Saltwater spas and hot tubs should never be drained on a lawn. However, more traditional chlorine-treated hot tubs can be drained safely if the cover is left off and the chlorine and bromine levels are allowed to dip below 1 ppm or, even better, below detectable levels.
But can you install a portable hot tub in the ground? Absolutely! With proper planning and preparation, you can create a custom spa look with the therapy of a portable spa. Master Spas hot tubs can be fully recessed or partially recessed into the ground or lowered into a deck.
Spa water makes fine lawn water, as long as you open the cover and allow the chlorine or bromine level to drop to around 1 ppm.
Things that may damage your lawn
You should never put water on your lawn that contains more than 0.1 parts of chlorine per million of water. Too much chlorine will harm your grass and the health of your soil. It also isn't good for the environment and can get into the waterways and affect wildlife.
If an individual empties their pool water on their lawn, will it end up killing the turf? In most cases very little to no damage has been seen in these situations. Turf can endure higher chlorine levels than other landscape plants such as trees, shrubs, and ornamentals.
In most cases getting the hot tub into the backyard is fairly simple and straightforward. A delivery crew will bring the hot tub to your home and then place the hot tub on its side on a hot tub cart. Then they roll the cart into your backyard and to the spot you would like the hot tub placed..
Outdoor hot tub placement, such as decks, concrete or brick patios, is common. However, the hot tub can be placed on any solid, uniform, level surface. Do not place your hot tub on grass or bare ground.
Hot tubs need a minimum of 18 inches of access around all four sides so repair technicians can replace fuses, service the heating elements, and clean out debris from clogged jets. Some hot tub models are carefully designed so that only one or two sides require access for maintenance.
Your hot tub can be placed just about anywhere—outdoors or even indoors when practical. You can put it on a deck, patio, rooftop entertaining area, or even under a gazebo. The perfect spot for your hot tub all depends on your home and landscape design and layout, as well as your personal tastes.
A good rule of thumb for a hot tub is to give yourself about a foot of space on each side of the tub. This leaves room for things like opening the cover. Most covers require at least 18 inches of space behind the tub as well as a few inches on the left and right side for the arm that helps you lift the cover.
As long as you have access to a regular three-pronged electrical outlet, you can plug in your hot tub and have it up and running within 24 hours. That said, not all hot tubs feature this option. Hardwired hot tubs require the services of a certified electrician to connect the electricity.
It would help if you also remembered that it isn't a great idea to keep inflatable hot tubs in the same place on grass without moving them from time to time. It can leave a mark on the floor and may even kill the grass. Plus, you may have to fork out on grass-enhancing sprays if you rent your house.
Proximity to the house. To reduce the risk of electrocution, place your tub at least 16 feet away from overhead power lines. To protect your home and outbuildings from potential flooding, keep it at least 5 feet from any structure.
Hot tub decking is exactly the same as all other decking – the difference is in the construction of the timber deck. As hot tubs have become increasingly popular to install in gardens across the country, decking has become the platform of choice. There are many considerations before undertaking a project such as this.
According to Fiberon, a 56 square foot hot tub without water typically weighs around 900 pounds, while a hot tub with water can weigh up to 6,000 pounds.
When you need to support a heavy object like a hot tub, you'll need to choose thicker paving stones—look for ones at least 2 inches thick. And just like with a concrete slab, you should check local building codes to see if you need a permit to build a hot tub base using pavers.
A hot tub can be placed on pavers, but ensure that they can bear the weight of the hot tub, including water and persons. Ensure that the floor is level and solid. Most pavers are laid at an angle to improve rainwater removal. Such a slope is not suited for a hot tub.
The cord supplied with the tub has thick enough wires to handle the power load the hot tub needs. Many inflatable hot tub manufacturers warn against using an extension cord. Using an extension cord that has thinner wires may lead to overheating and fire. Similarly, using a long extension cord may cause a voltage drop.
A portable hot tub really won't add value to your home. It's actually just considered a piece of personal property. However, a hot tub that's built into the ground, with nice landscaping around it, could add some value to your home.
Hot tubs should be in the shade for three main reasons: it's more comfortable than using the spa in direct sunlight, it means less wear and tear on your cover, and UV rays can reduce the effectiveness of your sanitizer.
Do not put your spa on a soft surface such as sand, loose soil or grass. Any surface that can settle unevenly will put pressure and tension on the spa. This could eventually lead to distortion that would not be covered by warranty.
If you're having a base installed especially for your Hot Tub we would recommend a patio, decking area or poured concrete base. Whatever you choose make sure whoever installs it for you ensures the base is level and large enough for your Hot Tub and steps.
A Lazy Spa should be connected via an outside socket. In years gone by, we would simply have a cold water paddling pool, but these days it is possible to have a heated spa installed instead.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires: Hard-wiring the spa into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected 220 to 240V, 50- or 60-amp dedicated circuit.
All hot tubs require electricity. Regular hot tubs run on 110 volts, while an electrical hot tub runs on 220 volts. Electrical hot tubs will provide more power to the hot tub's heater and jets. People say “regular” simply because with a 110v hot tub, you can plug it into your normal outlet.