While planning to install a hot tub at your home, there are many considerations involved, the first of which is location and then who will actually perform the hot tub installation. Since building and remodeling codes vary from locality to locality, it's wise to understand who is allowed to perform which job before getting started.
For example, some localities will allow a homeowner to perform their own installation of electric and gas lines while some require they be performed by a professional licensed in that field. Regardless of codes, however if you're not experienced in gas, electric and waterlines, it may be best to get a professional's help with your hot tub installation.
While some do not like the idea of sitting in a hot tub while snow is falling down around them on a cold winter day, others claim there is no better sensation. If you decide on a hot tub installation indoors, considerations include moisture and eventual leaks of the water.
Indoors may seem like a great idea, but consider the amount of steam and condensation, which will escape into the room when the cover is removed. Additionally, the chemicals needed for maintenance may fill the room with an undesirable odor. Then there's the inevitable leak. Regardless of manufacturer claims it is possible for a gasket or a pipe to develop a leak. Any indoor hot tub installation will need to consider where the water will go if that happens.
Equipment Location Must Follow Code
Nationally, the code says equipment has to be at least five feet from the tub. While most people during their hot tub installation place it much further away than that, check with your locality to determine local rules. The further away it is, the less noise you will hear in the tub, but also the more resistance you will experience which may cause a drop in water pressure at the jets.
If you have chosen a gas heated unit, the hot tub installation will include running a new gas line to the heater as well as electric service for the pumps. If local codes do not specify installation, you can do this yourself, but unless you have the knowledge it may be best to hire a professional.
Another part of the hot tub installation is to ensure you have a solid pad for the tub to sit on. It will have to support the weight of the tub filled with water and the weight of the people using it. The tub and water alone could weight over 3,000 pounds so outside hot tub installation should have a concrete pad, if on the ground, or a reinforced base if built onto a patio or deck.
