Indoor vs. Outdoor Hot Tubs (Pros, Cons, and More)

Indoor Hot Tubs

Nothing says luxury like having a personal indoor spa. Having a hot tub indoors is a wonderful way to relax in the privacy of your own home — without even having to step outside. If you have a small backyard, or simply prefer to enjoy the hot tub inside the privacy of your own four walls, an indoor hot tub could be the right choice for you.



Indoor Hot Tub Pros

Privacy

If you don’t have a private backyard that is shielded from your neighbor’s view but have a home large enough to house a hot tub, an indoor model could be a great option. With it being inside the walls of your own home, you will never have to worry about passers-by, neighbors or anyone else seeing you enjoy your aquatic downtime.



Protection from the Elements

Installing a hot tub indoors could potentially mean it could have an even longer life span because it does not have to weather sometimes harsh outdoor elements. An indoor hot tub will never have to ensure wear and tear from rain, snow, wind, hail, or the hot summer sun.



Housing a hot tub indoors can also save you money on operation costs since your hot tub will be placed within the controlled climate of your home. This may enable it to stay warmer for longer in comparison to the heating you may require when placed outside, particularly during the winter months.



Convenience

Testing the water, adding chemicals, and other maintenance chores come with being a hot tub owner and it must be done no matter the weather. However, taking care of an indoor hot tub may be even easier and convenient as you can simply go into the next room versus outside.



Indoor Hot Tub Cons

Ventilation

Due to steamy chemical evaporation being released into the room where the indoor tub is placed, ventilation will need to be installed if opening windows and doors are not available in that room. This will ensure that the humidity and heat doesn’t create unwanted bacteria and fungus in your home.



Along with not wanting to inhale chemical fumes, you will also not want the interior of your home to be damaged by the moisture. This means you will likely need to purchase water-resistant materials such as bathroom paint or water-resistant wallpaper and flooring to ensure your indoor décor stays intact.



Installation

The installation process of an indoor hot tub is potentially costlier and more time consuming than it would be for an outdoor hot tub. Along with ventilation, an inspection is likely required to ensure your home is fit to house a hot tub.



You’ll need to ensure you have the required access to get the hot tub inside the room. If it cannot fit, you may need to remove a door, knock down a wall or do some additional light remodeling to accommodate the hot tub indoors.



The height and size of the room, the size of the hot tub you desire, as well as the size of the base that will need to be installed will all need to be taken into consideration prior to installation. You will also need to allow room for the hot tub cover.

It’s important to note that if you have a strong base where your hot tub will be placed, which can withstand the weight of a hot tub, the water, and people inside it, then an additional base installation may not be required.



Draining and Electrical Installation

Just like with an outdoor hot tub, electrical installation will be required for an indoor hot tub as well. The hot tub will need to be plugged into a wall outlet or wired directly to the proper connection through your home’s central breaker box.



If access to a drain is not readily available, then drainage will need to be installed into the room where your indoor hot tub will be placed. This is because it’s unlikely your hot tub will be able to reach a floor drain through the hose.



Not having a drain built in could cause issues down the line when it is time to replace your hot tub water with fresh water.



Summary

Overall, the decision between installing a hot tub indoors or outdoors ultimately comes down to personal preference, as either option has many pros and each has just a few cons, too. Access and ventilation in your home is essential for an indoor hot tub, but beyond that, an indoor or an outdoor hot tub can be enjoyable for several reasons.



If you are an introvert but love the outdoors and want your hot tub to be surrounded by nature, then an outdoor hot tub with covered patio or gazebo built around it to provide more privacy could be an ideal option.



If you love the constant warmth of the indoors, have the space to house a hot tub indoors, and are prepared to make any necessary alterations to your home, then an indoor hot tub could be the choice for you.



This is a big decision and there are many factors to consider. One factor to keep in mind is that initial costs could be higher for an indoor installation, but operational costs could potentially be less.

You could also consider the best of both worlds by investing in a classic outdoor hot tub as well as a jetted bath such as a Jacuzzi® Whirlpool or Swirlpool® bath, neither of which require as much space nor the ventilation requirements of an indoor hot tub.



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