How to Install a Hot Tub

An above ground spa or hot tub is a wonderful addition to your home. It can provide years of relaxation and pleasure. But first, you need to install it.

Before you even bring your tub home you need to prepare the site. Choose a place in your yard, or on your patio or deck, which will be large enough to accommodate the tub. Be sure this place is fairly level.

When you bring your tub home, be sure that you have several 2x4's available to provide support for the bottom of the tub. Because a fiberglass hot tub cannot rest on the foot well alone, and bare ground, or a concrete patio will not provide enough support to prevent the tub from cracking under the pressure of the water. Wood planks are the best choice for support, as they compress more than concrete and less than bare ground. Alternatively, you may want to place your tub on a wooden deck. But still be sure to support the bottom for safety.

The next thing you will want to do is determine whether your tub runs on 110V or 220V electricity. This information will be contained in the user information that came with your hot tub. If you don't have the user's information, then you can examine the heater control box under the tub. Simply remove the access panel in the skirting and look at the unit; it should be clearly marked as to the voltage requirements. Some control boxes are switch able between 110V and 220V and some are not. It is imperative that you know which type you have.

Now you are ready to power up your hot tub.

If your tub is 110V and it comes with a standard electrical plug, you will want to place the tub as close as possible to the outdoor electrical outlet. Be sure this outlet is Ground Fault Interrupted (GFI) and waterproof.

If your tub is 220V you will want to take a slightly different avenue. You may want to "hard wire" your tub into your home electrical system. To begin with, look at your circuit breaker box. Locate the 220V circuits (they are the ones with the double breakers) and verify that there is room in your box for one more. Either have an electrician install one or you can add an additional 60amp 220V circuit to your box. Attach an electrical disconnector on the outside wall near the hot tub. Make sure the disconnector has a 40amp fuse and is water tight. This will prevent an overload of the circuit during normal operation as well as provide an additional amount of safety.

Attach the power cord for your hot tub to the disconnector or GFI outlet. Do not turn anything on right now, though. You could burn out your pump or heater if they are run without water.

Fill your tub from the garden hose, about 4/5 full and test your jets, and blower. Then turn on the heater and let the water begin to circulate. Turn off the jets and blower and continue to fill the tub to within 6 inches from the top.

Let the water circulate through the heater until it reaches about 99° F. This should take 3 to 8 hours depending upon the size of your hot tub, the temperature of the water, and the power of your heater (110V takes longer to heat up).

As soon as the water is hot, you will see that the wait was well worth it. Enjoy your new hot tub.