Can a Swim Spa Be Used as a Hot Tub?

If you don’t know entirely what a swim spa is, don’t worry, you’re like a lot of people.  

Although they have been around since the 1980s, swim spas still feel like a new product. You might have seen one at a hot tub store and been curious or been over at someone’s house and they had one or you might have heard about them online.  

However you found out about swim spas, once they see them, most people become curious and the questions come.  

One of the most common ones is “are swim spas also hot tubs?” We get asked that frequently at our Hydropool retailers.  

We understand why! Swim spas are the kind of products that invite questions. And the answer is both yes and no. In general, it’s safe to say a swim spa can do everything a hot tub can do as well as having the benefit that you can also swim in it. 

Key differences in things like installation and upfront cost for example are worth explaining.  

We wrote this article to try and explain how swim spas are like hot tubs and how they aren’t. And hopefully, by the end of it you’ll have a good sense of whether they are or not.  

 

 

What is a Swim Spa?  

A swim spa is like a hot tub stretched into a rectangle with a big enough area in it to allow swimming. They are generally about eight feet wide and at least 12 feet long. They can go up to 21 feet long.  

Some come with separate hot tubs and swim areas, but most combine the best of a pool and the best of a hot tub into one.  

The element that makes a swim spa most different from a hot tub is that it creates a current, either with jets or with a turbine, that allows you to swim without ever reaching the other side.  

Are Swim Spas Also Hot Tubs?  

Yes. Swim spas are very much like hot tubs in the following ways: 

• Most offer jetted seats where you can get a massage like a hot tub for recovery after workouts 
• In both cases, you can choose models with a lot of seating or minimal seating, depending on how you want to use it 
• Both come in a variety of sizes. Hot tubs can be for as few as two people and as many as 12. Swim spas can have minimal seating for two, or long benches down the side, for many more 
• Both can be used by both family and friends 
• The water can be heated just like a hot tub, to the same comfortable temperatures, so you can bask in warm water whenever you like. Most people lower the temperatures while working out, so they don’t get too hot.  
• You can use swim spas during the day or at night 
• The cost to run a swim spa is comparable to hot tub, although it is slightly more due to its size (for a complete explanation of swim spa running costs, click here) 
• They usually come with higher-end options (for example, Hydropool’s top-of-the-line self-cleaning system is standard on all of our swim spas but one) 
• Swim spas are insulated just like hot tubs, so they can be used in the winer 
• Swim spas can be used by families, couples or individuals 
• The filtration methods and systems for overall cleaning and sanitization are the same: Anyone who has a hot tub will be comfortable taking care of a swim spa 
• Both hot tubs and swim spas cost significantly less than pools. For a full explanation of swim spa costs, click here 
• Both make great use of your outdoor space and fit into most backyards 
• Swims spas are as energy efficient as hot tubs 

Can I Get a Swim Spa With a Hot Tub? 

Swim spas that have an extra attached hot tub are often called dual-temp models. This one is a Hydropool Aquatic Trainer 19-foot DTAX, which you can read more about here. 

Yes, you can get a swim spa and a hot tub in one unit. These are called dual temp units in the industry because they allow for a swim tank and a separate hot tub, which can be kept at unique temperatures (you often want a lower temperature in the swim tank so you can work out or have the kids play in it). 

So while most swim spas can be used like a hot tub, the dual temps allow you to have one place for your kids, for example, and another spot just for adults.

How are swim spas different than hot tubs?  

• You can do more in a swim spa than you can in a hot tub. Swim spas allow you to work out, allowing everything from strength training to cardiovascular exercise 
• You can swim in a swim spa.  
• Swims spas cost more than a hot tub but still less than a pool. For an article that fully explains everything you need to pay for to have a swim spa, click here 
• While hot tubs can be installed on any flat surface, a swim spa must be placed on a leveled concrete pad 
• Swim spas generally require 220V electrical hookups. That means you need an electrician to come do the installation, as they need to be hardwired. Some hot tubs are play-and-play models, which use a standard plug-in 
• Because swim spas are larger than hot tubs, they need to be installed differently, usually with a crane. While that might sound daunting, it is entirely safe and a standard practice   
• Also because of their slightly larger size, swim spas take up more space in your backyard which most people find requires additional landscaping 

Is a Swim Spa a Hot Tub? 

A swim spa is everything a hot tub is and more. It is a longer, more rectangular version of a hot tub, with space in it for swimming. Some swim spas have separate areas for swimming and hot tubs, but most are sold with one area that works as both.  

We are asked about swim spas regularly at our Hydropool retail outlets. People want to know if they work like hot tubs, are similar to maintain and if they are in the same price range (costing less than pools). We are happy to answer yes to all of those questions.  

We hope this article answered your questions about how a swim spa is like a hot tub, but there’s a chance you have more. If so, please don’t hesitate to reach out to find your local retailer.