What's the difference between a hot tub, a spa and a whirlpool?

When people refer to a whirlpool hot tub spa – are they all talking about the same thing? Or are they something different? Here is a brief look at the history of the modern day hot tub and the names we use to describe them.

Hot Tubs.

The term hot tub originally referred to the wooden, barrel shaped tubs, which became popular in the late 1960’s and early 1970's. Based on ancient roman and asian hot water bathing ideas, early hot tubs were made from redwood or cedar.

These types of hot tub were often very deep, and similar in style to a wine barrel, with steel hoops holding the boards in place. They used wood-fired heaters to varying degrees of success, and as they lacked a filtration system they were not very sanitary - but that didn't seem to dampen people's enthusiasm for them!

 When the industry began building hot tubs of molded fiberglass shells in the late 70's they also added filters, jets, pumps and heaters which heralded the birth of the modern day “Spa”,  "Portable Spa" & "Hydrotherapy Spa".

The name change was partly to differentiate the new product from their wooden predecessors, and partly to emphasize the vast differences between an old fashioned hot tub and a new Portable Spa. With the addition of a filtration system, the water was a lot cleaner and safer to soak in than ever before. Built-in heaters kept the water warm for longer periods of time so you could use the spa more. The inclusion of pumps and jets added a massage element to your hot water soak which helps with muscle and joint discomfort.

The word spa is often associated with a health resort or day spas which are commercial establishments where customers receive aesthetic services, like deep-tissue massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, body wraps, salt glows, and other pampering treatments.