub cover and cover lifter. Turn your hot tub into a cool tub on those scorching Canberra summer days with the CoolZone System.

Now that you’re armed with more of an understanding of hot tubs, you’re ready to shop for your perfect machine. And we’re ready to help.

Hot Spring is Australasia’s oldest, most trusted and most innovative hot tub brand. We’ve spent over four decades crafting stunning machines that are built to elevate the soaking experience, and to replace work with play.

Get in touch with your local dealer today to find your dream machine.