Originating from a Belgian town and sharing the name, hot tubs are also known as spas. Spas are known to heal and provide therapy by soaking oneself in the heated water. Beneficial or healthy properties can be obtained by doing so. They have grown in popularity today throughout the world, after an interesting history. Uses and construction of these tubs and pools date clear back to 2000 B.C. in places such as ancient Egypt. 2000 B.C. is the outlier in this situation, but ancient ruins from the B.C. era are also found in Japan, Finland, Rome and Greece.
The idea of regular hot spring bathing began to die out with the Roman Empire and it continued to do so into the 16th Century. Bathing was considered dangerous, as people feared it was the source or breeding ground of diseases such as leprosy, plague and fever. In the late 1500's, regular bathing began to pick up again in Italy, while the trend quickly spread throughout the rest of Europe. Rather than being viewed as dangerous, hot water bathing became something for the elite or high class citizens exclusively.
In the 1800's, hot tubs were used with minerals or herbs as a form of treatment for sicknesses, weaknesses, aches and pains. The 1940's continued to show potential, but the tubs were made of barrels or vats, bringing many issues with water cleanliness and durability. It wasn't until the 1950's that a pump was incorporated and a new era began.
Three generations later, the first self-contained whirlpool bath, complete with pumps along the side, was designed and built. The 1970's replaced wooden tubs with its fiberglass counterpart, later leading to acrylic shell casts instead. With the addition of pumps, jets, filters, control systems and heaters, cleanliness was no longer an issue. Larger models were soon made public.
Hot tubs have renovated, popularized, taught, healed and comforted today's society, and introduced people to this modern age of bathing. They are not out of reach for anybody, and one would be hard-pressed to find someone who hadn't heard of them before. They are available as new or used hot tubs. Though repair is not recommended without professional help, hot tub replacement parts are accessible through spa and hot tub dealers if one feels up to trying it on his own. Hot tubs and spas have made an impact on society, and they will continue to do so through the test of time.
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