Spa Installation

This is where your ideas start coming to life! Sleepy Hollow Pools will take you through everything that needs to be considered beforehand, especially if you are installing a spa by itself and not as part of a swimming pool structural build.

First Consideration: Location

All of the hot tubs and swim spas we install are built and designed for above-ground and portable installation, or in-ground, sunken installation, to be used inside or outside. To prepare the site for smooth installation and operations, the first question we need to answer is: Do I want my hot tub be inside or outside?

Placement Considerations for Indoor Spa Installations

Measure and Leave Room to Access Components
A minimum of 3 feet of clear access is required to access and service components, on at least two sides of the spa.

Delivery Accessibility
How will the spa get into the desired location? Doors, halls, stairs, and other limiting structures may be obstructions to delivering your spa where you want it.

Flooring
For an indoor spa, the floor needs to be capable of supporting the combined weight of the spa, water, and occupants. The floor should be level and not be adversely affected by water. Carpeted or laminate floors are not suitable. A non-slip ceramic tiled floor is ideal.

Water and Drainage
Spas will always have excessive water spillage, so it is extremely important to have proper drainage. Your spa will also need to be emptied every 12 to 14 weeks.  The spas are designed for easy drainage, fitting a garden hose onto the drain valve situated at its base.

When situating your spa, your equipment and electrical compartment will need to be located where water will drain away from it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker. Leave yourself easy access to the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) for testing. The GFCI is located at the subpanel of a hard- wired spa. Never let water get into the subpanel or the electrical outlet that your spa is hard-wired into. 

Ventilation
The humidity will naturally increase with a spa installed indoors. The area surrounding it must be well-ventilated to avoid mold and mildew damage from the moist, heated air. You may wish to add a suitable de-humidifier, especially if your spa will be in a log cabin or similar natural wood structure. 

Electric
Depending on the required voltage for your spa,  you may need to install a GFCI breaker in your main electric panel, along with an outdoor, weatherproof disconnect box. 

Placement Considerations for Outdoor Spa Installations

There are different things that need to be taken into account when scouting an outdoor site for a spa. There are some basic safety and logistical concerns:

• The proximity of the spa to your house, especially in cold weather.
• You will need a clean path to the spa that minimizes debris tracked into the water.
• Do not place your spa underneath overhead power lines.
• There are legal requirements for fencing or self-closing gates for a pool of water deeper than 24 inches in Kentucky. However, your spa is complete with a locking thermal cover that meets the ASTM standards for safety covers and as a result, is usually exempt from most barrier requirements.

The biggest outdoor consideration for location Is two-fold:

What will your view be and what will other people’s view be?

With your outdoor spa, you can customize the surrounding environment with landscaping, lighting, and hardscaping to create a fantastic, relaxing natural addition to the patio, deck, or garden. Your spa should be a place to escape to for peace and  enjoyment, so consider what your vista will be when you are using it.

You also need to take into account how much privacy you will want while you are not only in the spa, but walking to and from the spa. If your environment lacks enough privacy for you, consider a pergola or gazebo. Many of our clients have found that a surrounding shelter is ideal for privacy and as a changing facility for all year round use. 

Seasonal Changes
You should also consider seasonal changes with an outdoor spa. Relaxing in your spa under leafy trees may be wonderful in the summer and provide plenty of privacy, but come autumn, you may find it difficult to keep your spa clean and come winter, you may lose your privacy. Live landscaping such as flowers, bushes, vines, or even potted plants can also create extra work in maintaining a clean, safe spa environment.

How Much Space Will I Need?   
When measuring for the space required, you will need a minimum of 3 feet on at least two sides of the spa to access and service its components. Also remember to allow enough space to take the cover on and off. This space is necessary whether the spa is above-ground, or recessed into a platform, floor, or deck. 

Base and Foundation
Your spa must be situated on a smooth, solid, flat, level base which is the same size or larger than the unit. The foundation also needs to be capable of supporting the combined weight of the spa, water, and occupants.  The spa cannot be placed on bare dirt or grass, as there is a risk of settling or sinking. 

We recommend a reinforced concrete pad at least four inches thick, a suitably strengthened (at least 12” -16” centered joist) timber deck, or existing patio area, assuming it has adequate foundations.

Water and Drainage
Filling an outdoor spa is as easy as pulling out a garden hose. Your spa will also need to be emptied every 12 to 14 weeks.  The spas are designed for easy drainage, fitting a garden hose onto the drain valve situated at its base.

Remember: just like a swimming pool, spas will always have excessive water spillage, so it is extremely important to have proper drainage.

When situating your spa, your equipment and electrical compartment will need to be located where water will drain away from it. Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker. Leave yourself easy access to the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) for testing. The GFCI is located at the subpanel of a hard- wired spa. Never let water get into the subpanel or the electrical outlet that your spa is hard-wired into. 

Ventilation 
When installed  in a confined area, the moist, heated air from a spa can cause mold and mildew damage. The area surrounding it needs to be well-ventilated.

Electric
Depending on the required voltage for your spa,  you may need to install a GFCI breaker in your main electric panel, along with an outdoor, weatherproof disconnect box. 

Second Consideration: Size, Style, and Features

Are you looking for an active family gathering and entertaining spot or a secluded oasis?  The best place to start your selection of a spa is with size.  Models are available for classic spa set-ups with seating for anywhere from 4 - 7 adults, all with a huge range of features and built-ins.

For those who want a combination of swimming for exercise and soaking for relaxation and recovery, there are SWIM spas, which are elongated spas that include wide swim lanes and are equipped with powerful swim pumps and turbo jets that can be programmed to different speeds. All of this provides amazing high-intensity interval training swim workouts, that you can tailor to fit you perfectly.

Regardless of the type of spa, the list of available comfort and design elements is endless. With captain’s chairs, loungers. love seats, bench seats, manual and hydraulic spa cover lifters, and many different colors of shells and cabinets to choose from, it may be difficult to decide!

Third Consideration: Budget

Whether your budget is a firmly established number, a guiding idea, or an afterthought, Sleepy Hollow will work with you during the planning and design process to make sure there are no surprises. The budget includes the  purchase and installation of the spa, equipment, and any upgrades you decide on, but it also covers installation, excavation, construction, plumbing, and electrical work. We will also estimate maintenance and operating costs on any design you choose, and provide a huge range of options for materials and features, so that you will love your new spa when it is installed, and continue to love it for years!

No matter what your goal is for your personal space, Sleepy Hollow Pools would be honored to assist you in creating your dream spa!

After finalizing your dream spa, layout, and the materials, colors, and finishes, you will receive a project and budget proposal. This proposal will clearly outline the project scope, and provide an estimated timeline, an itemized list of all materials and warranties, and a payment schedule. With the contract signed, the project moves from paper to the real world.

Carefully review the contract, and don’t be afraid to ask questions until you are absolutely comfortable with every detail!

This phase involves doing all of the needed research and securing the necessary legal approvals for the build.

Sleepy Hollow Pools will:

Locate Utilities
If the spa is being located outside, we will determine the underground placement of all utility lines (gas, water, electric) to mark and prevent accidental damage.

Determine Property Setback and Easement 
The setback requirement is the distance that needs to be maintained between your spa and the edges of your property.  An easement is a legal, non-possessory right allowing another party to use a specific portion of your property for a designated purpose, such as utility access, driveways, or, in some cases, an easement prohibits development.

Handle Building Applications 
Approval from HOA, city, and other local authorities regarding all building and work that will happen on site. This involves submitting the finalized plans to your local municipal building department for approval. The review process ensures your project complies with all local zoning laws, safety codes, and regulations.

Secure Necessary Permits 
Permit approval times can vary, so it’s important to get this process started as early as possible.

As well as installing, we take great care to level, shape and slope the ground surrounding an outside spa, to ensure a stable foundation and proper water drainage. It prevents structural issues like sinking or cracking by compacting soil, while directing rainwater away from the spa to avoid erosion and flooding. 

Electrical
Wiring and conduits for pumps, heaters, and underwater lighting. and other electrical components are also installed at this stage.

Plumbing
All lines will be installed for pump and filtration.

Once your outside spa is complete, it’s time to build out the surrounding environment and add the final touches that make it a true backyard oasis. Pergolas, gazebos, or other structures can lend privacy and detail.

Sleepy Hollow Pools will:

Balance the Water
The initial chemicals are added to the water to achieve the correct balance of water chemistry.

Equipment Start-up and Test
The pump and filtration system will be started and tested, ensuring everything functions properly. 

A final inspection by local authorities ensures the pool meets safety standards.