Buying a new hot tub is an exciting event. However, now that you’ve made your purchase (or at least decided you’re going to make the purchase) you’re probably wondering about what it will take to get it installed and up and running. Are hot tubs easy to install? It’s not an overly complicated process as long as you make a few preparations and familiarize yourself with what needs to be done. To help you get ready for the delivery and installation of your new hot tub, we’ve put together this article full of tips.
Prepare Your Installation Route
Being confident in how your hot tub will get from the delivery truck to your site of installation is probably one of the most important preparations you need to make. There are too many tales of woe where a hot tub has sat on a front lawn for days or weeks while the new owners figure out how to get it through the tight spaces that they didn’t account for before taking delivery. For this reason, it’s important you know and understand the dimensions of your hot tub and that it will easily fit around every tight corner, through narrow passageways and under overhangs and other overhead obstacles. Getting this wrong will lead to frustration and possibly some unintended renovations of your property. If there’s no way that your hot tub will fit through the spaces needed to get it to the installation site, some hot tub dealerships provide crane service which can lift and lower your hot tub into place.
The Hot Tub Pad
Once filled with water and people, a hot tub can end up weighing several tonnes. For this reason, your hot tub needs to be placed on a sturdy, stable, and level surface. Concrete pads are popular for this purpose, but you can also use high density plastic pads specially made for hot tubs, a properly reinforced wooden deck, concrete pavers, or a layer of gravel. You should definitely not place a hot tub directly on the ground or on your lawn. The weight of the hot tub will eventually cause the ground to shift and possibly cause your hot tub to collapse. And although decks are a very popular place to install a hot tub, you should ensure it’s properly reinforced to be able to carry the hot tub’s maximum weight. The advice of a structural engineer should be sought.
Electrical Considerations
Electrically speaking there are two main types of hot tubs: 110 volts and 220 volts. 110 volt hot tubs are known as plug and play models as you can plug them into any ordinary three pronged electrical outlet. 220 volt models, on the other hand, require hardwiring into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected 220 volt, 50 amp dedicated circuit. This is not a DIY job and will require the assistance of an electrician. Getting this job done before taking delivery of your hot tub will ensure you’ll be soaking in the warm waters sooner rather than later.
Water Considerations
To make life easier, it’s much better to have a nearby source of water. A simple garden tap and hose is all that’s really necessary. You’ll need to empty and refill your hot tub a few times a year and you don’t want to have to be hauling buckets of water from your kitchen every time you do this. If you don’t already have a spigot near the hot tub installation site, having one installed will be a worthwhile investment. You’ll also want to ensure that the area round your hot tub can drain properly. More water than you might think will end up on the ground around the hot tub and you don’t want that water draining towards your house or any other sensitive structures. A bit of landscaping may be required.
To learn more about hot tub installation, download a hot tub buyer’s guide here, or visit us at our hot tub store.