Thinking about adding a hot tub to your home? One of the first decisions to make is where it’s going to go.

The right location can make a huge difference to how often you use your hot tub, how easy it is to maintain and, ultimately, how much enjoyment you get from it. Before settling on that perfect-looking corner of the garden, there are a few practical things worth considering.

Indoors or Outdoors?

Most hot tubs in the UK are installed outdoors – and despite our famously unpredictable weather, they’re designed to be enjoyed all year round.

In fact, there’s something rather lovely about sitting in warm, bubbling water on a cold winter evening.

For many homes, the ideal position is outside but relatively close to the house, making it easy to slip into the hot tub without a long trek across the garden.

If you’d prefer some protection from the elements, a pergola, gazebo or other purpose-built garden structure can provide a great compromise. Just make sure there is still sufficient ventilation and access around the spa.

Indoor installations are possible too, but they require considerably more planning, particularly around ventilation, humidity, drainage and the structure of the room.

Think About the Base

Never underestimate the weight of a filled hot tub.

Once you combine the spa itself, hundreds – or sometimes thousands – of litres of water and the people using it, you have a substantial amount of weight concentrated in one area.

Your hot tub therefore needs to sit on a solid, flat and suitably prepared base capable of supporting its filled weight.

For most installations, we recommend a properly constructed reinforced concrete base. If you’re considering installing a hot tub on decking, a balcony or another raised structure, appropriate professional advice should be sought to ensure it can safely support the load.

Allow Enough Space Around Your Hot Tub

It can be tempting to squeeze a hot tub tightly into a corner to maximise garden space, but remember that your spa will need to be maintained throughout its life.

Our engineers need suitable access to the equipment inside the cabinet, so avoid permanently boxing the hot tub in or positioning it somewhere that makes the service panels inaccessible.

You should also consider any accessories you plan to use. A cover lifter, for example, requires clearance behind or beside the spa to operate correctly, while steps will need additional space at the point where you enter and exit the hot tub.

A little planning now can prevent a lot of frustration later.

Water and Drainage

Your hot tub will need to be filled and periodically drained as part of normal water care.

You don’t need to position the spa directly beside an outside tap – a garden hose is perfectly adequate for filling it – but it is worth thinking about how easily you can get water to the spa and, importantly, where the water will go when it is drained.

We generally recommend changing your hot tub water approximately every three months, although this can vary depending on usage and water care.

If you’d rather leave the ongoing care to somebody else, our maintenance plans can take care of regular water changes, cleaning and servicing for you.

Don’t Forget the Electrical Supply

A hot tub isn’t simply delivered, filled with water and plugged into the nearest socket.

The electrical requirements vary depending on the particular model, so it is important to establish exactly what supply your chosen spa needs before installation.

Larger hot tubs commonly require a dedicated electrical supply installed by a qualified electrician, with the correct cabling and isolation in place before delivery.

We’ll provide the electrical requirements for your chosen hot tub so that everything can be prepared ahead of installation day.

Think About Privacy

Your hot tub should feel like somewhere you can genuinely switch off.

Take a moment to consider sightlines from neighbouring properties, nearby roads and surrounding gardens before deciding exactly where it will sit.

Existing fences, walls and planting can provide plenty of privacy, while screening, pergolas and carefully positioned landscaping can turn an exposed patio into a much more secluded space.

Just remember not to sacrifice essential access to the hot tub in the process.

Consider Delivery Access Too

This is one of the easiest things to overlook.

Your chosen location might be perfect once the hot tub is in place – but first, we have to get it there.

Hot tubs are large, rigid objects, so narrow gateways, tight corners, steps and restricted side access can all affect delivery. Depending on your property and the size of your chosen spa, specialist lifting equipment such as a crane or HIAB may sometimes be required.

Checking access early means we can plan the safest and most practical way to get your new hot tub exactly where you want it.

And Finally… Will You Actually Use It There?

This might be the most important question of all.

Imagine a cold, dark January evening. It’s raining. You open the back door and contemplate getting into your hot tub.

How far are you prepared to walk?

A spa tucked beautifully into the furthest corner of a large garden might look fantastic, but if reaching it involves a long walk across wet grass every time you want a soak, the novelty may wear off surprisingly quickly.

For many customers, having their hot tub reasonably close to the house means they use it far more often.

The best location isn’t necessarily the prettiest spot in the garden. It’s the place that balances practical access, privacy, maintenance, safety and enjoyment.

Get those things right, and your hot tub becomes something you don’t just own – it becomes part of everyday life.

Planning Your Hot Tub?

At Hot Tubs At Home, we’ve been helping customers choose, plan and install hot tubs for 20 years.

If you’re unsure which hot tub will work for your space, or whether your preferred location is suitable, come and talk to us. We’ll help you consider the practical details before installation, so that when your new hot tub arrives, you can concentrate on enjoying it.