Getting a hot tub can be quite an exciting development for a family. But the person deciding where to buy and install it has to endure stress. One of the chief worries of hot tub installation is deciding where to place it.
A hot tub needs to be 16 to 19 feet away from the house or as far as it needs to be away from overhead power lines. It must also be 6 feet away from any permanent structure to avoid water damage and minimize flooding risk.
In this article, you will learn more about the drawbacks of having the hot tub close to your house alongside the risks of having it too far. By the end, you will know the ideal hot tub placement relative to the housing structure, trees, and fence/walls. But let’s start with whether the tub can be indoors as that too can keep it away from power lines.
Can a Hot Tub Be Inside the House?
You can use a hot tub indoors if you have the infrastructure to support it. The plumbing needs and the weight of the hot tub usually make it impossible to install in the bathtub. Still, there are spacious bathrooms with hot tubs installed in them.
Generally, a hot tub is placed outside the house because it is easier to support it. But most people also choose the outdoor location because it is much more fun and social. Among the advantages of having your hot tub outdoors is the possibility of inviting friends for a dip. It becomes quite awkward to invite them into your bathroom to soak in your hot tub with you. But the outside placement is more social.
Why Do You Need To Place the Hot Tub at a Distance?
Knowing how far you need to put the hot tub from your house is a matter of knowing which factors impact it adversely near your house. Once you know this, you just need to place the tub far enough to avoid said factors from affecting your hot tub.
- Dust from the roof – Among the lowest-damage risks of having a hot tub close to your house is the dust that can fall from the roof into the hot tub. If your roof has a slope, the range of leaves and debris is quite long.
- Eavestrough system dripping – If you have any pipes that go on the eaves or over the walls of your house, any leak or water-pressure discrepancy can lead to drainage water dripping into the hot tub. This can alter the tub’s chemistry and is generally unhygienic.
- Risk of accidental drowning – If the tub is close to your house, children have easier access to it. This can lead to irresponsible use when they aren’t under supervision.
- Excessive splashing and water damage – Water splashing consistently onto the wood foundation, exterior of the walls, and even the hardscaping can result in water damage.
- Potential Electrocution Hazard – The possibility of electrocution is the main reason for the hot tub being placed away from permanent housing structures. You don’t want any overhead power lines falling into the tub. Knowing this also helps you avoid the risk even if the hot tub is away from your house.
- Flooding problems – This is a high-damage risk of having your hot tub too close to your house. If the tub uses the same drainage and plumbing as the main house plumbing, and it is in too close a proximity to your house, any blockages or tub drains can result in flooding.
Why the Hot Tub Shouldn’t Be Too Far
Now that you know the risks of having your hot tub too close to your house, you need to curb your desire to place it as far away from the house as possible. There are a few notable disadvantages to having your hot tub too far away from your house.
Easier External Access
If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of teenagers, they might simply jump the fence and dip in your hot tub because they can get out before you can get to them. And if they drown or incur an injury, you might be liable.
You Need To Walk Too Far
It has been reliably documented that humans take the path of least resistance and can avoid pleasures too if they require some effort. The further you place your hot tub, the less likely you are to use it. For some families, this can be an advantage as it reduces excess use. For others, it is a chore.
The Tub Can Get Dirty
The farther away you have the hot tub, the less of a structural shield your house can be to the tub. Fences are usually shorter than the house. While your house can prevent wind from carrying dust into the hot tub when the tub is closed, it can’t cover the tub from afar. Moreover, leaves from nearby trees can also fall into the hot tub.
With what you know so far, you have two more steps to take. First, you need to figure out the best middle-way distance that minimizes the problems of having the tub too close or too far. Next, you need to know the best practices of hot tub use that can eliminate the remaining issues.
The Ideal Distance From the House for a Hot Tub
A hot tub must be 20 feet away from the house and 7 feet away from anything permanently anchored into the ground (fixtures like sheds, poles, trees, etc.) This frees it from most of the disadvantages of having the tub too close or too far from the house.
The remaining risks are powerlines being overhead anyway, dirt and dust exposure, and unsupervised use by children. Here are the best practices that offset each of those risks.
- Possible powerlines overhead – If your hot tub is going to have powerlines running over it even when it is 20 feet away from your house, you should consider a top-heavy canopy to cover it. If moving the tub a few feet further can resolve the problem, then you don’t need a gazebo.
- Wind, dust, and debris – Using a hot tub cover can fix this problem. A hot tub cover is usually included when you purchase the tub. It is also the norm to use it. But dust can get through if you don’t cover your tub enough and use it on a windy day.
- Tree branches overhead – To keep branches from shedding leaves into your hot tub, you need to have a pool umbrella over the hot tub. You can also have a light canopy that covers the tub from direct sunlight and falling leaves.
- Potential lack of plumbing support – You have no choice but to get proper drainage and water supply for your hot tub. The hot tub is mostly immobile, and wherever you place it, you should have the means to supply water to it and safely drain it.
- Unsupervised use by children – You need to get a solid hot tub cover and lock it so that no one can open it aside from the adults. A solid hot tub lid can also protect the tub from debris. But before you make your purchase remember to consider natural disasters.
Protecting Your Hot Tub From Natural Disasters
While you can plan for ordinary phenomena like wind and dust, paraordinary disasters like storms, hurricanes, and floods can still affect your hot tub. That said, you can do a few things to protect your hot tub from natural disasters. Let’s explore these best practices.
- Buy wind straps – These can be used to hold down the hot tub cover even when the winds are really strong. Multiple straps can further strengthen the cover’s security.
- Secure the hot tub cover – Use a hot tub cover that can accommodate multiple locks and lock it from different sides. You need symmetry to keep the cover on during a hurricane. A single lock can prevent unauthorized access, but nature is too strong to be stopped by a single lock.
- Don’t keep your hot tub empty – There is no point in keeping the cover on when the whole tub might fly away. Hurricanes can move hot tubs, but if you fill yours with water, you give it a fighting chance.
- Have an inground hot tub – Finally, the best tub protection against most natural disasters is to opt for an inground hot tub. Where do you take shelter if there is a hurricane? The basement. An in-ground hot tub in the basement of hot tubs.
Final Thoughts
Hot tubs need to be 16 to 20 feet away from your house and 5 to 7 feet away from any solid structure that they can flood. The water in the tub may still require protection and dust, dirt, and power lines. You also need to protect the hot tub from natural disasters by following the tips to keep your hot tub covered and immobile.