hot tub placement rules
If you made it to this article, we can assume that you’re serious about getting a hot tub. However, you can’t just simply buy a hot tub and place it anywhere without thinking. Placing a hot tub requires preparation and planning.
Luckily, we know a thing or two about hot tubs and can help you start preparing your site, allowing you to knock your hot tub installation out of the park.
Continue reading to find out more!
Things To Consider Before Selecting A Location For Your Hot Tub
When trying to figure out where you will place your hot tub, you first need to determine a location with enough space. Of course, the amount of space you need will depend on the dimensions and specifications of your hot tub.
Once you’ve determined the size of your hot tub model, you need to look at a few other factors, including:
Site Access
When it comes to placing your hot tub, is there enough room for yourself or the delivery team to physically deliver the hot tub to the location?
To determine whether or not there is enough space, you should take a tape measure and walk along the path that your hot tub will be delivered on. Along the way, see if you can identify any potential obstacles, such as low-hanging tree branches, water meters, narrow passageways, etc.
Spa Maintenance Access
Whether you choose to put your hot tub indoors or outdoors, you will need to pick a hot tub location that provides room for routine maintenance and repairs. More often than not, hot tubs will have a small cabinet entrance that houses the serviceable equipment.
Make sure that your hot tub is situated so that you can access and remove the panel to get into the cabinet. If you’re planning on surrounding your hot tub with a deck, you’ll need to build a crawl space or a door with hatches that is large enough for a full-grown adult to crawl into.
Drainage
Some hot tubs require full cleans every three to four months. When you consider the fact that the average hot tub has around 500 gallons of water, you’ll have a lot of water to dump out.
This means that you need to find a drainage spot nearby before installing your hot tub. Also, make sure to check the regulations in your city for dumping.
You should also note that chemicals within hot tub water can be dangerous for certain plants, especially if your hot tub has a high chlorine content. So make it a point to avoid dumping your water on any delicate plants, vegetables or flowers.
Electrical
To verify whether or not your home can support an indoor or outdoor hot tub, you need to have a licensed electrician come and review your hot tub’s electrical requirements. They’ll check that the parts, components, and wiring are where they should be. It’s also important to know the distance between your hot tub location and your main breaker box.
The further away your breaker box is, the more money you’ll spend on hot tub wiring. You must connect your hot tub directly to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), which will shut your hot tub off in 1/40 of a second in the case that there’s an electrical short.
It’s also a good idea to make sure you don’t install your hot tub beneath overhead power lines.
Plumbing
The good thing is that you don’t have to worry about plumbing, as hot tubs are self-contained units. You can fill your hot tub using a garden hose and empty it with a pump or siphon.
Hot Tub Placement Ideas
Patio or Deck
Having a patio or deck is a wonderful way to build your hot tub into the landscape of your backyard. There are two ways that people tend to place a new hot tub when configuring them into decking or patios:
- On top of the wood
- Flush within the wood
Placing your spa on top of the wood allows full access to the equipment panels, making your hot tub far more maneuverable. However, it can also make your hot tub much more challenging to get into if you don’t have steps.
Placing a new hot tub flush integrates it much better. Plus, you won’t have to worry about whether the deck can support your hot tub’s weight.
Head over to our Hot Tub Deck Ideas article for some of our favorite esthetically pleasing deck options. And if you’ve already got an existing deck, you’ll need to determine if your deck can support your hot tub.
One of the easiest methods for placing a hot tub is on a specific foundation. NEVER place a hot tub on bare ground, such as grass or dirt. This type of landscape is malleable, meaning your spa will slowly sink into the Earth when temperature and humidity change.
Plus, bare Earth is not flat, which could put stress on the hot tub shell, eventually leading to cracks and splits.
If you don’t want to place your spa on a deck, we recommend pouring a concrete slab somewhere in your backyard.
If you don’t get it right the first time, and your hot tub is not perfectly level, not to worry. There are a few tricks to leveling a hot tub.
Indoors
If placing your hot tub inside for more privacy, adequate ventilation is needed. People often install exhaust fans to control humidity and circulate the surrounding air. Too much moisture indoors can damage the flooring and walls of your home.
Installing a humidistat along with indoor installation of a hot tub is also good idea. Humidistats help regulate the moisture, activating the exhaust fans only when necessary.
A lawyer never retires. So I would just say that I am not as active as I used to be. Now I simply dedicate myself to fishing, my hobby, and my grandchildren. For Business Finance News I write about legal aspects of mortgage policies, mostly regarding the rights of policyholders. I also have articles about personal injuries.
