Here
are some of the things that you will need to consider when determining where to
place the spa: If you still have questions do not hesitate to ask the pros at
ClearSprings Spa & Hot Tub. We have years of experience and have installed
hundreds of hot tubs. We will gladly go to your home and answer any questions
and offer you some ideas. There is no charge for this service and it could make
your job a whole lot easier.
Safety First
Do
not place your spa under overhead power lines. Try to stay at least 10 feet to
the side of any overhead wires. Be certain that your installation will meet all
city and local safety codes and requirements.
Environment
To
combat the summer's heat you may want to locate your spa where the sun doesn't
shine on it all day long. You don't want the spa under a tree, however a tree
to the side can sometimes block much of the day's sun. Also try to locate the
spa near a house entry door. This way you don't have to trudge through a lot of
snow. Do not place your spa under eves as icicles can fall off and damage both
the cover and the spa.
Indoor installations require adequate
ventilation. When the spa is in use, considerable amounts of moisture are produced.
This moisture can damage walls, floors and ceilings. However you can over come
these issues by planning ahead. A simple ventilation fan will remove much of the
air born humidity. You can apply water proof paints and flooring materials. Try
to use flooring materials that don't become slippery when they get wet.
Keep
you Hot Tub Clean
Prevent dirt and foliage from being tracked
into your spa by using concrete or pavers for paths to the spa. Check the location
of trees and spill paths from gutters to see if wind or rain will sweep debris
into the spa.
It is best that you do not place your spa under
a tree. Cleaning tree sap off the spa is no fun either. A fallen branch can easily
damage the cover and the spa.
Consider Your Privacy
In
a cold climate, bare trees won't provide much privacy. Consider the view of your
neighbors when you locate your spa. You can always build an inexpensive lattice
type fence on any side you want to block out. A lattice fence will allow you to
see out but still block you from the neighbors.
Provide
a View with Your Spa
Think about the direction you will be
facing when you're sitting in the Spa. Do you have special landscaping in your
yard or a spot with a nice breeze? What about the sunset, a view of the mountains
or valley? Consider these things when you plan your location.
Provide
for Service Accesss
Just like your car that has a hood
to access the engine for service, your spa has a removable panel to access the
equipment for servce. This panel is generally located on the front side of the
spa. It must be accessible and have enough clearance to easily remove it and allow
a technician room to perform any service needed.
Filling
Your Spa
You don't have to worry about connecting your
spa to a water supply. You simply fill your spa with a garden hose. So as you
consider the location for your spa just look around to see where the nearest hose
bib is located and make sure you have a hose that can reach from the hose bib
to the spa.
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Preparing
a Good Foundation or Spa Pad
A spa needs a solid level
foundation. A spa cannot be set on the grass! The area where the spa sits must
support the weight of the spa, the water, and those who use it. If the foundation
is inadequate, it may shift or settle and cause severe stress to the spa's shell
and frame. Many spas filled with water and people can weigh over 5,000 pounds!
So
what do I use to set my Spa on?
Well actually there are many
things you can use. We are going to call all of these surfaces the spa pad. The
spa pad can be made of pressure treated lumber, synthetic lumber, concrete, bricks
or cement patio blocks. A solid cement pad should be no less that 4 inches thick.
This is something that the average homeowner may not want to tackle. The spa pad
should be at least the size of the spa. If you are going to pour cement pad put
a slight slope in it so that water won't pool under the spa. A 3/4" slope
in a 10 foot wide cement pad is adequate.
If you use bricks
or patio blocks, they should set on at least a 3" base of sand, pea gravel
or crushed stone. Sod and roots must be removed before applying the aggregate
base. Remember, the base must be under the entire spa. Don't leave out every other
block!!! When using bricks or blocks there is no need to slope the pad because
water will drain off in between the blocks.
Building or
using an existing deck
Many spas are placed on existing decks.
Most newer decks that have been built to code will support all but the largest
spas. It is best to talk to a licensed home builder or an architect to be sure.
In general if you have a deck or are going to build a new deck the following parameters
will support most hot tubs.
Always use treated deck lumber.
Use 2" x 10" floor joists on 16" centers and metal joist hangers
to support them. Use metal lag bolts or carriage bolts for all the major joist,
beam and header connections. Nails and deck screws won't hold the load. If the
span exceeds 10 feet you will want to put a center beam halfway between the span.
Posts that hold up the deck are normally made from 4" x 4" or 4"
x 6" treated lumber and spaced no more that 8" apart. These posts should
be cemented into the ground with a footing pad under the post. This will keep
the post from sinking over the years.
There are also footing
blocks that you can purchase, talk to your building supplier. For the surface
boards, it doesn't matter if you use wood boards or the new synthetic deck lumber.
The choice is up to you. Remember: spas are heavy, your deck will need to support
at least 140#'s per square foot, that equals a load of 6860 pounds! That sounds
like a lot of weight and it is, but it's very easy to build a wood deck to hold
that weight and more. There are many books on building decks. Pick one up at your
building supplier; they're worth the cost.
Prefabricated
Spa Pad
Don't have the time or energy to build the Spa Pad
yourself? There is an alternative. It's a prefabricated portable hot tub pad.
This pad is made of high density polyethylene plastic, crush tested to over 5000
pounds per square foot. The EZ Pad is rugged and durable with excellent resistance
to impact and abrasion. This light grey pad requires no maintenance. You can place
EZ pad on any level well-drained area, including grass, dirt, sand and gravel.
It's also a simple way to extend your patio or deck space. The pad comes in 4
pieces and will fit in most SUV's. The pad can be assembled and be in place in
less than a half hour. Start enjoying your new spa even sooner!
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Plan
the Delivery Route
