Thinking of enjoying the hot tub life? There are three words you should pay attention to: location, location, location. Where to put your hot tub is one of the most important factors in maximising enjoyment, so if you’re struggling with this, we’ve got some advice to help you out.
Indoor vs Outdoor Hot Tub
The first thing to decide is how often you’re likely to use your hot tub. The more frequently you intend to use the tub, the closer to your house it ought to be. Once this is established, choose whether you want your hot tub indoors or outside. Both locations have their pros and cons.
Indoor Hot Tub: Pros & Cons
Putting your hot tub indoors will ensure:
- Protection from the elements. No need to worry about rain, cold, hail, leaves, or any other outdoor problems.
- Privacy. Keeping your hot tub indoors means the neighbours won’t be able to see you while you’re using it.
- Convenience. Having a hot tub indoors means you can enjoy a soak whenever you like, much like a bath.
However, an indoor hot tub may also be subject to the following issues:
- Drainage. To clean your hot tub, you will need to drain it fully, which could be harder indoors.
- Chemical scents. The smell of the cleaning chemicals will be much stronger if the tub is indoors, so a milder chemical may be needed.
- Ventilation. Hot tubs give off a considerable amount of steam, so if you’re installing your hot tub indoors, it’s a good idea to invest in some ventilation to prevent damp and mildew building up. This can be further mitigated by opening some windows or a door as well.
Outdoor Hot Tub: Pros & Cons
Putting your hot tub outdoors may feel more appropriate. An outdoor hot tub has several advantages:
- Easy delivery. It’s much easier to winch a hot tub into a garden than to try and get it into a house!
- Ventilation. If your hot tub is outside, you don’t need to worry about cracking open a window for ventilation.
- Drainage. If you set up your hot tub outdoors, you can simply put the drainage hose near your home’s drains and drain the tub with ease whenever necessary.
Keeping a hot tub outside does, however, come with certain downsides:
- Exposure. If you want to put your hot tub outside, you may have to sacrifice some privacy, and you will be more exposed to the elements, even if you put your tub under a gazebo.
- Debris. Your hot tub will need to be fully covered when not in use to ensure leaves and other bits of dirt and debris don’t get in.
Best Place to Put a Hot Tub
Whether indoors or outdoors, your hot tub will need a supportive base. Ideally, this should be a thick concrete slab, or a very well-reinforced decking area, so as to hold the tub’s full weight (potentially over three tonnes with water and occupants). Make sure your hot tub doesn’t touch bare soil, as this could lead to both sinkage and the absorption of moisture from the soil into the hot tub’s casing, causing mildew and rot.
If you’re intending to use it frequently, having the tub close to the house is the smarter choice. Not only will this mean a shorter trip from shower to tub in winter, it also makes the spa easier to power and fill without having to stretch cables and a hose all the way across your garden.
Access is one of the most important considerations when deciding where to place your hot tub. How easily can you get to it, enter and exit, and maintain it? These questions will have the biggest impact on your enjoyment of your tub.
Drainage is also a key factor. Incidental overflow is common and, whether indoors or outdoors, you’ll need to fully drain your hot tub at least once a year, so it’s wise to put your hot tub near an existing drain – or have one installed if necessary.
Finding the right place for your hot tub doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re concerned about where it would fit best on your property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’ll help you find the ideal place for your tub.
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