Are you considering adding a luxurious hydrotherapy solution to your Hermantown home but feeling confused by the terminology? You’re not alone. Many people use “hot tub” and “Jacuzzi” interchangeably, but there’s actually an important distinction between these terms that can help you make a more informed purchasing decision for your wellness journey.
Understanding the difference between hot tubs and Jacuzzis isn’t just about semantics—it’s about finding the perfect spa experience for your health and well-being needs. Whether you’re seeking muscle relief after intense workouts, stress reduction from daily life, or simply a luxurious way to unwind with family and friends, knowing these distinctions will guide you toward the right choice. At The Hot Tub Store, we’ve been helping Minnesota families discover the transformative benefits of hydrotherapy for 25 years.
This comprehensive guide will clarify the confusion surrounding these terms while exploring the various types of hydrotherapy equipment available, helping you discover which option best suits your relaxation goals and lifestyle in the Duluth area.
A hot tub is a large tub filled with heated water, designed for relaxation, hydrotherapy, and social enjoyment. Hot tubs typically accommodate multiple people and feature built-in seating, powerful jets for massage therapy, and temperature control systems that maintain water between 98-104°F—the optimal range for therapeutic benefits.
Today’s hot tubs are engineered for both comfort and therapeutic advantages. They feature strategically placed jets that target specific muscle groups, providing relief for sore muscles and joints through the powerful combination of warm water, buoyancy, and targeted massage. This hydrotherapy approach offers significant benefits, including pain relief for conditions like arthritis and back pain, improved circulation, stress reduction, and enhanced sleep quality.
At The Hot Tub Store, our premium Sundance® Spas exemplify these modern engineering principles. The 880™ Series hot tubs define the luxury spa category with their style and advanced performance, featuring smart technology and comprehensive hydrotherapy systems. These luxury spas fulfill your vision of a dream backyard while delivering the best in-home wellness therapy.
Most hot tubs are constructed from durable acrylic shells with insulated cabinets, ensuring energy efficiency and longevity. They include advanced filtration systems to maintain water clarity, digital controls for temperature and jet management, and safety features like covers and locks.
Hot tub manufacturers offer various configurations to meet different wellness needs:
Portable Hot Tubs: These standalone units can be placed on patios, decks, or other stable surfaces. Our Sundance® 780™ spa exemplifies this category—designed as either a fun family entertainment center or a zen garden retreat with ten natural colors to choose from and clean styling that’s easy to maintain.
Luxury Series Hot Tubs: Premium models like our 880™ Series offer the ultimate in home hydrotherapy with advanced features and superior craftsmanship for the most discerning spa enthusiasts.
Versatile Family Spas: The 680™ Series spas by Sundance offer more custom options and come in more shapes and sizes than almost any other spa line, backed by over 30 years of Sundance experience and comprehensive warranties.
Compact Options: Our Sundance Splash® models combine full-body lounge and contoured seats for total body relief in a more compact footprint.
Regular hot tub use provides numerous wellness benefits that extend far beyond simple relaxation. The warm water improves circulation throughout your body, while buoyancy reduces pressure on joints and muscles—creating an ideal environment for healing and recovery.
Hydrotherapy in hot tubs promotes better sleep quality by naturally lowering your body temperature after soaking, reduces stress hormones like cortisol, and can even support cardiovascular health through gentle heat therapy. The therapeutic benefits include muscle relaxation and recovery, enhanced circulation, pain relief for chronic conditions, and potential benefits for weight management.
The social aspect of hot tub use contributes significantly to mental well-being, creating opportunities for quality time with loved ones in a peaceful, technology-free environment. At The Hot Tub Store, we’ve witnessed countless families strengthen their bonds through shared spa experiences in their backyard wellness sanctuary.
Jacuzzi is a trademarked brand name that has become synonymous with hot tubs and whirlpool baths. The Jacuzzi company, founded by the Jacuzzi brothers, created the world’s first integrated jet whirlpool bath system and has been a leader in hydrotherapy equipment for decades.
The key distinction lies in brand ownership: Jacuzzi® is a specific manufacturer, while “hot tub” is the generic term used to describe any large tub with heated water and jets. When people say “Jacuzzi,” they often mean any hot tub, but technically, only products manufactured by the Jacuzzi company can carry this brand name.
This confusion is similar to how people might say “Kleenex” when referring to any facial tissue, regardless of the actual manufacturer. The term “Jacuzzi” has become so widely used to describe hot tubs that many people don’t realize it’s actually a specific brand.
Roy Jacuzzi created the world’s first integrated jet whirlpool bath, establishing many industry standards still used throughout the spa industry today. The Jacuzzi brand is known for innovative hydrotherapy features, premium materials, and sophisticated control systems that set benchmarks for therapeutic effectiveness.
Authentic Jacuzzi products often feature proprietary jet designs, advanced filtration systems, and energy-efficient heating technology. The company continues to innovate with smart controls, LED lighting systems, and therapeutic seating configurations designed to maximize wellness benefits.
The confusion stems from Jacuzzi’s pioneering role in the hydrotherapy industry. The Jacuzzi family created revolutionary equipment that transformed how people think about water-based relaxation and treatment. As the brand gained popularity, especially at spa resorts and luxury facilities, “Jacuzzi” became synonymous with any whirlpool or spa experience.
This brand recognition led to generic usage, where any hot tub or whirlpool might be called a “Jacuzzi,” regardless of the actual manufacturer. The terms “hot tub” and “Jacuzzi” are now often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, though technically they represent different concepts.
Historically, Candido Jacuzzi developed the first whirlpool bath for therapeutic purposes, specifically to help his son with rheumatoid arthritis. This medical application established Jacuzzi’s reputation for therapeutic effectiveness and positioned the brand as a leader in hydrotherapy innovation.
Today, the hot tub market includes hundreds of manufacturers offering various features, price points, and therapeutic designs. While Jacuzzi remains a premium brand in the industry, consumers can choose from many excellent hot tub brands that offer similar or superior therapeutic benefits. At The Hot Tub Store, we proudly offer Sundance® Spas, which deliver exceptional hydrotherapy performance with 25 years of proven reliability in the Minnesota market.
Brand name recognition typically commands premium pricing. Jacuzzi brand products often cost more than comparable models from other hot tub manufacturers due to brand reputation, proprietary features, and perceived market position.
However, many other spa manufacturers offer excellent value with similar therapeutic benefits, energy efficiency, and durability at more accessible price points. At The Hot Tub Store, we provide flexible financing options to make hot tub ownership accessible and affordable, with in-house and third-party financing plans featuring affordable monthly payments for various credit types.
The perfect hot tub depends on your specific wellness needs, available space, and budget, rather than brand name alone. Our expert team helps you evaluate these factors to find the ideal hydrotherapy solution for your home.
Understanding these terms helps clarify your options:
Whirlpool: A generic term for any tub with water jets, including jetted bathtubs and spa equipment. This broad category encompasses various hydrotherapy devices.
Hot Tub: The general term for large, heated tubs designed for multiple people, relaxation, and treatment. Hot tubs are typically installed outdoors and maintain heated water continuously.
Jacuzzi: A specific brand that manufactures hot tubs, spas, and other hydrotherapy equipment. When someone says “Jacuzzi,” they’re referring to products made by this particular company.
A jetted tub typically refers to a bathtub with built-in jets, designed for individual use within a bathroom. These jetted bathtubs are smaller than hot tubs and usually require filling and draining after each use, unlike hot tubs that maintain heated water continuously for immediate therapeutic access.
Therapy tubs are specifically designed for medical or therapeutic applications, often found in healthcare facilities or rehabilitation centers. While similar to hot tubs in function, therapy tubs may have specialized features like accessibility options, specific temperature controls, or medical-grade materials for clinical use.
A soaking tub is typically a large bathtub designed for deep, relaxing baths without jets or heated water systems. Unlike hot tubs, soaking tubs focus on the simple pleasure of warm water immersion rather than active hydrotherapy with jets and circulation systems.
Portable spas or inflatable hot tubs offer a temporary, budget-friendly alternative to traditional hot tubs. While they provide heated water and basic jets, they typically lack the durability, insulation, and powerful hydrotherapy features of permanent installations like our Sundance® models.
Swim spas combine exercise capabilities with relaxation features, offering a current for swimming or water exercises alongside traditional spa seating and jets. They’re larger than typical hot tubs and serve dual purposes for fitness and therapeutic relaxation—perfect for active Minnesota families seeking year-round wellness solutions.
Space and Installation: Consider available space in your Hermantown area home, electrical requirements, and whether you prefer portable or permanent installation. Our professional team provides site consultations to ensure perfect placement and safe installation.
Usage Patterns: Think about how many people will use the spa regularly and what therapeutic benefits you’re seeking. Our diverse Sundance® lineup accommodates everything from intimate couples’ retreats to large family gatherings.
Budget and Financing: Factor in purchase price, installation costs, and ongoing maintenance expenses. We offer flexible financing plans with affordable monthly payments to make your wellness investment accessible.
Therapeutic Features: Prioritize must-have features like specific jet configurations, seating capacity, or smart controls based on your hydrotherapy goals.
Research multiple hot tub manufacturers to compare features, warranties, and customer reviews. At The Hot Tub Store, we encourage you to visit our showroom at 4881 Miller Trunk Hwy to experience different Sundance® models firsthand. Our 25 years of experience in the Minnesota market ensure you receive honest, knowledgeable guidance.
Consider energy efficiency ratings to minimize operating costs during Minnesota’s challenging winters. Our Sundance® spas feature superior insulation and energy-efficient systems designed for year-round performance in northern climates.
Don’t overlook the importance of reliable service and support from your local dealer. At The Hot Tub Store, we provide comprehensive maintenance, repair services for all makes and models, professional winterization, spring restarts, and expert water care guidance—ensuring your investment delivers years of therapeutic benefits.
Beyond hot tubs and spas, consider the additional wellness benefits of infrared saunas. We offer various sizes, including our One Person Sun100, Two Person Sun200, and Three Person Sun300 models, plus Bear Naked Saunas for the ultimate in luxury and therapeutic heat therapy.
Infrared saunas provide different yet complementary benefits to hot tub hydrotherapy, including improved cardiovascular health, enhanced detoxification, and deep muscle relaxation through radiant heat therapy.
Understanding the differences between hot tubs, spas, and brand names like Jacuzzi empowers you to make informed decisions about your wellness investment. At The Hot Tub Store in Hermantown, we offer the complete range of premium Sundance® Spas, from the luxury 880™ Series with advanced smart technology to the family-friendly 780™ Series and versatile 680™ Series with extensive customization options.
Our selection includes various sizes, configurations, and therapeutic feature sets to match your specific relaxation and health needs. Each spa is backed by Sundance’s comprehensive warranty and our 25 years of local Minnesota experience.
Our experienced team understands that choosing the perfect hot tub involves more than just comparing brand names. We’ll help you evaluate your available space, lifestyle preferences, and therapeutic goals to find the ideal spa for your home. Our comprehensive services include professional delivery and installation, expert orientation on operation and maintenance, and ongoing support through our complete maintenance and repair programs.
Ready to experience the therapeutic benefits of premium hydrotherapy in your own backyard? Contact us at The Hot Tub Store to explore our full range of Sundance® hot tubs, infrared saunas, and complete wellness solutions. Located at 4881 Miller Trunk Hwy in Hermantown, we’re here to guide you toward the perfect choice for years of relaxation, therapeutic benefits, and enhanced well-being.
Discover relaxation and therapeutic wellness—visit The Hot Tub Store today and let our expertise help you find your ideal hot tub or spa solution.
