While it may seem luxurious, at the time – there are a lot of things to be aware of when choosing between having a hot tub inside your home. In today’s blog post, we’ll review some of the most common considerations in choosing between and indoor hot tub, or an outdoor hot tub.
Outdoor hot tubs are most commonly found in residential applications, this is probably because of the ease of installing and fitting a hot tub after the home or cabin has been built. Outdoor hot tubs also add to the natural ambience that they offer any yard space, and the opportunity they provide to sit amongst the peace and serenity of the nature, especially a wooden hot tub.
Considerations of an outdoor hot tub
Easy hot tub installation
Outdoor hot tubs are the choice of most home owners when adding a hot tub to their space. There are many reasons one may choose outdoor tubs versus indoor tubs, but the most common is the installation costs.
An outdoor hot tub installation needs only a solid surface to be placed, on such as a concrete slab or a patio blocks. Some hot tubs can be placed on top of a deck; however, one should consult a carpenter or engineer first – to ensure the deck can withstand the weight.
Hot tub heating options & power supply
Once located in place, the next step is to source power to the hot tub. In the case of a Northern Light Cedar Hot Tub, customers can choose from wood fired, electric, gas, solar, or heat pumps for their hot tub heating.
The flexibility of these options is another reason most customers choose to install a hot tub outdoors. With an indoor hot tub, it’s extremely difficult (and costly) to run a gas chimney indoors for gas or wood fired heating. Plainly put – they are not recommended.
Electrical considerations for outdoor hot tubs
When installing a hot tub outside, electrical installation costs are generally a bit higher. As an example, and outdoor hot tub will need Teck underground armored cable to ensure it is completely watertight, and impervious to rodents that can chew through it. Outdoor gas lines may cost more as well – though are definitely viable options, regardless of what type of hot tub you’re choosing.
Distance to shelter and privacy
When considering an outdoor hot tub versus indoor, it’s always important to consider its distance from the house and natural shelters – both for privacy and protection from the weather. With our experience, most of our customers want quick access back and forth to the hot tub from their home or cabin – especially if using it in winter! While it’s generally easy to rectify with a simple fence or partition, a cold brisk wind can be a damper on your winter hot tub soaks (though we always recommend wearing a toque in your hot tub in the winter!).
Indoor Hot Tubs
We’ve seen some pretty incredible indoor hot tub installations from our clients – so we absolutely are not saying it can’t be done, because it can! Below are simply some considerations that are best to know up front during your decision-making process.
Scents and ventilation
We have all experienced the effects of indoor hot tubs in hotels and vacation resorts. While a cedar hot tub is known for providing a delightful scent from the cedar wood, an indoor hot tub can fill the room with heavy chlorine odors that can be harsh on the eyes (and nose!). To avoid this, an indoor hot tub needs to be well vented to avoid chemical smells.
Besides the odor, an indoor hot tub needs much more ventilation compared to an outdoor. If not properly vented the indoor tub’s moisture will rot and mildew to quickly form inside the house.
Indoor hot tub installation challenges
Getting a tub in an out of a house is perhaps the biggest challenge of all. While we don’t want to think about it as we enjoy the benefits of our hot tub, all hot tubs will unfortunately have an end of life. If the hot tub was installed during the original construction, removing it may be a large task!
Installing an indoor hot tub after a build may not be possible due to door openings, stairs, ceilings, and corners. Before you commit to purchasing a hot tub for that perfect basement location – always make sure to do your measurements!
Leaks
While most hot tubs don’t leak, never say never! As with anything – your hot tub will age over time. Hot tub piping gets old and brittle after many years, especially if you are using lots of chlorine or bromine. Eventually, the glue used when new will be subject to weaknesses – and a leak can happen. Proper drainage in an indoor hot tub is an absolute must. The drain should have a natural slope, and be checked regularly.
Maintenance
While both indoor and outdoor hot tubs require regular maintenance, an indoor hot tub will certainly be the winner if you’re hoping to avoid extra maintenance work. Hot tub covers will naturally get dusty – and rain, snow and sun will eventually (after many years) require replacement. Leaves, grass and bugs are all part an outdoor hot tubs life – but they also mean that regular maintenance and replacements of your filters are needed too!
Specific to cedar hot tubs, their exterior may need to be stained every couple years to keep the rich wood color gleaming and beautiful.
Which to choose?
While there’s not a clear cut answer, if asked – most people (and our customers) would say that the extra bit of work is certainly worth it. In our opinion, there’s nothing about an indoor hot tub that beats being to be able to enjoy the peace and harmony of soaking with in an outdoor classic cedar hot tub with mother nature surrounding you.
