Baby boomers are behind a surge in spa sales

By Alex May

Spa pools are making a comeback among the bald and the beautiful.

Ageing baby boomers are driving increased sales of heated outdoor spa pools across Australia, which now hover between 25,000 and 30,000 a year, according to Caldera Spas owner Barry Hayes. I always thought of spa pool as a 1980s phenomenon, imagining furry-chested men bubbling away with leggy women in super high-cut swimsuits sipping champagne - but Australians bought only about 5000 spa pools a year during that decade.

"Spas are more popular now than they used to be and that's because the population is getting older," Hayes says. "Baby boomers are looking for something to get rid of their aches and pains."

A 2003 BIS Shrapnel report into the swimming pool industry found that outdoor spas account for 29 per cent of all pools installed in Australia. The market value for outdoor spa pools reached $163.4 million in 2003, a 73 per cent increase from 2000. "Older people may feel embarrassed to put on a cossie and go to the beach. They'd rather sit in privacy. It's also a nice thing to do at the end of the day - relax and talk to your partner," Hayes says.

Portable outdoor spas cost between $4000 and $20,000 and take up as little as six square metres of space. "Compared with a swimming pool, they are a lot cheaper and you don't need any planning permission because you're not putting it in the ground," says The Pool Clinic owner Richard Dunn.

With smaller blocks of land, it's no wonder spas are a booming and bubbling business. And now is the peak time for people ordering new spas.

"It's always busy in February and March because people have been to resorts or to New Year's Eve parties over the holidays and then start thinking about ordering one for themselves," Hayes says. "I never worry about business at this time of the year."

Minimum space

Portable spas that sit above the ground can be installed nearly anywhere that has at least six or seven square metres of space - Dunn has even installed a spa by helicopter on the Georges River. Some spas are designed to be as narrow as 600mm when turned on their side but most need 900mm.

"You can crane spas over the roof of a house to put them in. It doesn't cost much, maybe $150 or $300 to hire the crane," Hayes says.

The president of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association NSW, Manfred Wiesemes, says spas are best installed on a level concrete base but they can be moved around the garden.

"Portable spas are more popular than in-ground spas. They are more comfortable to sit in," he says.

Dunn warns of the disasters of installing spas on decks that don't have adequate support. "I've seen plenty of decks collapse," he says. The average spa weighs between 200 and 400kg and takes 1500 to 2000 litres of water; add a couple of people and you're exceeding 2 tonnes. "You can create a large load without knowing it," Dunn says.

Maintenance

Portable spas need an electrical connection for pumps and heaters. Wiesemes says gas can be used to heat spas economically but Hayes says it costs at least $2500 to convert to gas heating, making it unviable.

"It costs about $8 a week in electricity to heat the spa," Hayes says. But Wiesemes points out the added costs of chemicals to maintain water quality means a spa owner should budget to spend about $25 a week.

Maintaining water quality is the bugbear of all spa owners and it must be done conscientiously. "Most spas operate at between 35 and 38 degrees, which is a breeding ground for bacteria," Wiesemes says. "They need daily chemical treatment. The better models have an ozone generator but they still need chemical treatment."

Poor water quality can lead to pumps and heaters burning out. Even worse, bad water quality makes spa users sick.
"Skin rashes occur when the pH of the water drops and if the pH goes up, the water goes slimy," Dunn says.

The pool association recommends spa water is changed every few weeks. Sydney Water spokesman Colin Judge says spas are not subject to any water restrictions.

"It's a health issue - people have to change the water," Judge says.

Count the costs

• Covering the spa from sun and rain extends its useability - even a shade sail over the top will make it more pleasant to use.
• Most spas come with a lockable, insulated cover, which retains heat, reducing energy bills.
• Electricity consumption can go up if you don't buy a well-insulated spa. Hayes says if you upgrade to a larger swim spa it could be $30-$40 a week.
• Water needs to be changed regularly and maintenance is important. Heaters tend to burn out if you don't keep the water clean.
• Children should be supervised at all times. Portable spas don't need a fence but do have lockable covers.
• Ozone generators and chemicals are needed to maintain the water, costing about $25 a week.