Thinking About Buying a Hot Tub? 10 Things to Consider Before You Buy
By The Hot Tub Pros | Professional Hot Tub Cleaning & Maintenance in King County, WA
www.thehottubpros.com | (425) 221-3331
Buying a hot tub is exciting, but the purchase price represents only one part of the decision
Before you buy, consider the placement, electrical requirements, filtration, cover quality, water volume, service access, energy use, chemicals, and ongoing maintenance
Each of these details will affect your experience as an owner
Our recommendations come from decades of maintaining hot tubs in the field. Therefore, our goal is to help you choose a hot tub that will remain practical to own, maintain, and enjoy for years to come
Here are ten important things to consider before making your purchase
1. Choose the Right Size and Water Volume
Larger is not automatically better or worse. Instead, the right choice depends on comfort, available space, normal bather load, and how much water you want to maintain
A larger hot tub provides:
- More room to stretch out
- More seating options
- Greater comfort for taller users
- More space when several people soak together
- A larger water volume that can remain more stable under normal use
- More water to dilute sweat, oils, lotions, and other bather contaminants
- The potential for longer intervals between water changes when maintained correctly
Water volume provides an important and often overlooked advantage
For example, the same two bathers place a much greater contaminant load on a 200-gallon hot tub than on a 450-gallon hot tub
In a smaller hot tub, every person represents a larger percentage of the total water volume. As a result, sanitizer, pH, clarity, and overall water quality can change more quickly
Therefore, lower-gallon hot tubs may require more frequent testing, closer chemical adjustments, and earlier water changes
However, larger hot tubs also:
- Require more space
- Weigh more when full
- Take longer to drain and refill
- Use more water during a complete water change
- Require proportionally larger chemical doses
- May use more energy depending on construction, insulation, cover quality, climate, and temperature settings
Before choosing a size, consider:
- How many people will use it regularly
- Whether you want room to stretch out
- The height and seating needs of the primary users
- How frequently you will use the hot tub
- The available installation space
- The total water volume
- The expected bather load
- The amount of water you are prepared to drain and replace
Ultimately, choose a hot tub that provides enough room and water volume for your normal use without becoming unnecessarily large for your property or household
2. Plan the Location Carefully
A hot tub needs a stable, level, and properly prepared surface that can support the filled hot tub, its occupants, and surrounding accessories
A full hot tub can weigh several thousand pounds. Therefore, evaluate the proposed location before arranging delivery
Consider:
- Structural support
- Drainage around the hot tub
- Distance from the home
- Privacy
- Wind and weather exposure
- Access to the electrical supply
- Space for the cover to open
- Safe entry and exit
- Exterior lighting
- Local setback and permit requirements
In addition, indoor, elevated-deck, rooftop, and enclosed installations require more planning and professional evaluation
The best location balances convenience, safety, privacy, and future maintenance access
3. Understand the Electrical Requirements
Most full-size hot tubs require a dedicated electrical circuit
A qualified electrical contractor should install that circuit according to the model specifications and local electrical requirements
Electrical needs vary according to the hot tub model, voltage, heater size, and pump configuration. In addition, the local jurisdiction may have specific permit and inspection requirements
In Washington, electrical work generally requires both a permit and an inspection
Before purchasing:
- Ask for the complete electrical specifications
- Have an electrical contractor evaluate the installation location
- Confirm that the property has enough electrical capacity
- Include permitting and electrical work in the project budget
- Determine where the electrical disconnect will go
- Confirm who will complete and inspect the work
Do not assume that the advertised hot tub price includes the electrical installation
Plug-in models can simplify the installation process. However, they may heat more slowly or provide limited heater performance while the jets operate
Therefore, understand those tradeoffs before choosing a plug-in model
4. Leave Enough Room for Cleaning and Maintenance
Never permanently box a hot tub into a deck or place it where important areas become impossible to reach
Even when the hot tub operates normally, you will need access for:
- Draining
- Refilling
- Filter removal
- Cover replacement
- Cleaning around the cabinet
- Equipment inspection
- Plumbing access
- Future component replacement
Most importantly, all removable access panels should remain accessible after installation
If you plan to recess the hot tub into a deck, include removable deck sections or access doors around the equipment area
Otherwise, a beautiful installation can become extremely difficult to maintain when no one can open the cabinet
Before delivery, identify the primary equipment compartment and confirm how much clearance it requires
5. Compare Filtration Systems
The filter plays one of the most important roles in a hot tub’s water-care system
As water moves through the circulation system, the filter captures hair, debris, body oils, and other particles
Before buying, ask:
- How many filters the hot tub uses
- How easily you can remove each filter
- Whether local suppliers carry replacement filters
- How much replacement filters cost
- Whether you can clean and rotate the filters
- Whether the hot tub uses a proprietary filter
- How long the filtration cycles run
- Whether the hot tub has a dedicated circulation pump
A proprietary or unusually expensive filter can increase your long-term ownership costs
In addition, consider how easily you can reach the filter. When removal becomes unnecessarily difficult, owners are more likely to postpone routine cleaning
Therefore, look for a filtration system that supports effective water care without creating unnecessary expense or inconvenience
6. Look Closely at the Cover
The cover affects safety, heat retention, cleanliness, and operating costs
A high-quality cover should:
- Fit the hot tub correctly
- Cover the entire shell
- Include secure locking straps
- Shed rainwater effectively
- Resist moisture absorption
- Remain manageable for the owner
- Work within the available space
Before buying, ask about the foam density, vapor barrier, hinge construction, warranty, and expected replacement cost
A cover lift can make everyday use easier. However, it requires additional clearance behind or beside the hot tub
Therefore, plan for both the cover and the lift before positioning the hot tub
The Hot Tub Pros recommends high-quality replacement covers with double-wrapped foam cores because the additional wrapping helps protect the foam from moisture absorption
7. Understand the Water-Care System
Every hot tub requires sanitation, testing, filtration, chemicals, and periodic water replacement
Despite what some salespeople may suggest, no hot tub is truly maintenance-free
Supplemental systems may help with certain parts of water care. For example, a hot tub may use minerals, ozone, ultraviolet treatment, or a saltwater chlorine generator
However, these systems do not eliminate regular testing, sanitizer, non-chlorine shock, filter care, or water changes
Before buying, ask:
- Which sanitizer the system uses
- Whether the system relies on chlorine, bromine, or another approved method
- Whether it requires proprietary replacement cartridges
- How often you need to test the water
- How the system responds to heavy use
- Which products you must add regularly
- Which components require replacement
- How much the ongoing products cost
- Whether local suppliers carry those products
Also, approach claims about chemical-free or maintenance-free hot tubs carefully
Clear water does not always mean properly sanitized water. Therefore, every owner still needs a dependable testing and maintenance routine
8. Consider the Total Cost of Ownership
The advertised purchase price does not include every expense associated with hot tub ownership
In addition to the hot tub itself, plan for:
- Site preparation
- Delivery
- Electrical work
- Permits and inspections
- Steps and handrails
- A cover lift
- Water-care chemicals
- Test strips
- Filter cleaner
- Replacement filters
- Mineral cartridges when applicable
- Water and electricity
- Periodic drain and clean services
- Routine professional maintenance when needed
- Future cover replacement
You should also budget your time
Hot tubs require weekly maintenance whether anyone uses them or not. Someone must test the water, maintain the sanitizer, add non-chlorine shock, monitor the water level, inspect the filter, and respond when the water begins to change
If you do not have the time or desire to manage those responsibilities, include professional service in your ownership budget before making the purchase
Also, ask the seller to explain what the purchase price includes and which items will cost extra
Transparent pricing makes it easier to compare hot tubs accurately. For example, a lower advertised price may not produce a lower total cost after adding installation, accessories, chemicals, proprietary products, energy, and ongoing maintenance
9. Research the Brand, Seller, and Warranty
The company supporting the hot tub can matter as much as the features of the hot tub itself
Before purchasing:
- Read the complete warranty
- Identify the company that handles warranty claims
- Confirm whether the warranty covers labor and travel
- Ask who provides service after the sale
- Check the availability of filters and accessories
- Research whether the manufacturer continues supporting older models
- Ask what happens if the selling company closes
- Confirm whether a future owner can transfer the warranty
In addition, pay attention to exclusions involving water chemistry, freeze damage, improper installation, covers, and transportation
If a salesperson makes an important promise, ask the company to include that promise in the written agreement or warranty
The Hot Tub Pros has access to select hot tub brands and may be able to help when a customer needs to purchase a new hot tub
However, our primary focus remains long-term cleaning and maintenance. As a result, we evaluate hot tubs from an ownership perspective rather than focusing only on the initial sale
10. Plan for Weekly Maintenance Before Delivery
Hot tub care begins as soon as you fill the hot tub
Despite what some salespeople may say, every hot tub requires weekly maintenance and water-care chemicals
Before the first soak, you should know:
- The hot tub’s exact water volume
- How to remove and clean the filter
- How to test chlorine and pH
- How much non-chlorine shock to add after use
- How to operate the filtration settings
- How to drain the hot tub
- Where you can discharge the water
- How often you should replace the water
- Who will perform the weekly maintenance
- Who to contact when you need professional support
Planning for these responsibilities before delivery will make ownership easier from the beginning
Know Your Target Water-Care Ranges
The Hot Tub Pros recommends maintaining free chlorine between 3 and 5 parts per million and keeping pH between 7.2 and 7.8
In addition, add 2 ounces of non-chlorine shock per 250 to 300 gallons after every use
After adding the shock, circulate the water for 20 minutes with the cover open. Then, close and secure the cover
Always adjust the dose according to the hot tub’s actual water volume and follow the chemical manufacturer’s label
Follow a Consistent Weekly Routine
A basic weekly routine includes:
- Testing the chlorine and pH
- Adjusting the sanitizer as needed
- Adding non-chlorine shock
- Checking the water level
- Inspecting the filter
- Confirming normal circulation
- Looking for cloudiness, foam, odors, or residue
- Cleaning the waterline
- Removing leaves and other debris
Consistency makes water care easier and helps prevent small issues from becoming difficult water problems
Decide Who Will Maintain the Hot Tub
A professional service program can supplement your routine when you lack the time or want experienced support
However, monthly or bi-monthly professional service does not eliminate every owner responsibility between visits, especially when the hot tub receives frequent use
For example, someone should still add non-chlorine shock after every use and monitor the water between scheduled appointments
Weekly professional service provides the most complete support for heavily used hot tubs and vacation rentals
Ultimately, budget for chemicals, your own maintenance time, and professional service when needed. This preparation will help keep the water clean, properly sanitized, and easier to manage while protecting the hot tub as a valuable household appliance
New Hot Tubs May Benefit From an Initial Cleaning
A brand-new hot tub is not necessarily ready for immediate soaking simply because no one has owned it
Manufacturers may wet-test hot tubs before shipping them. As a result, small amounts of water can remain inside the plumbing during shipping and storage
In addition, the shell may contain manufacturing residue, dust, packaging material, and other debris
An initial professional drain and clean can:
- Flush the internal plumbing
- Clean the shell and waterline
- Clean or inspect the filter
- Remove manufacturing and storage residue
- Establish fresh water
- Confirm the correct chemical routine
- Help the owner understand the controls and filtration settings
Therefore, an initial cleaning can provide a clean and manageable starting point for ownership
What About a Used Hot Tub?
A used hot tub requires additional evaluation
Whenever possible, ask the seller to fill, heat, and operate the hot tub before you agree to purchase it
Review:
- Water condition
- Filter condition
- Cover weight and fit
- Cabinet access
- Control operation
- Visible staining or scale
- Signs of long-term neglect
- The age and availability of replacement filters
- Electrical requirements
- Maintenance records
- Warranty transfer options
After the purchase, schedule a thorough plumbing flush, drain, shell cleaning, filter evaluation, and fresh-water reset before regular use
This process gives you a known starting point instead of relying on the previous owner’s maintenance history
Honest Guidance Before and After Your Purchase
The Hot Tub Pros primarily specializes in professional hot tub cleaning, water care, and routine maintenance
Our experience comes from working directly with hot tubs throughout King County. Therefore, we see which features make ownership easier, which designs make maintenance harder, and which details buyers often overlook
A thoughtful purchase should fit your property, budget, routine, comfort preferences, and willingness to maintain the water consistently
Need Help Choosing or Maintaining a Hot Tub?
The Hot Tub Pros helps new and existing hot tub owners with:
- Guidance when selecting a new hot tub
- Access to select hot tub brands
- Revitalize Drain & Clean services
- Refresh Drain & Clean services
- Filter cleaning and maintenance
- Water testing and balancing
- Hot Tub 101 water-care consultations
- Routine maintenance programs
- Hot tub cover replacements
Whether you are considering a new hot tub, purchasing a used one, or preparing a recent purchase for its first soak, we can help you establish a clean starting point and a practical maintenance routine
Call or text (425) 221-3331 or request service online:
More From The Hot Tub Pros
- What Every New Hot Tub Owner Should Know
- Hot Tub Chemicals 101: Five Steps to Balanced, Crystal-Clear Water
- Hot Tub Filter Cleaning and Replacement Guide
- Hot Tub Cleaning Services in King County