Before you install your hot tub, you may want to consider the following:
– New patio slab. If you don’t have one already, you’ll need a cement slab or another similarly strong surface to support the weight of your hot tub. Cement slabs are extremely durable and can cost around $100 in materials. If you hire contractors or work with your dealership to get this set up for you, the cost could be $1,400 – $3,500.
– Electrical wiring/running conduit. Your new hot tub will need its own electrical connection to run the heater, pumps, filtration system and any entertainment options. The electrical materials will cost around $250 and include a bond wire, service panel, ground and GCFI break, a DC converter for the pump and PVC pipe. This will require about three hours of service from an electrician to install which will cost around another $250. If you want to bury the electrical components, it can cost about $70.
– Gazebo and other custom installation options. If you decide to build a custom installation around your hot tub, it will add to your overall price. The cost of these options will depend on what you want. Overall, the costs associated with installing a portable spa are still considerably less than installing an in-ground hot tub.

Read our Hot Tub Buyer’s Guide for more.

The post How Much Does It Cost To Install A Hot Tub? appeared first on Caldera Spas.

9 Tips to Help Make Your Spa Installation a Success
Hot Tub Buyer’s Guide
How to Create Your Outdoor or Indoor Hot Tub Enclosure
How to Avoid Pitfalls in A Backyard Hot Tub Design Project
Download Your Owner’s Manual

You can also contact your local dealer if you have any questions!

The post What Resources Are Available To Help Me Prepare For My Hot Tub’s Arrival? appeared first on Caldera Spas.

For more on yard prep, check out 9 Tips to Help Make Your Spa Installation a Success and our Hot Tub Buyer’s Guide.

The post What Prep Work Is Required To Install A Hot Tub At My Home? appeared first on Caldera Spas.

When you’re thinking about your spa location, keep these things in mind:
– Place your spa a maximum of 10 feet away from the door to your backyard.
– The surface of your spa must be strong and level.
– Water needs a place to flow away from your spa. Proper drainage is key.
– Regular maintenance is important to the health of your spa. Place your spa so there’s easy access to the control panel.

Your dealer can help you plan for location and space requirements, surface base requirements, electrical supply and more. Read this helpful PDF on 9 Tips to Help Make Your Spa Installation a Success.

For more ideas on where to install your hot tub, read “How To Create Your Ideal Outdoor or Indoor Hot Tub Enclosure” and “How to Avoid Pitfalls in Your Backyard Hot Tub Design Project.”

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Above-Ground Hot Tub Design Benefits

Above-ground hot tubs can fit in a variety of settings in your yard. If you live in colder weather, a portable hot tub can be placed very close to your house. Portable hot tubs can be built into a deck or above ground, and portable hot tub equipment is built into the hot tub exterior. Portability is an advantage — you can, with some effort, take your hot tub with you when you move.

If you live in colder weather, a portable hot tub can be placed very close to your house.

Built-in hot tubs can be designed in different shapes and sizes, and are often attached to a pool or part of a pool setup. In-ground hot tubs can also be worked into a yard or landscape. Equipment is not built-in and is usually in a separate location and can be bulky and noisy.

Portable hot tubs can fit in a variety of settings in your yard.

Do portable hot tubs or in-ground hot tubs have better massage options?

Portable hot tubs offer many more hot tub jets and configurations, and the jets are  adjustable, sized and positioned differently depending on hydro-massage options. Portable hot tubs offer multiple types of ergonomic seating options, as well as varied seating sizes to fit bodies of all sizes and types.

Portable hot tubs offer multiple types of ergonomic seating options, as well as varied seating sizes to fit bodies of all sizes and types.

In-ground jets are usually one size with bench seating that is not as conducive to hydro-massage. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to align your body to a jet to hit just that right spot on your back, and forget about a neck massage –that requires submerging your head below the waterline!

Are built-in hot tubs and portable hot tubs energy efficient?

Portable hot tub filters and water care options are very advanced making hot tub water care easy, and owners can often care for their own tubs. Portable hot tubs are energy efficient and designed to run all the time so there’s no heat-up period. They work with covers and cover lifters so they can maintain temperatures and stay cleaner.

Many portable hot tubs are made of acrylic, which is easier to clean and not as abrasive as materials used in in-ground hot tubs like concrete, textured surfaces, tile, and fiberglass. In-ground hot tub surfaces can also be rough on the skin and on swimsuits.

Perhaps most important to consider is that in-ground hot tubs have to be heated prior to use, and don’t run all the time so are not as energy efficient, and cost more to run overall.

What’s the best hot tub?

So what’s the best type of hot tub for you, in-ground or portable? Well, it depends on a number of factors. Ask yourself these questions:

• Where in your yard do you want your hot tub located?
• Do you want a hot tub that is always hot and ready to go, or are you OK with waiting for it to heat up?
• What do you need in terms of jets and massage?
• How important are features like lighting, water enhancements, and entertainment options to you?
• Are you willing to do some of your own spa maintenance and up-keep?
• What is your budget?

Consider all of the above when hot tub shopping, and talk to your local dealer about any questions or concerns. See if you can try out some different spas , to see what hot tub therapy works for you. You’re making an amazing investment into your overall wellness!

Interested in hot tub pricing?

Ready to connect with a hot tub dealer?

Further Recommended Reading

• Product Focus: Energy Efficient Caldera Spas Leave Your Money in Your Pocket
• Is a Test Soak Helpful Before Buying a Hot Tub?
• Tips to Build Confidence for Your First Hot Tub Purchase
• Where Do I Begin to Design a Great Backyard with my Hot Tub?

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