When deciding whether or not to buy a swim spa; one of the very first questions you might ask yourself is what it’s going to end up costing you. Today we will look at what swim spas typically cost to purchase and maintain, while also looking at how those costs compare to the more “traditional” pools.
HOW MUCH DO SWIM SPAS COST TO BUY?
Most swim spas sold in Canada will set you back anywhere from $15,000 to $55,000. Why such a wide range in pricing? To answer that we will break down this overall range further to show you what you can expect to get at different budget levels.
Lower-end Swim Spas
Swim spas costing between $15,000 and $25,000 are generally considered to be lower-end swim spas. These swim spas are usually designed and built to keep their costs low. Most are built overseas using cheaper components and minimal insulation. Rather than using jets and pumps specially designed for use in swim spas, most instead use generic parts that were designed for use hot tubs. While these components do work; they usually aren’t made for the larger water volumes and water flow that you’ll find in swim spas. This will lead to them providing underwhelming swimming and massage experiences when compared to higher cost swim spas.
To keep costs down, these swim spas are also usually built with cheaper, less energy efficient pumps and heaters. This means that lower-end swim spas will typically have to run for longer to keep the water clean and properly heated; leading to higher maintenance costs.
Mid-range Swim Spa prices
Most swim spas found in Canada fall into the mid-range category; costing between $25,000-$40,000. These swim spas are usually made in North America. They also generally have a higher overall build quality and come with a more robust warranty then lower-end swim spas. Most mid-range swim spas are also built with equipment that has been specifically designed for use in swim spas. Parts like pumps, swim jets and current diverters are designed to handle the higher flow rates needed to produce a top quality swim current. For this reason, they deliver a much better swimming experience than the repurposed hot tub parts used in lower-end swim spas can.
High-end Swim Spa prices
High-end swim spas typically outperform mid-range swim spas in three major ways.
- Size. High end swim spas are generally larger than other swim spas.
- Swimming experience. The highest quality parts are used to deliver a stronger, wider and smoother swimming experience than lower cost swim spas can provide.
- Options. High-end swim spas also typically have additional hydrotherapy and fitness options that aren’t found in other swim spas. Some also offer dual-temperature controls where you can set one side of the swim spa to a comfortable swimming temperature and the other side to a temperature more suited to hydrotherapy.
When discussing the overall cost of owning a swim spa the purchase price is only one part of the equation, however. To get a more complete sense of what swim spas cost you will also need to consider both its installation costs and its ongoing costs.
SWIM SPA INSTALLATION COSTS
Swim spa installation costs can vary quite a bit depending on how you plan on installing it. Installing your swim spa on a concrete pad next to an existing deck, for example, is much more cost-effective than sinking it into the ground and building a patio around it.
A simple poured concrete pad for a swim spa will generally cost you around $4000-$5000. On top of that you will also want to budget around $1500-$2000 to cover the electrical hookup costs. Note that your electrical costs will increase if you need to upgrade your panel to accommodate the swim spa, or if you have a particularly long cable run between your panel and the swim spa.
More complex swim spa installations are much harder to ballpark as each situation is different. No matter how you’re planning on installing the swim spa, however, you will need to make sure that you account for the concrete pad and electrical install.
SWIM SPA MAINTENANCE COSTS
When buying a swim spa it is also important to consider how much the swim spa you’re planning on buying will cost you to maintain.
The largest ongoing maintenance costs of a swim spa are:
- Heating. The cost of running the heating system in your swim spa will vary quite a bit depending on your desired water temperature and the temperature outside. No matter what those temperatures are, however, your heating costs will be lower if your swim spa is built with energy efficient components and a robust insulation system.
- Filtration. In order to keep your water clean and clear, the swim spa will need to run filtration cycles for several hours per day. The more better the filtration system is, the less it will need to run and the more money you will save in the long term.
- Chemicals. To keep the swim spa safe and comfortable to use, you will also need to regularly add chemicals to the water. The amount you spend on chemicals will generally be dependent on the size of the swim spa; with larger swim spas requiring more chemicals to be added to them simply due to the extra water volume that they have.
Purchasing a swim spa purely based on the purchase price can end up costing you a ton of money in the long term. This is especially true if you’re planning on using it during the colder months. If you’re planning on using your swim spa into late fall and winter you’re going to want to make sure that your new swim spa is well insulated to reduce heating costs. Look for a swim spa that insulates both the water in the swim spa and the outer cabinet. The insulation around the cabinet can then trap in waste heat created by the pumps and heater, greatly increasing the energy efficiency of the swim spa as a whole.
HOW DO SWIM SPA COSTS COMPARE WITH THE COST OF OTHER POOLS?
Now that we’ve covered the costs of purchasing, installing and owning a swim spa; how do these costs compare with other above ground and in-ground pools?
Above ground pool kits typically cost between $7,500-$12,500 to purchase while an inground pool will cost you a minimum of $45,000, with many exceeding $80,000. The purchase price of swim spas, therefore, fit right between the cost of above ground and inground pools. Depending on local bylaws (some require that above ground or inground pools be fenced in) and your own installation plans, the total purchase and installation costs of swim spas are usually much cheaper than inground pools and often only slightly higher than above ground pools.
Due to their smaller size, smaller pumps and their built-in insulation, the running costs of swim spas are much lower than both above ground and in-ground pools. In fact, a mid to upper range swim spa will be able to run, filter and heat itself for less than the running cost of a standard pool pump! Combine this with their longer swimming season, massage therapy seats and variable swim currents, it’s no wonder why swim spas have skyrocketed in popularity in the last few years!
WRAPPING UP
Swim spas are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional above ground or inground pools. Not only do they allow you to swim year-round, they also have soothing massage therapy seats and swim current systems. Their overall costs also compare quite favourably with both above ground and in-ground pools.
