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Hot Tub Installation - A Do It Yourself Job?Copyright © 2006 Emerson Lockwood Now that you have decided to purchase a hot tub there are a few things that you need to consider. One of the big decisions that you need to make is whether or not you want to install the hot tub yourself, or if you want to pay a professional to do it for you. There are many different factors that you will need to consider before you make this decision. The first factor that you will want to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a professional to install your hot tub is the legal mumbo jumbo in your city codes. Many cities require that you have a building permit to install your new hot tub. Others require the electrical systems to be installed by a professional. Many jurisdictions don't require a professional to do the installation, but if you decide to do-it-yourself, your only requirement would be to have the electrical inspector to check your electrical work. The laws will of course vary from one location to another, so you need to be sure that you contact the proper city authorities to find out what the exact ordinances are, prior to your hot tub's arrival. It could be painful if you went to the trouble to install your hot tub yourself, and then had to take it apart to have the electrical connections inspected by a city inspector just to make sure it is up to code standards. One major consideration concerning your hot tub installation is how are you going to get the hot tub to its final location. Remember that your new hot tub will weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 to 700 pounds. Great, the delivery guy left a 600-pound hot tub sitting in your driveway, now what? Unless you are the Incredible Hulk, you had better of planned ahead. Hopefully you have already selected an appropriate location for your hot tub (a location with at least a 4-inch concrete base). If you know someone that has a hot tub dolly then you are golden. If not, the delivery service usually has a lift gate on the back of the truck to unload your new hot tub. Some delivery drivers will help you maneuver your hot tub to its final resting place. But, other delivery drivers will tell you that it is not their responsibility; they just deliver the thing. If the delivery driver works directly for the hot tub store, your driver will be prepared to help you get your new hot tub into your backyard or home. If you bought your hot tub from a company outside of your local area, and you find yourself in the position of having to deal with getting your hot tub located on your own, you may want to contact a local hot tub company to see if they would be willing to hire out their crew to you. Most local hot tub companies will be more than happy to help you, for a fee, to get the hot tub to its final destination. Once you have ironed out how to move the hot tub, and you have it where you want it, it is time to start hooking it up. Depending on the hot tub that you purchase, and the company that you buy it from, there may be some assembly required before you move on to the electrical hook ups. Now it is time to consider the electrical hookups for your new hot tub. If your hot tub has an electrical heater, then you may be able to hook it up yourself. Again, you will need to refer to local codes to keep your hot tub legal. My recommendation is that you should only attempt to hook up the electrical components if you have experience with electrical systems. Most people opt to have a licensed electrician install up to a 50-amp 220-volt GECI breaker and to connect a four-wire power line to the equipment control box. The heater location should also be inspected to determine compliance. Saving a little bit of money is simply not worth risking your safety. The next consideration is if you choose to plumb a water line directly to your hot tub. Having a direct line sure beats spending a couple hours with a water hose , every time you want to refill your tub. The availability of having water hooked directly up to the hot tub will depend on the particular hot tub that you purchase and the company that you purchase it from. The water plumbing is slightly easier than dealing with the electrical, but still most people opt for professional installation. Finally, if you think that selling your house in the future may be something that you would do, then professional installation is strongly recommended. This could particularly be an issue if you decide to sell your house with the hot tub being sold along with it. A potential buyer would have the house inspected and if your hot tub does not meet code standards, or was not installed by a professional, a potential buyer may ask you to foot the bill to have it inspected and to insure that all the appropriate permits are in place. The potential buyer of your home will want to see the various permits before buying. The bottom line is that it is generally a good idea to have at least some professional assistance with installing your new hot tub, unless, of course you decide that you are going to take the hot tub with you when you sell your home. A hot tub is an investment that can improve the overall value of your home and shoddy workmanship during installation will only cause expensive problems in the future. Do it right the first time, and it will save you a lot of headaches down the road. About The Author: Emerson Lockwood writes on topics related to Home Improvement. When you are ready to buy a hot tub, please visit: http://www.spasnstuff.com/ for factory-direct discounts on hot tubs and spas. If you would like additional information about how Spas 'N Stuff can help you get your new hot tub from the curb to operation, please read their hot tub Shipping information here: http://www.spasnstuff.com/content/view/23/95/ . 
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