Do I Need an Electrician to Install My Hot Tub?

You’ve got your eye on a hot tub and you’re ready to buy. You’ve got delivery sorted and you’ve landscaped your backyard, so you know right where it’s going to go.

The only question left is, “Who is actually going to hook this thing up?”

Great question! At Hydropool, we know this is a query almost everyone gets stuck on at some point.

The answer is yes, in most cases, you need an electrician to hook up and install your hot tub.

• If the hot tub you’re buying is 220V and requires direct wiring, then you need an electrician.
• If it is a 110V hot tub, also known as a plug-and-play hot tub, then you will only require an electrician if you need a plug-in built near where you intend to put your hot tub.

In most cases, we encourage you to get an electrician. At Hydropool, we know that wiring your hot tub should never be a DIY project. Electricity and water do not mix well, so it is important that you hire a professional electrician to safely hook up your hot tub.

An electrician will be familiar with the local electric codes and will know exactly what type of wiring to use, the right size breakers to employ, as well as what proper conduits and disconnects are needed to ensure it is safely installed.

We want to explain as much as we can, so you can have a full understanding of what is required. So in this article, we will go over:

• What will the electrician do to hook up your hot tub?
• What is the cost of an electrician to install your hot tub?
• How do I find an electrician to install my hot tub?
• Whether you need a GFCI breaker? (the answer is yes)

Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of what’s involved in hot tub electrical installation and how to get it done right for you.

 

 

What Will an Electrician do to Install My Hot Tub?

This guide is to explain what an electrician will do to install your hot tub: It is not meant as a guide for you to do it yourself.

An electrician will go through the following steps when install your tub:

1. First, the electrician will shut off power.
2. He or she will then determine if you have space on your electrical panel to allow for the hot tub wiring.
3. The electrician will determine the placement of your GFCI box, making sure it follows local laws.
4. They will determine how to get the wiring from your electrical panel, to the GFCI box, and then to your hot tub.
5. The electrician will then wire the hot tub, including grounding it to reduce the possibility of any electrical shock.
6. The electrician will then test your hot tub to ensure it’s working properly.

Again, this is not meant to be a detailed guide to installing a hot tub: It’s meant to show you the steps that your electrician will follow in order to install the tub.

How Much Does it Cost for an Electrician to Install a Hot Tub?

In Canada, you can generally expect it to be around $2000 for the hot tub electrician installation cost. It’s important to note that this is an average and that your situation may require more or less, depending on where you are.

For instance, if you don’t have space on your electrical box for electrical wiring, you will need a new panel and the cost to install could double. If you live in an area without a lot of available electricians like downtown Toronto, then your costs could go up. However, if your brother-in-law is an electrician, you might well pay less … you see how this can work.

Want to read more about hot tub installation costs? Check out this article here.

 

How Do I Find an Electrician for My Hot Tub Installation?

A good retailer will have a number of qualified electricians available to you. This is one of the reasons why we highly recommend buying from your local hot tub retailer, because they will have people available who are well-trained on the work you require.

Any good electrician can install a hot tub, but the best installers have installed many hot tubs and understand the process well. Your best chance of finding one of those is through a hot tub retailer.

Does Your Hot Tub Need a GFCI Breaker?

If you are preparing to install your newly bought hot tub you may be wondering, does a hot tub need a GFCI breaker?

A GFCI is a “ground-fault circuit interrupter.” It’s another failsafe protecting you and your hot tub, that will kill the power to your hot tub if anything happens to go wrong and allow you to flip a switch shutting off the power to it as well.

A GFCI is a required element in any hardwired hot tub installation.

And yes, any power outlet that supplies a hot tub or spa must be GFCI-protected. Below is an example of GFCI regulations that electricians must follow:

GFCI for Indoor Hot Tubs

The GFCI requirements for indoor hot tubs are as follows:

• There must be at least one convenience receptacle located between 6 to 10 feet from the inside wall of the hot tub.
• The receptacle must be GFCI-protected.

GFCI for Outdoor Hot Tubs

The ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) requirements for outdoor hot tubs are as follows:

• There must be at least one convenience receptacle located between 6 to 10 feet from the inside wall of the hot tub.
• The receptacle must be GFCI-protected.
• Non-metallic conduit or liquid-tight flexible metal is permitted if the receptacle is less than 6 feet away.
• In some cases, an outdoor hot tub can be cord and plug-connected provided that the receptacle is GFCI-protected and does not exceed 15 feet in length.
• Outdoor receptacles need to have a weatherproof cover when exposed to the elements.

As requirements can vary and change from time to time and place to place, if you have any questions, you should always reach out to your local hot tub retailer who will know the specifics of your location.

Should I Get an Electrician to Install My Hot Tub?

In most cases, the answer to this question is indisputably yes.

The only time you may not require an electrician is if you have a plug-and-play hot tub. Those hot tubs are sold with a primary benefit being that they often do not require an electrician because they are designed to use a regular electrical outlet (they have other pros and cons, which you can read about here). So if you have a standard plug-in near where you want your hot tub to sit, you should not need an electrician to get it up and running.

If you’re hardwiring your hot tub – if it requires 220V -- an electrician will make sure your electrical panel has enough space for your hot tub and will ensure your GFCI is installed properly and according to regulations.

A good retailer will be able to find you an electrician if you need one. If you’re looking, don’t hesitate to reach out to the local Hydropool dealer near you here.