Hot tubs – a brief history

Xavier Labelle

2000 B.C. Egypt

The Egyptians use baths for therapeutic purposes. The earlier forms of hot tubs are simply a caldera (a large, basinlike depression resulting fromthe explosion or collapse of the centre of a volcano).in which sizzling stones are placed to heat the water.

460 B.C. Greece

Hippocrates proposes a health regime which includes bathing, perspiration, walking and massages. The baths are often combined with gymnastics and education, the precursors or the modern gymnasium.

476 A.D. Europe

Cleanliness goes to the wayside. The church views the practice of bathing as a prelude to forbidden behaviour and sin.

737 A.D. Japan

The first ‘Onsen’ opens near Izumo. An Onsen is a public bathing house which uses water from a hot spring.

1571 Italy

The idea of baths as sources of disease starts to give way to the idea of bathing for medicinal purposes. The ‘culture of bathing’ starts to spread across Europe.

1800 Germany

Doctors are convinced that for each disease there is an appropriate medicinal spring which could be discovered through chemical analysis of the water.

1940 USA

The first home hot tubs begin to appear, mostly in California. They are made from oak barrels, wine tanks and oilve vats.

1950

The Jacuzzi brothers invent and begin to sell the J-300, a portable hydro-therapy pump and a spa niche business is born.

1968

Roy Jacuzzi invents and markets the first self-contained, fully integrated whirlpool bath. By incorporating jets into the sides of the tub, it becomes the bath that single-handedly creates an industry.

1970 / 80sFibreglass shell hot tubs appear, then cast acrylic shells. For the first time, it is finally easy to achieve water cleanliness. Manufacturers install pumps. Filters, control systems and jets. The modern era of hot tubs begins. The market for traditional wooden hot tubs starts to diminish

2002

A new product enters the market called the Swim Spa which allows users to combine a Swim Spa for Swimming against the current of jets in 80 degree water and an area at the other end of the spa for relaxing.

UK Spa Buying and Ownership Guide

After reading Hot tubs – a brief history, many customers ask the same practical questions: what hot tub size fits best, how much does a hot tub cost to run, and which model gives the best long-term value in UK weather. The right answer normally comes from comparing insulation quality, jet layout, seating comfort, and ongoing maintenance support, not just headline price.

Canadian Spa Company UK supplies hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, replacement hot tub covers, filters, chemicals and accessories with nationwide delivery. If you are planning to buy a hot tub UK homeowners use year-round, shortlist models by intended use first: daily recovery, social entertaining, or family wellness. Then compare power requirements, cover quality, and service access so ownership stays simple over time.

For clearer next steps, use the links below to compare ranges, check current hot tub prices UK buyers are paying, and book support when needed.

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