Pool vs. swim spa: The winner surprised even us

Winner: Swim spa

Swim spas range in size from 12- to 19-feet long, so if you have a small backyard you can have it all: pool, BBQ, and seating area. You also get both a pool and hot tub in one space-efficient package.

Winner: Swim spa

Your upfront costs will be higher for a pool—around 35% more—unless you want to install your swim spa inground, which makes the price difference between a pool and swim spa less. Then there’s the add-ons. A swim spa or swim spacomes with a safety cover that can withstand the weight of people and pets, plus snow. A safety cover for a pool costs $2,500 to $5,000 (and is pretty hard to remove). The annual costs for a pool are higher, too (think water, chemicals and equipment). A new vinyl pool will need a liner replacement in 10 to 15 years. A swim spa has no liner to be replaced—the shell should last a lifetime. A high quality swim spa should come with a 10-year warranty, too. Hard to match that with a pool.

Winner: Swim spa

The pool season in southern Ontario is about four to six months. You can extend your swim season to 12 months quite economically with some swim spas, thanks to the reuse of waste heat from the pump, insulation in the unit’s shell, an efficient filter system, and an insulated safety cover. Do your homework when researching your swim spa or swim spa manufacturer to determine how much it’ll actually cost to run your swim spa in the winter.

Winner: Pool

Having a large pool party—especially with boisterous kids—is a challenge given the space constraints of a swimpool.

Winner: Swim spa

Municipalities require a permit and inspections if you’re building a pool. Many Ontario municipalities put swim spas in the same class as hot tubs, which don't require a permit. Check with your municipality to make sure you don’t require a permit or the requisite survey to locate utilities or fencing for a swim spa. (Your swim spa can be secured with a lock on the cover so kids will still be safe, though.)

Winner: Swimpool

All you need to install a swimpool is a concrete pad. (You can get fancier, of course.) Typical installation is three days, compared to a pool’s seven to 14-day installation timeline.

Winner: Pool

Swim spas can be beautiful, but that requires digging, decking and other landscaping. Compare a swim spa plopped on a concrete pad with an in-ground pool and there’s no contest in the looks department. (A simple above-ground swim spa is going to look better than a simple above-ground pool, though.)

Winner: Swim spa

You’re not getting out of maintenance if you own a swim spa, but there’s less work to do on an ongoing basis, particularly if the manufacturer you choose provides pressure filtration rather than a gravity system.

Winner: Swimpool

Swimpools filter water much faster than a pool. For example, a Hydropool swim spa’s water is fully filtered every 15 minutes. Most swimming pools completely filter their water in 12 to 18 hours.

Winner: Swim spa

Swim spas are designed for energy conservation and efficiency (Hydropool’s are the most energy efficient in the world). They use less water, take less energy to heat the water, and some are super-insulated.

Winner: Swim spa

If you’re rehabilitating an injury, training for a sport or simply getting fit, a swimp spa allows you to experience a true long distance swim—no turns required. Swim spas can be customized with equipment and features such as rowing machines, exercise bars and resistance band training. Some models come standard with aquafitness steps. A Hydropool swim spa has a swim channel that can accommodate a kayak! End your swim with ergonomic seating and massage jets. Take that, slides and diving boards!

Winner: Pool

A pool lets you customize the shape, size, depth, and swimming experience. If you want a deep end, you’ll need to go with a pool. If you want big, you’ll have to go for a pool. Swimpools can’t compete on any of these fronts—you can customize the accessories and the experience, but not the size, shape or depth.

Winner: Swim spa

If you’re moving and you love your swim spa(or the person who wants to buy your home doesn’t), you can take it with you. A pool? Not so much. This flexibility can be a blessing.

Winner: Swim spa

 You can put your swim spa indoors, in a garage, solarium or walk-out basement. The installation costs are less than an indoor pool, and because the surface area of the water is smaller than a pool, mould and chemical smells may be less of an issue.