The luxury and satisfaction that comes with owning a hot tub can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors. If you are one who values privacy a lot, then you might fancy having your hot tub indoors, probably in your basement. But can you put a hot tub in your basement?
Yes, you can put your hot tub in the basement. The basement of your home is one of the strongest parts of the building. The basement by extension is structurally part of the foundation of your home which makes it very much capable of supporting the weight of your hot tub.
You just have to put a call through to a building contractor and consider a few extra factors such as ventilation and a stable water supply. But, that’s just one part, there is more to know about this and you can learn all about it down below.
The Advantages of Putting a Hot Tub in Your Basement
Putting your hot tub in the basement will give you a better hot tub experience than having your hot tub outdoors if you take your time and effort to plan the installment properly. By placing your hot tub indoors,
Privacy
If you are someone who values your privacy or your yard can be overlooked by passersby and neighbors, then having your hot tub in the basement is a great fit. You can enjoy a relaxing dip in the tub with some peace, quiet, and privacy.
Lower Power or Electricity Bills
One reason why the hot tub spikes up your power bills is that it takes longer to heat the water in the cold outer temperature. The temperature in your basement will be warmer than the temperature outside. So the water will get heated faster and the tub will use lesser energy.
You Can Enjoy The Hot Tub Any Time
Ever planned on enjoying a dip in the tub and as you get in, rain starts to fall or the sun becomes hotter? Well, you wouldn’t have to worry about this if the hot tub is placed in the basement.
You can enjoy a warm dip even when it’s raining outside or snowing. After all, it’s in your home. You can also enjoy a bath when it’s dark without bugs and wasps being attracted to the lights of the hot tub.
No Pests
With a hot tub placed in the basement, you don’t have to get overworked thinking about pest control. It would become more difficult for reptiles, flies, and rodents to get into your basement than it would be for them if the tub was placed outdoors.
Overall, having your hot tub in your basement can transform your idea of a warm relaxing dip.
Installing A Hot Tub In The Basement: What To Consider
Before installing the hot tub in the basement, you need to consider a few things;
Space
Most of the hot tubs are large. You need to make sure that your basement has space for your hot tub, and also have at least a 1-feet space on all sides of the hot tub. You can use that space for maintenance, wires, and other things you need.
The Electrical Set Up
A hot tub needs to be plugged in to work. If you have a power outlet or wall socket in the basement, it’s not all good news yet.
You still have to check if the socket is capable of carrying the electrical load of a hot tub. Most power outlets aren’t. So, you might need to get a hot tub electrician to make recommendations and help you out.
Also, if you are thinking of getting a TV and other appliances down there, you will need to have a few more sockets installed. Overall, getting an electrician will be the best option.
A Stable Water Source
Most of the hot tubs require 200-500 gallons of water. No matter the size of your spa, you need to find a stable water source that can re-fill the hot tub fast.
It’s not only a one-time thing, you have to drain and re-fill the hot tub at least 3-4 times a year. So, having a stable water source is a must.
This is a slight problem though. Just get a long hose and fix it to any tap in the house or get a plumber to work a tap in the basement.
The Drainage
Getting water in is the easy part. Draining the water from your tub might require a few extra modulations to your basement depending on where you live.
Some city laws allow you to drain water in your yard and you can also use the drained water as irrigation. If this is allowed in your city, simply connect a hose to your hot tub and drain the water out the window of the basement.
However, if you live in cities where you need to get rid of water by draining it into the sewer, this might be another reason to contact the plumber.
Humidity Control and Ventilation
When water is heated, there is a lot of steam produced. The more the water, the more the steam, and your hot tub can contain over 500 gallons of water depending on the size you have. If you do not ensure adequate ventilation, you will end up with another problem on your hands as the room will become very damp.
The water vapor will damage the walls, floor, and ceilings. If this continues, it will become difficult to breathe in the basement and the vapor can also weaken the building over time.
This means you will have to consider opening more windows or creating more windows if you don’t have enough in the basement. Another alternative is to get a good dehumidifier in the basement.
You can also face more problems if you don’t have the right ventilation. The hot tub releases a lot of steam, and without proper ventilation, the steam goes right into your walls. That can cause mold and mildew in your basement.
5. Non-Slip Flooring
Every time you get out of the hot tub you get a lot of water with you. Doing that often means that there will be a lot of water around the hot tub. That can be bad for you and for the base (especially if you used wood base).
The surrounding of the hot tub can become slippery with all that water. So, it’s best to get some non-slip tiles.
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How to Get the Hot Tub Into the Basement?
Having a hot tub in the basement is cool and all but how do you get the hot tub there? If you have an inflatable hot tub, you shouldn’t have any problem at all getting the tub in the basement. But if you have a regular wooden tub, this might be the biggest problem you will encounter.
Basements usually have a staircase and a regular door leading to their entrance. Most hot tubs wouldn’t fit into that space which means you need to figure out how to get the tub in there. Not to mention the weight of the tub which can be about 800 pounds even when empty.
Your best bet is to contact the hot tub dealer or store to come and have a look. They will let you know if the task is possible or not. I have heard of professionals taking apart hot tubs and then assembling them later on. This might work for you in this case.
If it’s not a rented apartment and you want the hot tub in the basement, you might need to remove the door and break the walls a bit to get more space. Ultimately, the best decision would be the one you and your hot tub dealer agree on.
Can I Put My Inflatable Hot Tub in My Basement?
Yes, virtually any base that can support the weight of a regular hot tub can also support the weight of an inflatable hot rub. Your inflatable hot tub can go anywhere as long as the base is flat and strong enough.
If you just purchased the inflatable hot tub, you can carry it down to the basement yourself and inflate it. If you already had the inflatable hot tub installed somewhere else prior, simply drain the tub, deflate the tub and carry it down to the basement where you inflate it again.
Fill it with water and you are good to go. But as with a regular hot tub, you also have to take into consideration other factors like ventilation, draining, and refilling the tub when it’s in the basement.
Related Read: Can I Put An Inflatable Hot Tub On My Deck?