Owning a relaxing hot tub is one of the American dreams.  Today that dream is easier to obtain than ever with falling prices and easy to install technology.  But before you enjoy that warm soak you need to make sure you have all power that you will need to make it work.

First you must determine whether your tub runs on 110V or 220V electricity.  You can usually find out which in the user information guide that came with the tub or you can examine the heater control box under the tub.  Simply remove the access panel in the skirting and look at the unit: it should be clearly marked which voltage it requires.  Some control boxes are able to switch between 110V and 220V and some are not.  Make sure you know which one you have.

Arlene Mason, the author of How to Install a Hot Tub, has the following recommendations;

“If your tub is 110V and it comes with a standard electrical plug, you will want to place the tub as close as possible to the outdoor electrical outlet. Be sure this outlet is Ground Fault Interrupted (GFI) and waterproof. If your tub is 220V you will want to take a slightly different avenue. You may want to “hard wire” your tub into your home electrical system.

To begin with, look at your circuit breaker box. Locate the 220V circuits (they are the ones with the double breakers) and verify that there is room in your box for one more. Either have an electrician install one or you can add an additional 60amp 220V circuit to your box. Attach an electrical disconnector on the outside wall near the hot tub. Make sure the disconnector has a 40amp fuse and is water tight. This will prevent an overload of the circuit during normal operation as well as provide an additional amount of safety.”

No matter what you do or what kind or hot tub you use make sure they electrical wiring is done properly! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says that electrical hazards in and around swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, have been responsible for 60 deaths and nearly 50 serious electrical shocks in the last 13 years.  That is why it is important to have a trained professional take care of your electrical needs.  For a free estimate on what it would cost to have Triangle Electricians install your electrical outlets visit our contact page.