Water therapy, or hydrotherapy, can bring relief and help to rebuild muscle strength for people living with ongoing pain and discomfort.
With public facilities verging on non-existent, hydrotherapy at home is one solution for many such individuals. And if you’re considering getting a home hydrotherapy pool, cost is likely high on the list of considerations.
There are a lot of factors that can impact the price of a hydrotherapy pool; we look at them here.
What Is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of warm water in the treatment of a variety of conditions. It takes the relaxing effects of warm water, combined with slow, weightless exercises, to help in the rehabilitation, recovery and management of physical symptoms and bodily functions that might be suffering.
A hydrotherapy pool sits somewhere around 33-36ºC, so it’s much warmer than your average swimming pool. Hydrotherapy pools are specialist facilities; they typically feature massage jets and mobility aids to help users remain safe and comfortable during sessions.
Why Have A Home Hydrotherapy Pool?
Hydrotherapy can be highly effective in managing conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, among others. This is because it can offer symptomatic relief from pain of all natures, stiffness and swelling, as well as improve bodily functions like respiration and circulation.
It won’t surprise you to know that the waiting list for NHS-granted hydrotherapy is long. Installing a hydrotherapy pool at home comes with many benefits, such as increased privacy, instant access and a personalised pool that can be designed to meet your individual needs, enhancing the effect of the therapy.
Home Hydrotherapy Pool Cost Considerations
There’s lots to consider when you’re thinking of installing a home hydrotherapy pool. Cost comes top of the list for many people, and for good reason.
Let’s explore the factors that influence home hydrotherapy pool costs.
Location
A hydrotherapy pool must be at least 2.7m2 per person. Factoring where the pool will live is an important part of figuring out how much you’ll need to stump up to install one at home.
For many people, a home extension or the erection of a garden room is necessary to provide enough space for a separate pool area, and you’ll need to think about external features like the plant room, too.
And will your pool sit in the ground or on top of it? The level of construction involved, including excavating an area for the pool to be sunk into, can have a big impact on the total cost.
Home hydrotherapy pool cost isn’t just location dependent, however.
Installation
When you buy a hydrotherapy pool, you must remember that you’ll also need to fund the labour and installation process. The price of this varies depending on the type of pool you’re installing, but it can be around £250 – £400 per day’s work.
A stainless steel pool is much cheaper to construct than a concrete or tiled pool because it can be craned into the ground and is far less labour-intensive to get up and running comparatively.
Pool Material
Next up in our list of influencing factors is the kind of pool you opt for. Home hydrotherapy pool cost depends on both the pool material and the style of filtration (which we’ll cover next).
Concrete and tiled pools are cheaper to buy than stainless steel pools but end up costing around the same due to the amount of time and labour it takes to complete them. And between waiting for concrete to cure and applying waterproof treatments, among other necessary processes, tiled pools are not only very time-consuming to install but harder and more costly to maintain long-term.
Filtration System
There are two types of home hydrotherapy pool. Cost can vary between them, but overall, skimmer pools are the more affordable option.
A skimmer hydrotherapy pool relies on filters to capture floating debris before it sinks to the bottom of the pool. For pools set into the ground, most skimmer systems are built into the top parts of the sides, meaning they can suck in the water and trap anything that shouldn’t be there.
Overflow pools, on the other hand, filter the water by way of an overflow channel that surrounds the entire perimeter of the pool. Overflow pools, therefore, can only be used where the pool is sunk into the ground. The channel is usually covered with a plastic grating, but this can be upgraded to more luxurious materials for a luxe finish.
A skimmer pool plus running costs come in at around xxx, whereas an overflow pool will cost you somewhere between £70,000 to £200,000.
Size
No matter the type you choose or where you put it, home hydrotherapy pool cost is directly impacted by size.
The minimum sized pool you need for two people, which is often optimum considering a physiotherapist, carer or occupational therapist will likely need to enter the water to help with the exercises, is 5.4m2. The more people who will be in the pool at one time, the larger the pool needs to be.
And the larger the pool, the larger the plant room. The plant room is an important part of a home hydrotherapy pool because it contains the equipment that controls the circulation and filtration of the pool water and the Air Handling Unit, or AHU. The AHU takes the warm, damp air from inside the pool room and pumps it outside, simultaneously bringing fresh outside air to replace it.
Features
A home hydrotherapy pool costs more if you want to include many extra features, but these can boost the effectiveness of your treatment.
Powerful jets help to massage the muscles, getting them to relax so that effective strengthening can take place. Proper lighting needs to be installed to minimise the glare from the water’s surface, and adding a pool cover can help maintain water temperature, minimise evaporation and reduce cleaning time by preventing debris from entering the water.
Lounging positions, access steps, and handrails to ensure users can enter and exit the pool as safely as possible will also increase how much your home hydrotherapy pool costs.
Running Costs Of A Home Hydrotherapy Pool
When you’re considering home hydrotherapy pool costs, it’s not just the equipment itself that’s the investment. There’s a lot that goes into sustaining your pool – and the bigger the pool, the more expensive it is – but most pools cost approximately £5-£10 a day to run.
Heating, Chemicals And Power
The power source you use to heat your pool will impact how much it costs. The pool should be kept at an even temperature for hygiene reasons, and the chemicals involved must be balanced carefully. These elements of home hydrotherapy pool costs could total approximately £150 – £200.
Cleaning And Maintenance
Looking after your pool will reduce the risk of something going wrong that incurs a cash injection to repair or sort out. Servicing should be included in your running costs to ensure your pool stays in prime condition.
Checking your pool every day is advised, and organising a monthly maintenance and servicing visit by a professional team means that they’ll keep their expert eye on chemical levels, water temperature and filtration systems.
Costs vary between providers, but an approximate service plan fee could be in the region of £300 – £500.
Using Experienced Contractors
A home hydrotherapy pool is a significant investment, and looking after it properly is the key to preserving its integrity and getting your money’s worth to reap the health benefits.
To begin the right way, bringing in a contractor with specialist expertise in hydrotherapy pools is critical to ensure the pool is installed correctly and maintained diligently. When you choose the services of a professional team like this, you should also benefit from a healthy warranty period and a support line should anything go wrong with your pool.
Hydrotherapy At Home Is A Worthwhile Investment
A home hydrotherapy pool can be life-changing, providing regular therapy for those who need it without worrying about accessing public pools.
The cost of installing one in your home is significant, but we can help you better understand what sort of set-up you require to suit your specific needs.
Confused and overwhelmed by all of the home hydrotherapy options? We can take the stress off. See our website to find out more about what we do.