After a series of open houses, offers, and counteroffers, you've finally closed on a new house that you love. Congratulations! All that's left to do now is move your things and start a new life in the home of your dreams. You'll also find out who your best friends are—they're the ones who will show up on moving day.
Even those dear and true companions may be intimidated, though, when faced with moving a hot tub. Spas can be quite large and awkwardly shaped. But properly prepared hot tubs are easier to move than you might think. Although enlisting friends to help is not the best way to move a hot tub safely, and moving a hot tub on your own could be expensive and void any existing warranty (more on that below), it is possible.
Prepare Your Hot Tub for Safe Moving
It's not a difficult process, but draining the water from your spa before moving it isn't simply a matter of emptying the shell; you'll also have to drain the pumps and pipes. We recommend that you recycle your hot tub water; in most cases, it's easy to do.
Follow these steps to thoroughly drain your spa:
- Disconnect the power supply. Locate the breaker switch inside the circuit box and turn it to the off position. For 110v spa models, simply pull the plug from the wall. Note that hot tubs directly wired to the power supply will require an electrician and/or a spa service representative to safely disconnect.
- Connect a hose to the drain valve. Find the drain valve, remove the cover, and then connect one end of a garden hose to the valve and run the other end to an appropriate drainage spot.
- Open the spa drain valve to release the water. You can allow the water to drain on its own, but that can be a slow process. Use a submersible water pump to speed things up considerably and drain the water in 10 to 15 minutes. Keep in mind that in some areas, it is illegal to dump spa water into a drain that leads to the ocean and you can be fined for doing so.
- Use a wet-dry vac to clear the remaining water. Even when using a submersible pump, some water will puddle at the bottom of the spa and remain in the pumps and piping. Use the vac to remove puddles and then switch the vac to push mode. Place the nozzle of the vac on the drain valve to push the remaining water from the pipes out through the jets, and then use the vac to clear the pushed water. If you're moving your tub to an environment where temps are below freezing, this step is especially important. Fully draining your spa is also a vital part of winterizing your hot tub.
- Clean the spa. Once all the water is removed, you might want to take the opportunity to thoroughly clean the spa and repair any surface scratches before moving it.
Take a look at this video to see exactly how to drain and refill a Hot Spring® spa:
With the spa thoroughly disconnected from power and drained, it can be moved. However, you'll want to plan the route you'll take to get the spa from its location to the street or your driveway.
Choose a Clear Route Before Moving a Spa
High-quality hot tubs, including Hot Spring spas, are extremely heavy—even when empty. Therefore, do not attempt to move your hot tub yourself.
Before getting help moving your spa, note its height and width, as well as the height and width of door or gate openings and stairs on the path you plan to take when transporting it. Determine if and how your hot tub will clear the full path not only at your old home, but also at your new one. You should also plan to use a dolly, large piece of cardboard, plywood, or even a thick blanket to ease its movement over the ground. When using a dolly, be sure to factor in its height. This is important for determining clearance of house eaves, etc.
Once you have determined the best route, tilt the hot tub onto its side on the cardboard, plywood or blanket. With the help of friends, slide it carefully along your chosen path, taking your time each step of the way.
The following video from Tampa Bay Hot Tubs, a Hot Spring dealer, shows what goes into moving a spa correctly:
In certain circumstances, depending on where your spa is located, you might need to move it by crane. Many dealerships are experts at this delivery option.
The Best Way to Move a Hot Tub Safely Is With the Help of a Trained Spa Mover
No one knows how to safely and efficiently move a hot tub like your local spa dealer. Trained hot tub technicians disconnect, drain, and move spas every day. They've very likely saved a few friendships in the process, too. Your dealer will not only move your spa to your new home, but also install it and ensure that it works properly. While it may seem like moving your hot tub yourself is a smart way to save money, doing so may void your warranty, which could increase the cost of repairs that need to be made as a result of the move or in the future.
If you've had your hot tub for awhile, it may be time to shop for a new spa instead of moving your current spa to your new home. When you trade in your spa and upgrade, it's value can be put toward a brand new hot tub with the newest features and options to match your new life and your new home exterior, deck, and backyard.
Hot Spring is a leading home spa manufacturer with a network of dealerships around the world. Whether you want to move your hot tub or you're interested in trading in a current model for a new spa, a Hot Spring dealer near you is uniquely qualified to serve your needs now and for as long as you own your spa.
