How to Choose Your Hot Tub Foundation
Thinking about getting a hot tub, but not sure where to put it? There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the perfect place for your hot tub that will enhance your enjoyment.
If you live in an area that’s gets snow, or other bad weather, we highly suggest placing your hot tub RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR. If you put your hot tub on the other side of the yard where the view is great, but have to walk across 30 feet of ice and snow just to get there, you probably won’t end up using your hot tub as much as you could if it was placed right outside the back door, kitchen door, garage door, etc.
If you live in an area where weather is not a concern, then consider the following factors when placing your new spa:
Usage – Will you be using your hot tub for socialization and mingling with friends or is it intended to be more of a solitary place to relax and enjoy the hydrotherapy benefits?
Socialization – If entertaining is more your thing, look for an open area to place your spa. This will allow people in the spa to converse with those outside the hot tub and will allow the spa to be part of the party.
Relaxation – If hydrotherapy or quiet relaxation is your goal, then consider finding a private or secluded part of the yard. If no such space exists, consider putting a few tall potted plants around your spa or erecting a privacy screen.
Access to Service Compartment – Considering building your spa into a deck or placing it up against a wall? Remember to rotate the spa so the service compartment door faces out. This will save you time and hassle should you ever need to get into the service compartment.
Path of the Sun – You may find that you really enjoying hot tubbing during the mornings or afternoons. In order to be comfortable during all times of the day, consider the path of the sun and the spa’s orientation. You may be able to rotate or move the spa a bit to make sure the sun isn’t in your eyes, or beating down on you.
Hop-in-ability – This is an extremely technical hot tub term we use within the industry. Bare with me while I try to explain it in layman\’s terms. Hop-in-ability refers to the level at which one is able to easily get into their hot tub. Regardless of weather, backyard landscaping or the prying eyes of neighbors, hop-in-ability is super duper important when it comes to actually using your spa. If your spa is easy to get into, you will use and enjoy it more than if it becomes a chore to get to every time you want to use it. So consider placing it if not directly outside a door, then relatively close to the house with a clear pathway from your door to the spa.
And Don’t Forget…
Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level (within ½” per 10\’) surface. A filled spa can weigh a great deal. Make certain that the location you choose can support the weight of your filled spa.
Locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the electrical components, in a place where water will drain away from it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker.
Leave yourself easy access to the circuit breakers in the subpanel (230 volt converted models), or to the GFCI on the end of the power cord (110 volt models).
Never let water get into the subpanel (230 volt converted models), or into the GFCI (110 volt models), or into the electrical outlet that your spa is plugged into.
Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care and maintenance.
Have you thought of a perfect spot for your new hot tub? Get in touch today and we can get you set up with pricing on the spa of your dreams!
