Did you suddenly get promoted and now you need to face the mammoth task of figuring out how to move to your new place of work? Or did you choose to move and are now looking for ways to move the multitude of items in your house?
Whatever the case, we all have some items in our home that we get quite stressed about moving, and one of them is a hot tub. They’re huge, they’re bulky, and they’re terribly heavy. Not to forget that there’s a lot of wiring in there too that needs to be taken care of!
If you’re worried about moving your hot tub, you can relax because we’ve got you covered. Before we dive into the steps to moving a hot tub, we suggest you ask yourself this question first.
Is It Worth Moving My Hot Tub?
If you’re not moving your hot tub on-site but instead moving it to another place altogether, you have to seriously consider if moving your hot tub is going to be worth the effort. It goes without saying that moving a hot tub is a tedious process and doing it yourself can require much effort and expertise.
Consider factors like the condition of your hot tub – does it have considerable wear and tear and might give out, or is it fairly new? Was your hot tub an investment and if so, will selling it give you enough money to buy a new one? How much time and effort will go into moving the hot tub?
Even after asking yourself these questions, if you’re still confused, then we suggest you make a pros and cons list because that always helps. Don’t forget that you can always leave your hot tub in your present house which will increase its value especially if you live in a region with extreme cold.
How To Move My Hot Tub?
If you’ve come to the decision to move your hot tub then there are two ways in which you can go about the process – doing it yourself or hiring professional movers. Let’s look at them step by step :
Doing It Yourself
Moving your hot tub yourself might seem like an extremely mammoth task, but if you have some knowledge about it then you have nothing to worry about. Let’s dive into the steps you need to follow to move the hot tub without professionals.
1. Plan The Move
Even before you start anything, whatever the task might be, planning and having a clear idea about the action plan will make things easier for you in the future. The same goes for when you have to move your hot tub. We suggest that you plan everything to the T for which you can refer to the following pointers :
Measure the dimensions of your hot tub: Make sure that your hot tub fits into a moving truck/trailer that you’ve hired for the move. If it’s up a flight of stairs, measure and check if it can be brought down via that route.
Check for obstacles outside your home: Sometimes a fence or a tree might get in the way or maybe the hot tub isn’t on the ground level so you have to get it down a flight of stairs. If that’s the case, you’ll have to figure another method out to get your hot tub to the moving truck.
Make a note of how much your hot tub weighs: This step is important so that you can analyze the amount of equipment and the number of people you’ll need to help you with the task. Usually, a hot tub that can seat two to three people will weigh around 500 lbs.
If the various steps that you’ve to take to move your hot tub by yourself end up costing too much then it’s best if you hire professional movers.
Also See: Top Cheap Movers
2. Gather All Your Moving Supplies
Before you start the task of moving your hot tub, it’s best if you gather all the supplies and equipment that you’ll require to actually move it. Don’t shy away from this step because without the equipment there’s no way you’ll be able to move the hot tub; it’s too heavy, you see!
You’ll require a mix of moving blankets, two to four furniture dollies, lifting straps, tie-down straps, and cleaning supplies. When you’re looking to hire furniture dollies, you can visit Home Depot where furniture dollies that can support up to 800 lbs are available.
Related: Best Packing Materials
3. Get Help
We know that you intend to move the hot tub by yourself, but unlike a few boxes of clothing or your flat screen, this isn’t something you can actually do by yourself. Based on the size and weight of your hot tub, you’ll have to recruit help and we suggest you do this well in advance since the people you ask might have to make time for this endeavor.
The easiest way here is to ask friends and family for help, but in many cases, you might not have family staying close. So your only option here is to hire labor-only movers who charge by the hour, so it won’t be as expensive as you think. Many moving companies offer labor-only services too, so you can give them a call for the same!
4. Time To Disconnect And Drain
It’s important that you drain your hot tub at least 24 hours before it’s time to move it. But before you drain it, there’s another thing you need to do, and that’s to disconnect it from all possible power sockets. Once you’ve unplugged the cable, secure it with a rubber band or a tie so that it’s not dangling loose. Many hot tubs come with detachable cords, and if that’s the case with you, then we suggest you put the cord in a waterproof ziplock bag, label it and keep it safe so that it’s not misplaced.
When it comes to draining your hot tub, you’ll have to be more careful than you think. First and foremost check the user manual that came with the hot tub for draining instructions, and if you can’t find the same, look for it online. It’s common knowledge that you can end up flooding and wreaking havoc on your yard if you don’t drain your hot tub right!
We suggest you use a garden hose for the purpose of draining and place the other end near a street gutter instead of your yard. The part of the hose that’s attached to the hot tub should be secured tightly around the tub’s drainage spout. After all the water has drained, don’t forget to close the access panel that most hot tubs come with.
As the last step, we also suggest you give your hot tub a good clean and use all-purpose cleaners to get it looking spick and span!
Tip: Move the cover of your hot tub separately and go through the user manual to see how this cover can be taken off and moved.
5. Moving The Hot Tub – Using Furniture Dollies
It’s now moving day, which means that it’s finally time to move your heavy and luxurious hot tub. The first thing you’ll have to do to be able to move it is placing it on furniture dollies. But it’s heavy right, so what do you do?
There’s a technique you can use to place the hot tub on furniture dollies without losing a toe or a finger in the process :
- Take the help of four people and lift a side of the hot tub up.
- While they do this, slide in pieces of plywood, ideally those measuring 4 x 4 to ensure that there’s a smooth flat surface under the hot tub.
- Once it’s standing on these plywood pieces, just roll the dollies under it without any hassle!
- You can use moving straps or tie-down to secure the hot tub to the furniture dollies so that it doesn’t shift.
In many instances, you won’t be able to take your hot tub to your moving truck like this in its original flat state. As we mentioned before, space might be an issue and in such a scenario, you’ll have to take your hot tub to your moving truck by placing it sideways on the furniture dollies. How can that be done? Just follow the steps below :
- With the help of another, start lifting the side of the hot tub that doesn’t have any electrical sockets or ports.
- On the other side of the hot tub, ask two other helpers to lift and guide furniture dollies under the hot tub.
- Remember to slide the dollies on the opposite front and back ends of that side of the hot tub.
- Secure the hot tub to the dollies using moving straps so that it doesn’t fall.
- Gently move the hot tub to the moving truck by using two people to guide the furniture dollies and two people to support the hot tub.
Tip: Don’t forget to cover the top of your hot tub with a blanket if you’ve taken the cover out. You can also place blankets around the hot tub so that it’s secure and doesn’t get any dents or scratches during the moving process.
6. Time To Load
It’s finally time to load the hot tub onto the back of the moving truck you’ve hired after which you’ll be done with a large part of the process. You’ve secured it on the furniture dollies, but now the task in front of you is to actually get it on the moving truck’s ramp.
Don’t take this part lightly and think that you can accomplish it with the help of just two people, because that’s not possible. Take the help of at least four people to slowly push it up the truck’s ramp. While you do this, ask one person to stand inside the truck to check if once hoisted, the hot tub is stationed securely, and you’re good to go then.
Tip: Let your furniture dollies stay with the hot tub when you load it into the moving truck. This will make the unloading process much easier.
Hiring Professional Movers
While moving your hot tub yourself might seem like something you can accomplish, it’s not really an easy task considering the amount of prep and expertise it requires. At the same time, since it’s a high-value item, you can’t risk any damage to it.
If you’re already apprehensive about the moving process, it’s best to hire professional movers to take care of the process for you. Even though you might need to shell out a significant amount, hiring professional movers comes with its own set of advantages –
- You don’t have to be responsible for planning every detail of your move like measuring every area.
- If you’re short on time, you won’t have to spend extra time hiring and coordinating with a separate moving truck that has the capacity of moving your hot tub.
- You will get insurance coverage against damages if you hire a moving company for the job since most moving companies have it as a mandatory option.
- Finding friends or family to help you on the day won’t be an issue since professional movers will arrive and do the job for you in record time.
- In case of unforeseen problems during the hauling or the move, you won’t have to worry or panic since it’s the job of the movers to handle the same.
Also Read: Affordable Apartment Moving Companies in the US
Did you know? If your hot tub is under warranty, it might be mandatory that you hire professional movers to move it so that the warranty doesn’t stand void.
Conclusion
Moving your hot tub isn’t as daunting as it might seem. But at the same time, if you’ve never done it before and your hot tub is quite new and big, we suggest you hire professional movers to move it for you. Not only will they know every detail of moving a hot tub, but they’ll also do so efficiently and smoothly, so you’ll have nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if you have help or you’ve moved a hot tub before, this shouldn’t be a huge task, but all we suggest is that you be as careful as possible!
See Also: Best Out of State Movers
FAQs
How much does it typically cost to move a hot tub?
The average costs of moving a hot tub can vary depending on whether it’s on-site or off-site. As expected, moving it on-site will be cheaper and can cost anywhere between $200 to $400. You must note that the cost increases significantly if the path to moving your hot tub is full of multiple flights of stairs and awkward bends.
How heavy is an empty hot tub?
If we had to look at a hot tub that can seat two to three people, it’ll be as heavy as 500 lbs without water. Once you fill it up with water the weight of the same hot tub can increase to an approximate of 3,000 lbs.
Can you move a hot tub with a pallet jack?
Yes, you can since that’s what professional movers use to slide underneath the hot tub too. But, as we’ve mentioned before, the same task can be accomplished by using plywood, because the aim is to create a smooth and even surface underneath.
How much does it cost to crane in a hot tub?
Using a crane might be the only option left if there are obstacles as big as a wall or a fence in the way of moving your hot tub. On an average, hiring a crane might cost anywhere between $400 to $1,500 depending on where you want to move your hot tub.
Is it cheaper to keep your hot tub on all the time?
Yes, it is, especially if you live in a region with a cold climate. Trying to heat the water in your hot tab every time from scratch might end up increasing your energy bills to a great extent. It’s more economical to maintain the temperature throughout.
Is it OK to transport a hot tub on its side?
Moving a hot tub on its side can be tricky, but it’s perfectly safe if you’re careful and follow guidelines from the manufacturer.
What is the average weight of a four-person hot tub?
The average weight of a four-person hot tub is around 2,184 lbs.
How many men can lift a hot tub?
In order to move a Hot Tub, you will need at least 5-6 people. Each side of the Hot Tub will need someone to lift it and two people to place it on the moving dolly.
