Is having a hot tub in the backyard treated the same as having a swimming pool?

Is almost the same but not really. the hot tub should have at least one skimmer and that should take care the surface cleaning part Like the pool, but chemicals on the hot tub shoulb be monitoring closely and I mean all chemicals. Ph most be ck at least weekly They sell a very unexpensive kit to test your hot tub.very simple and very good

Since you are dealing with hotter water your chemistry testing is important and should be done frequently. And since the water is hotter you get more body oils coating the surface of everything including the filter. In many cases the care of a hot tub or spa is more intensive than that of a pool.