What is the difference between a Spa, Hot Tub and Jacuzzi?
The origin of the word “Spa” is actually an acronym originating from battle weary, Roman legionnaires who built baths at the site of natural hot springs to heal their aching bodies.
They named these bathing treatments "Sanus Per Aquam" (SPA) which translates as; "health through water."
According to The Oxford English Dictionary, a spa is defined as;
noun 1 a mineral spring considered to have health-giving properties. 2 a place or resort with a mineral spring.
ORIGIN from Spa, a small town in eastern Belgium noted for its mineral springs.
"SPAS" are traditionally made from fibreglass, acrylic, or a combination of both. Spas with Acrylic inners and fibreglass re-enforcement are currently the most commonly manufactured.
More recently new polymers, such as Duralon®, have been used for spa shell construction. They have an extremely hard wearing surface and are resilient to surface scratching and impact damage.
"HOT TUBS" are made from wood, usually with an internal liner and may have hydro-therapy jets, or simple air injectors, but do not have the contoured seating that modern spas offer.
"JACUZZI" has almost become a generic name for Spas, as with “HOOVER” for vacuum cleaners. However, Jacuzzi® is a company that manufactures "whirlpool baths" and spas and is a protected trade mark.
Please Note: whilst many people refer to hot tubs, or spas, as jacuzzis this is not legally correct, Jacuzzi® is a registered trademark of Jaccuzzi Inc. a U.S. based company who manufacture Hot Tub Spas and whirlpool baths (amongst other things). Therefore only products manufactured by Jacuzzi Inc. should be called a JACUZZI.
We do not sell jacuzzi products in the Algarve, Portugal, or have any association with Jacuzzi Inc.
These days “Spa” and “Hot Tub” are used interchangeably to describe a heated, pumped, water therapy bath with contoured seating.
How much should I spend on my Spa?
You can buy a luxury car like a Mercedes Benz for 150,000,00€ and you can buy a Ford Focus for 25,000,00€. That does not necessarily mean that the Ford is a bad car, in fact it is a great car. It does not try to be a Mercedes and the average buyer of the Ford is not looking for a Mercedes either, they are simply different "Classes" of cars.
Think of Hot Tubs the same way. Not everyone who goes out to buy a spa wants (or needs) a 20,000,00€ Luxury Class Spa, but there are some people who do, (they will buy that 150,000,00€ Mercedes as well!)
Not all manufacturers go after the “Luxury Class” market, but that does not make them a "bad" spa. This is an important point.
Don't get taken in by a salesman that tells you that if you don't get the 20,000,00€ spa, all you'll get is rubbish – It’s not true. There are plenty of spas in the 4,000,00€ - 8,000,00€ price range that are very good units. They just may not have a lot of the fancy features and "bells & whistles" that the 20,000,00€ spa has, however, you may not need all those features.
Remember, you can buy a great spa for 6,000,00€ and you can buy a load of rubbish for 15,000,00€.
Price does not always ensure a high quality product.
Your best defence is to do your homework and look at a number of different units before making a decision.
What should I look for in the company selling me my spa?
Many companies are selling spas these days, and while competition is healthy for business, it can be disastrous for the uninformed consumer. Quite frankly, many firms are selling spas as a side line and are not really knowledgeable about the workings or servicing of their product, they offer no real in house warranty or backup service on the products.
Watch out for companies that offer you incredible prices and then forget you ever existed once you have made your purchase!
Is the spa for bubbles and fun, for serious therapy or both?
Different spa models have varying jet set ups and equipment performance. If serious therapy is what you are looking for then a model with high performance equipment and larger hydrotherapy jets may be right for you.
We have a range of Spas to suit all tastes.
Where will you locate the spa?
Ensure you have a firm, flat surface to place the hot tub on and a surrounding surface that will minimise the likelihood of dirt & grit getting in your spa.
Measure the maximum size that you could fit in the location you have chosen, bearing in mind issues like, privacy, view from the tub, accessibility of water and power supply.
Lay out a garden hose or string to define the perimiter of your tub and think how you would like to develop the area.
We can do all this for you with a FREE site survey and can even construct your perfect spa area.
Delivery and portability!
Access problems mean that many spas require a crane to get them into position, change the location of your spa in the future, or, take it with you if you move house.
Some of our spas are designed to fit through standard doorways, so delivery is quick, easy and FREE, as the spa can be lifted manually into position. If access is difficult we can arrange a mobile crane to position your spa, don't worry it's not as expensive as you think.
Is your Power Supply adequate?
Unfortunately, in The Algarve, the power supply for some older homes is quite low and many spas require anything up to 45 amps to operate correctly.
We will be able to tell you exactly what power rating you can dedicate to your Hot Tub Spa with a quick (Free and No Obligation) survey.
Our range of Hot Tub Spas include some that can simply be "Plug & Play" (13 amps).
Customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is a measure of the reliability, professionalism and after-care the spa retailer provides.
Do they provide dedicated spa service, water care assistance and accessories.
We have many satisfied customers and are happy to provide testimonials if required. We also supply a complete range of eco-friendly water treatments, offer a spa care service plan and have a range of accessories to enhance your spa ownership experience.
Try before you buy...
Contact Us today for more details and to see for yourself what Good Life Spas can do! We will arrange the most convenient way of trialling one of our spas either at our Showroom or your home!
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