Where to install a hot tub: garden, deck, balcony, indoors or sunken?

What a filled hot tub weighs

Everything starts with the weight. A filled hot tub weighs its empty weight, plus the water (one litre weighs one kilo), plus the bathers. A few examples from our product pages, before anyone gets in:

Model	Empty weight	Water volume	Filled, without bathers
Calypso, 3 seats	180 kg	360 litres	540 kg
Bahia, 4 seats	400 kg	900 litres	1.3 tonnes
Acapulco, 6 seats	450 kg	980 litres	more than 1.4 tonnes
Santiago, 8 seats	650 kg	2,500 litres	more than 3 tonnes
Ocean, swim spa	850 kg	6,400 litres	more than 7 tonnes

As our terms of sale point out: before installing a hot tub, have the ground surveyed, taking into account the hot tub, the volume of water and the maximum weight of the bathers.

In the garden, on a slab

This is the simplest site. A flat concrete slab, slightly larger than the hot tub and sized by a professional for the total weight, spreads the load over the whole surface. A lawn or soft ground is not suitable as it is: it settles unevenly under the weight.

Choose the spot carefully, too:

• wind: a sheltered corner keeps the heat in better and makes winter soaks more pleasant;
• trees: leaves, needles and pollen end up in the water and the filters;
• privacy: a hedge, a screen or a fence panel is often enough;
• the walk from the house: a hot tub close to a door gets used more, especially in winter;
• water: a tap nearby for filling, and somewhere to drain the water;
• the technical panel: keep it accessible, for maintenance as well as repairs.

Our terms of sale also require the PVC panels of the cladding not to be in contact with the ground.

On a timber or composite deck

This is possible if the structure is designed for the load: joists, pedestals and foundations must carry the filled hot tub and its bathers over its whole surface. A deck built for garden furniture is generally not. Have the permissible load checked by a professional before ordering, and the structure reinforced if necessary.

On a balcony or roof terrace

Here, checking is not optional. Have the project approved by a building professional, who will calculate whether the floor of the balcony or roof can carry the filled hot tub and its bathers. In a block of flats, also obtain the necessary permission before ordering. A crane is often essential to lift the hot tub: the official carrier you choose will say so in their offer. A compact hot tub, such as the Calypso at 540 kg filled, is better suited to this type of project than a large model.

Indoors: conservatory, pool house, basement

Some models are described as suitable for indoors and outdoors on their product page, such as the Fidji, the Bahamas, the Florida or the Romance. The room must be well ventilated, because hot water gives off humidity, and have a waterproof, level floor that can carry the filled hot tub, and a drain for the water. Also check that it will fit through the doors before ordering.

Have the room approved by a building professional: our terms of sale state that our hot tubs are designed for outdoor use, and that we cannot be held responsible for damage from an indoor installation (water damage, leaks, short circuits).

Above ground, semi-sunken or sunken?

By default, a hot tub sits above ground, on a flat base: this is the simplest solution, and the one that keeps the whole surround accessible.

A semi-sunken hot tub, or one built into a deck, needs more care. Our terms of sale set a simple rule: a hot tub must not be built in or buried without keeping access and a way to drain the water. In practice:

• keep access to the surround and the technical panel, through a hatch or a service space: the pumps, heater and plumbing are under the cladding;
• plan drainage for the bottom of the pit, so that rainwater or water from a leak does not stand around the hot tub;
• think about the day it has to come out: for a repair under warranty, the hot tub must be taken back to the place where you collected it;
• have the project approved by a building professional (groundwork, masonry, drainage).

Access for delivery

Measure the narrowest point between the lorry and the site: gate, door, path, bend, step. A hot tub often travels on its side: allow for its height plus a margin, and compare with the package dimensions given on most product pages. If the hot tub will not fit through, talk to the official carrier you choose: a crane lift can be included in their offer.

Electricity

Except for Plug & Play versions, plan a dedicated circuit installed by an electrician, with residual current protection. Your advisor will give you the cable size and circuit breaker rating for your model. For the warranty, the connection to the fuse board is made by a professional, with an invoice as proof.

Before ordering: the checklist

• The base is flat and carries the filled hot tub, bathers included.
• A professional has approved the deck, balcony, room or pit, where applicable.
• The narrowest point is wider than the package, or a lift is planned.
• The electrical circuit is planned, except for a Plug & Play version.
• There is a water point nearby for filling, and the drained water can run away.
• The technical panel and the surround remain accessible.
• In a block of flats, the necessary permission has been obtained.

The steps, in order

Once the site is chosen, all that remains is to prepare it and welcome the hot tub: base, electricity, delivery, filling. Our guide Installing your hot tub gives the steps and the timetable. For an opinion on your site, request your quote: an advisor will look at your project with you.