Hot Tub Buying Guide

Where to locate your new hot tub

When you consider the purchase of a hot tub, you can get so excited about the experience of the massaging jets and the relaxation and delightful evenings you will spend, that you neglect the most important details and may not consider all your options. Location, location, location. The three most important words in real estate. Why, because you can't change it. Now depending on the type of hot tub you purchase, you can change the location. But you aren't going to want to change the location of your hot tub frequently. That requires emptying it of its soothing water and a hot tub without its warm water is just a large container taking up space. So consider carefully the location of your hot tub.

Indoors or outdoors? The most obvious decision is inside or out. Pros and cons exist for both of course. Many people don't have the right space indoor for a hot tub, but you just might. And if so, weather is never a factor. Your tub will not be exposed to the elements of wind, rain, sun and temperature extremes. Outside temperature will also not be a factor to you as you travel to and from your hot tub. Not traipsing through the snow or cold or rain. Talk about convenient. And privacy is all yours. Your tub will be enclosed in your home.

But, you must be sure that your interior space is the right space for your hot tub or you can cause yourself many, many unnecessary problems. Make sure the electrical situation is handled. Do you have the right outlets for the job? If your tub pulls 220 volts make sure the outlet is configured for that. Most household outlets are 110 volt. Now, remember some tubs are equipped for 110. You need to know what you are facing and consult an electrician to remedy any issues that you may encounter.

Ventilation. Ah, the heat and humidity from a hot tub are considerable. The same things that make your experience of hydrotherapy so wonderful can do considerable damage to your home without the proper ventilation. You will need great air flow and will need to monitor the humidity, most likely employing the use of a dehumidifying system to help.

And space. Will your hot tub really fit into the space you have envisioned for it? And will it be able to be transported into that space? You will need to measure the room space, of course. Take into account walking around the hot tub as well as the space you will need to safely and comfortably get in and out of the tub. You will also need to measure doorways into the room. Not just the room's doorway itself, but consider how the tub is getting into the house and into that room. Are there hallways or stairwells to navigate? And of course, can the space and structure handle the weight of the tub filled with water? These are all serious considerations for you before you decide on an indoor hot tub.

If you plan to use your hot tub for therapy for a medical condition or for injury, an indoor hot tub might be the best choice. You won't have to worry about the weather when you use it. You won't be traversing through the yard to get to your tub. Using your hot tub therapeutically can become part of a regular schedule not interrupted by outside weather extremes. The convenience of an indoor tub might be exactly what the doctor ordered. And even if you are planning to use your tub for more pleasure than physical therapy, it may still be of great value to you to have the convenience of the indoor location exempt from the changes in weather.

Cleaning your indoor hot tub is the same process as an outdoor tub, though an indoor tub will not be exposed to nature and will have much less debris. You will need to consider the water people will traipse in and out of the tub. And consider how you will drain your tub to give it the good cleaning it will occasionally need. And what about a possible leak? Outside a leak may not cause much damage at all, but inside, even a small leak can be devastating. The indoor hot tub is extremely convenient and able to be used in all weather and temperature, but the changes that you may need to make to the interior of your home may be more costly than you think that convenience is worth.

Outside it is for your tub. Outside is already ventilated for you. No special considerations needed for that. And although indoor tubs are not subject to the extremes of weather, many people enjoy being outside in the weather while relaxing in the hot waters of their tub. You have the chance to relax outside under the wide open sky.

You will need to consider the space for your hot tub even if you decide to place it outside. Unlike indoor hot tubs, you won't need to be concerned with ventilation, but you will want to prepare the site making sure it's level and ready to handle the weight of a filled tub. You will need a special platform for your tub - a slab or deck. Also, you want to consider the view you have and the view the neighbors will have of you. Privacy is something you need to be concerned with when considering an outdoor hot tub.

Maintenance on an outdoor hot tub can be a little more involved than an indoor tub, but not necessarily by much. Yes, an outdoor tub is exposed to the elements, so you will be cleaning some sticks and leaves off, but with a good, proper-fitting cover your water should stay free from debris. You will need to maintain your hot tub whether it is indoor or out.

Heating your tub outdoor may take a bit longer than an indoor tub where the ambient temperature stays relatively the same. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be using the hot tub heater more if you are outdoor. Consider this cost when making this decision.

Whether you choose to have your hot tub inside or outside is clearly a big decision. It will impact the other decisions you have to make in this purchasing process. You will still have to make many of the same decisions and consider the other expenses involved. But no matter where you put your hot tub, you want to be sure it's the right decision for you. This purchase is not a small one; it's an investment, an investment in your quality of life. Enjoy. . .inside or out.