Hot tubs weigh 3, to 6, pounds when full and require either a concrete slab base, reinforced deck, crushed gravel, or pavers. Cheaper models use a standard V outlet. A qualified electrician takes 6 to 8 hours to install a hot tub. New hot tubs last 5 to 20 years, depending on the quality and maintenance. Table of Contents [hide] [show]. Get free estimates from hot tub installers near you.
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Hot Tub Installation. What are the costs to install a hot tub? This will not apply suitable pressure on tense muscles in need of relief. The heat, in and of itself, may be helpful to loosening of tightness in the body, but the heating systems will also not sustain themselves with bubbling feature on. With all that said, if you are seeking the therapeutic benefits of a hot tub , want to house your hot tub outside year round, and believe your yard or patio to have the perfect empty space burning to be filled with a new spa, then hard-side is the way to g o.
Because it is more difficult to drain, move, and subsequently refill with fresh water, the hard-side tub will also bring on additional maintenance costs. You will need to chemically treat your tub water in order to ensure cleanliness. In conclusion, remember to consider all your options, and the notion of usability to offset cost.
For many, the ability to use you hard-side tub year round will be worth the extra price you pay for the initial cost and maintenance. Still, all this is contingent on how you will use it. In the end, be sure to consider the expected use of your tub in order to get the most bang for your buck.
This will ensure that you are able to enjoy the relaxation a hot tub can provide your body as well as some peace of mind that you have made the best decision possible for your home.
Unless you are installing a portable or an above the ground hot tub, you will need to engage a contractor and qualified electrician. Many local authorities require that wiring be done by a registered electrician.
Above ground hot tubs have minimal installations as they come self-contained and installation is on the surface rather than an enclosed space. Even as a DIY, you need a handyman to help with moving the hot tub and aligning to its foundation pad. Your savings in labor cost will not be worth the risk of losing your warranty or failing the inspection.
Owners have different preferences, for example round, rectangular, square, octagon, even custom shapes. The inside of the hot tub may by plain or it may have a body contoured sitting space for each user. The tub may have overhead or underwater lights for more dramatic effects. Installation of a hot tub can be rather tricky, considering that the tub is a heavy facility, is technologically complex, and involves the local authorities and the building code.
If the hot tub is in-ground, indoors, or on a deck, then you need to contract a general contractor to do the installation. There are three basic stages to installation ; preparing the foundation, installing the hot tub, and electrical wiring. In preparation, you first have to check with the local authorities about what permits, licenses, building codes and inspections, and other requirements you need to fulfill for installation.
Then select a suitable location for the hot tub. The hot tub should be child-safe by having a fence around it, private from external view, and accessible from the ground level by using padded steps for a raised hot tub. An in-ground hot tub costs significantly more to install than an above ground version. If the hot tub is going to be a distance away from the main house then you have to install a separate electrical system.
Moreover, the building code stipulates that the hot tub must be at least five away from the property boundary, not below an overhead power line, and well separated from the tub panel. You have to also ensure there is a passage for the large piece of equipment, and if not, you may have to pull down a fence. You need to assemble the materials and tools for the rest of the installation work. Essential tools will include an excavator or a shovel, a concrete mixer, measuring tape, plumbing and concrete filling tools.
For the foundation you will need such materials as gravel, sand, cement, water, and waterproofing chemicals. You will also need deck and fence building materials like wood , nails, railing, paint, and a roof. You will have electrical and plumbing supplies. You will excavate the pit for an in-ground hot tub. The excavated site has to have enough room to work in and for the pump installation as well. You then need to build a strong foundation that will support an pound hot tub, pounds of water, and pounds of six adult users — in total pounds.
You will also require to pad the concrete foundation. The pad should be strong in order to absorb the impact of extra weights and rough movements of the water and users. The pad also improves the aesthetics of the footprint. A prefabricated pad is desirable because it can be relocated with the tub if the need ever arises. Finally, you have to have trenches for the wiring and plumbing.
You will run a conduit along the trench and do the wiring from the house system to the site in line with National Electrical Code. Bring the hot tub from the carb to the pad. The empty tub weighs some pounds, 10 feet a side and 3 feet tall, therefore it has to be lifted with a crane or moved on a trolley to the pad. Most hot tubs are self-contained and require minimum installation steps but you need to work with at least one other person to align the hot tub properly. Secure the shell to the concrete base.
Connect the wiring to a V outlet, the water inlet to the hose, and the water outlet to the sump pump. Fill the sides with concrete and do the finishing with tiles or stone. Clean the hot tub thoroughly, open the air valves, and fill the tub with water using the garden hose or buckets.
Turn the electricity on and add chemicals to the water. For electrical installation, some warranties insist the wiring be done by a qualified electrician. Use a dedicated circuit for the hot tub because it draws a lot of power to run the powerful pump, heater, and blower. Use the correct size of copper wire with a heat-resistant nylon covering as stipulated by the National Electrical Code.
Use a larger wire from the house to the junction box, and a 6 wire from the junction box to the hot tub. It is not worthwhile to do the wiring yourself at the risk of voiding the warranty and courting a potential disaster.
Install the hot tub cover. Be sure to invest in an energy green cover that does not lose heat through soaked up moisture and is made of degradable material. Invest in a sump pump to empty the hot tub because gravity draining can take a full day to complete. Have your completed installation passed by the city inspectorate. For an above ground hot tub, you need between two and six people and a crane to move and install the hot tub.
The seller will arrange for delivery up to your curb, but you have to organize the movement to the backyard. They are made of vinyl, have a soft surface, and therefore are not long-lasting. They are however comparatively energy-efficient. Any hot tub is a treasured household investment, but you wonder why the price of the hot tub and the cost of installation differ so much.
Many factors determine the total cost of installation ranging from materials, quality, sturdiness, aesthetics, ergonomics, to extra features like underwater lights, sound system, and other additional features.
The cost also includes getting a permit, labor, transport, building a foundation and shelter, electrical wiring, plumbing, accessories, equipment rentals, initial maintenance and cleaning chemicals, and other miscellaneous costs. There are several hidden costs in energy conservation, maintenance, accessories, repairs and replacement, and winterization. According to Bullfrog Spas the price of a hot tub depends on the customization of features, size, and materials.
A customized hot tub depends on the configuration you desire, and orders are made through your local dealer. Bullfrog Spas further explains the general prizing criteria for hot tubs. It is the ultimate hot tub in terms of quality, features, customization, hard-wearing material, high technical specifications, and low maintenance cost. A lot of engineering and technology goes into their design. It can be customized with a number of luxuries. It is standardized, poorly insulated, less durable, and has minimal functionality.
It also high maintenance cost and a short lifespan. A good cover has to fit snugly over the hot tub. When ordering the cover you will give the vital measurements. Suppose you purchase a tub you love, but it comes with a gas heater, and you do not have a gas line.
You may want to swap it out for an electric or propane heater. Likewise, if you have a gas line to your yard and want to convert your costly electric heater to a less expensive gas heater, you can do this easily. Heaters come in three basic types, gas, propane, and electric. Many gas and propane heaters are interchangeable. They run on either when set up properly. Keep in mind that if you choose gas, you must have a gas line to your yard or deck to run the heater, increasing your installation costs.
Electric hot tub heaters are less expensive to purchase and install than gas or propane heaters. These heaters can be hardwired quickly and provide steady, consistent heat. They take longer to heat than gas or propane, and the farther away from your home the tub is, the longer the wire running to your heater.
Their repair costs are usually lower, which can be attractive to some homeowners. Natural gas heaters are the most common type. They heat water quickly and are one of the lowest costing heat sources available. These heaters need a buried gas line, which can be expensive, especially as it gets farther from the house.
Most of them run on propane if natural gas is not available in your area. Always check to see which fuel the heater requires. For people who do not have a natural gas line but like the convenience and fast heating of a gas heater, propane 6 makes an excellent alternative. You can run pipes from your propane tanks right to the heater the same way you run a gas line.
In some cases, you can also purchase a small propane tank just for the tub to lower installation costs or if you do not have propane on your property already. One of the most important requirements is having a solid foundation for the hot tub. It could be on a concrete slab, patio, prefabricated spa pad, or reinforced deck.
The foundation must be level, straight, and bear the weight of the unit, water, and occupants. Another important requirement to keep in mind is the accessibility of the location. The access point into your backyard location should be as wide as your unit is tall. This cost varies depending on the crane size, the travel time to the location, requirements like street closures, permits, and barricades, and the on-site time.
Companies often charge an hourly rate with a two to three hour minimum. A few other requirements related to the location are having the equipment panel easily accessible and having it located more than 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
Your final considerations revolve around electricity and water. You must have v to v for a tub to run. If this is not the case, electricians must dig up the spot and provide these electrical components.
Last but not least, nearby water access, such as a garden hose, works to fill and clean the tub. It is not required to have plumbing. The cost to heat a hot tub depends on many factors, including how often you keep it running throughout the year, which varies depending on where you live and the local climate.
Typically, the easiest way to figure out the operating cost is to break down average costs per month by estimating the number of days you generally run your unit. However, many things impact the cost of running your tub per month. This includes the unit's size, electricity and water costs in your area, and what you use to heat the water. However, you can determine how much electricity your unit uses by figuring out how many hours a month you use it and the number of kilowatts the tub uses.
Multiply these together to find the total kilowatts per month, then multiply this by the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour in your area. This gives you a good idea of your costs. When determining the cost to run a unit per year, you must think about how many months throughout the year you actually run it. This varies depending on where you live and the location of your unit. Some outdoor units are designed to be used year-round with superior insulation properties.
However, if you do this, you must deal with higher energy costs. Hot tubs can be very relaxing and enjoyable, but there are some safety protocols. Many come with some safety features to ensure that people enjoy their time in the tub while avoiding danger:. An automatic shut-off feature is an important safety feature to prevent any problems. Suppose the water temperature is set, but the water rises above this setting.
In that case, the shut-off feature automatically stops the circulation pump to prevent the water temperatures from rising to extremes. Once the temperature comes back down, the pump continues to work. This automatic shut-off feature comes with many modern-day units and cannot be added to an old one. Many units use locking covers for when they are not in use. This cover adds a safety feature to ensure there are no trespassers or incidents when it is not in use.
Locks often come in the form of straps or clips attached to the cover for easy closing. Soft-sided options are a relative newcomer to the field. They are made of high-density foam and are lightweight and portable but highly durable and available in several shapes and colors. The high-density foam holds heat well, so they are more energy-friendly than tubs that lose heat quickly.
They are also more convenient because they can plug into a standard v outlet and use less than 15 amps of power. Some also have heat recovery features in which the heat is recovered from the motor and is transferred to the spa itself.
Soft-sided units offer many of the same benefits other tubs have, like jets, lights, and controls, but they have a unique appearance with very thick, rounded sides. Generally, you can set it up and tear it down within an hour.
While heavier than inflatable units, a soft-sided unit and accessories weigh under pounds. Inflatable units are becoming popular and a good choice for those looking for flexibility.
Rather than opting for a solid tub, inflatable models can be broken down and moved anywhere in and out of your yard. Inflatable units do not use jets but rather fans that blow the air around. Materials lose heat much faster than regular models and need to be heated more often. While they are less expensive than regular models, they are more expensive to run. This is because they are not as well insulated as permanent installations.
Spillover spas are directly connected to your pool. Adding a spillover spa to an existing pool costs more than installing a spa and pool at the same time. When adding a hot tub to your pool, your contractors need to re-plaster the interior of the pool and make modifications to the pool structure, plumbing, electrical components, and more.
They will then resurface everything after the installation is complete. Adding a hot tub to an existing pool has many advantages, including an increase in home value and comfort. Hot tubs come in various shapes and sizes.
Knowing the size and weight of yours helps you determine which one you need for your space and what it will take to move it.
We will go over the common sizes and how much they weigh empty and filled with water. Knowing the weight of your unit is helpful when it comes to knowing where to put it in your yard or home. This is especially important if you put it on a deck or any platform lifted off the ground.
If you end up getting one that is too heavy, you can break the deck or the unit itself and risk potential injuries, too. Here are some of the common sizes and their corresponding weights. For those who like to exercise before relaxing, swim spa hot tub combos are a great thing to have.
This small exercise pool uses jets to provide resistance, so it does not take up the same space as a regular pool. It doubles as a hot tub, either with an adjacent area or by switching the position of the jets and turning on the heater. These tend to be larger, with fewer features like seating unless they have an adjacent seating section. They are normally made of acrylic or molded and installed freestanding, in-ground, indoors, or outside. Swim spas can be used all year round since the water is heated, which increases its overall value.
Overall costs vary depending on the size of the tub, additional features, and the power source. Electric-powered spas are generally more efficient and cost-effective, too, due to how large swim spas are. One of the new crazes for hot tubs is a saltwater system. A saltwater model uses a salt cell to produce a pure chlorine 7 solution, but the salt is not the same type found in the ocean.
Saltwater options are becoming popular due to their ease of use and how they give skin a softer and silkier feel. Many prefer them over chlorine tubs due to simplified maintenance and longer-lasting water.
The initial cost for a saltwater unit is higher to purchase and install than one with a traditional system. Over the years, the cost is offset due to the lower costs of the water supply and test kits than those needed for a chlorine tub. Saltwater generators can be added to many tubs, including soft-sided and molded. They are not recommended for wooden tubs because they can damage them.
Built-in units require more expensive generator systems, while above-ground models are cheaper. The cost to move a hot tub depends on several things. Some of them are very light when empty and can be easily moved, with the only additional costs being potentially needing new electrical or gas hookups.
Other models are very heavy. A hot tub is a great investment for someone who engages in physical activity. A soak before exercise warms muscles, joints, and ligaments, possibly reducing the risk of injury. After physical activity, a soak may relieve the body of any tension or soreness.
It may relieve pain from arthritis and muscle tightness and promote restful sleep. They require maintenance and, with any water feature on your property comes inherent risk.
You need to cover it at all times or have it fenced and kept away from small children and animals to minimize risks. These may not be a good choice for pregnant women or people with blood pressure problems. Always speak to your doctor or another medical professional before using a hot tub.
A hot tub is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, making proper maintenance extremely important. To properly maintain your unit , things need to be done regularly, such as checking the water chemical levels, cleaning the filter, cleaning the inside of the spa, and airing out the cover. The water chemicals should be checked two to four times per week. This includes using a tester strip to ensure that the pH, alkalinity, calcium, and sanitizer levels are proper.
The spa filter should be cleaned every two to four weeks, depending on usage, to remove any dirt or grime that builds up inside. This filter should be replaced every one to two years as fibers loosen over time. A full inside cleaning of the spa should be completed every two months, where the water is drained.
A spa cleaner should be used on the surface, and a vacuum can be used to get in the corners. Any debris can be removed using a skimmer net.
Lastly, it is extremely important to remove the cover at least twice a week. This gives the inside of the cover a chance to air out and dry the moisture inside. Saunas provide many of the potential health benefits of a hot tub, including relaxation, better blood circulation, and promoting restful sleep. These are two different features and two different installations. Saunas are typically indoors because these are enclosed rooms that produce steam.
Hot tubs can be used indoors or outdoors and have the user sitting in hot, circulating water. Get quotes from the best hot tub installation companies near me Get Quotes.
No matter where you live, the key to a safe, healthy, and enjoyable hot tub is a quality cover. There are countless advantages to having a cover, with the most important arguably being safety. If you have young children in or around your home, having a secure cover makes your space more safe and secure should they enter the vicinity of the unit unsupervised.
Some covers come with locks, which means you can avoid any unexpected guests from trying to use your hot tub. Most inflatable hot tub warranties provide 12 to 24 months of coverage. A hot tub lasts 5 to 20 years on average. The average lifespan of a cheap or low-quality hot tub is up to 5 years if not well maintained. High quality, expensive hot tubs that receive regular maintenance last 20 years or more.
A hot tub pump lasts 5 to 10 years on average. A hot tub and spa are used interchangeably, though wooden designs are typically hot tubs and acrylic units are spas.
A whirlpool tub is an indoor bathtub with active jets. Expensive hot tubs come with a sound system, outdoor TV, waterfall, lighting, over 60 jets, and some seat more than 9 people. ThermoSpas are a specialty hot tub with high-quality filters, water purification, heating systems, and pumps.
Customizations include lighting, jet configurations, and seating capacities. To qualify for additional coverage relating to damages and injuries from your hot tub, it should be adding to your homeowner's insurance.
Call your insurance company to discuss your coverage options for a spa or hot tub. To deduct the cost of a hot tub or swim spa on your tax return, you must establish the hot tub is the primary purpose for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. A hot tub can be claimed as a capital expense for a tax deduction, even though it's a home improvement.
Depending on your insurance provider and plan, health insurance may pay for a new hot tub if your doctor provides a prescription for hydrotherapy to treat medical conditions like arthritis, poor circulation, or joint injuries. Hot tubs are also available online at Amazon and Wayfair.
The best time of year to buy a hot tub is near the end of the year, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. Entry and mid-level spas are found at most retailers and showrooms, while high-end spas are typically sold through hot tub dealers only.
Some dealers offer a wet test, a 15 to minute test soak at the dealership at no cost. Yes, hot tub prices are negotiable.
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