We all love hot tubs but when it comes to moving them, it can be a challenge.
You could hire a mover, but that will cost a lot of money.
You could move it yourself but if done incorrectly, that could turn into a disaster resulting in damaging the hot tub or yourself!
To move it the right way (and safely) we put together a full guide below going over everything you will need to know to get the job done right.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB YOURSELF
STEP #1 - GET YOUR HOT TUB MOVING SUPPLIES TOGETHER
The very first thing you need to do is make sure that you have all of your moving supplies in place before you begin moving your tub. The last thing you want to do is take a break during your move to run down to the hardware store and pick up something you forgot. Here are a few things you’ll need to move your hot tub:
When looking for a dolly, we recommend finding one that can hold up to 800 pounds or more, especially if you have a large hot tub.
STEP #2 - GET SOME FRIENDS TOGETHER
Moving a hot tub is not a task that should be performed by one person. You’ll need some added muscle. We recommend having at least three friends or family members around to help out, though the more the merrier.
STEP #3 - DECIDE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE IT
Make an assessment of your surroundings. Is your hot tub on the grass out in the open or is it perched in a tight spot? Will you have to take it up or down a flight of stairs? Is the place you are moving it to ground level?
These are questions that you are going to need to ask yourself. The last thing you want is to damage your hot tub along the moving route or damage your landscape.
STEP #4 - DISCONNECT YOUR HOT TUB FROM THE SOURCE
Before you begin the hot tub draining process, you are going to want to unplug it from the outlet. Because you don’t want anything dangling from the tub, you want to make sure that all of the cords are put away. If the cords are attached, we recommend wrapping them in plastic so that they don’t get wet during the process.
STEP #5 -BEGIN THE DRAINING PROCESS
Draining a hot tub isn’t as simple as taking buckets of water and dumping the water all over the place. Doing that could badly damage your lawn or flood your yard. Because all hot tubs work differently, you’ll want to refer to the hot tub directions to see what they recommend for the draining process. You’ll likely need to attach some sort of pump or hose to the drain. We recommend draining it in the street near a gutter if you can, or at least in a place that won’t cause any flooding.
Once you have drained your tub completely, you can wipe it down with some towels and all-purpose cleaner.
STEP #6 - PLACE YOUR TUB ON THE PIECES OF PLYWOOD
Having plywood underneath your hot tub will help to create a surface that is smooth and flat, perfect for lifting it. Besides, it will make it much easier for you to get your hot tub on top of the dolly. Have all of your helpers surround the tub and slowly lift it a few inches off the ground.
STEP #7 - HAVE ANOTHER PERSON SLIDE THE DOLLY UNDERNEATH THE TUB
While you can move the hot tub on top of the dolly, we highly recommend having another person around to slide the dolly or dollies underneath the hot tub. Depending on how narrow your moving path is, you may need to tip the hot tub on its side. Once the hot tub is sitting on the dolly, you need to tie it down with moving straps so that it doesn’t fall off.
STEP #8 - SET YOUR HOT TUB IN PLACE
Once you have moved your dolly to the proper location, you can begin the process in reverse to get the hot tub settled where it needs to be. If you are just moving it around the yard, this should be pretty self-explanatory. However, if you are moving it to a moving truck in order to drive it to a different location, make sure that you re-tie it in the truck so that it doesn’t shift during transport.
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TIPS FOR THE MOVE: DO’S & DON’TS
DO make sure to get a written statement of work if you plan on having movers come to help you with your hot tub.
DO NOT try to transport your hot tube with the cover on it, even if it uses clips to stay one.
DO protect the corners of your hot tub as much as possible. We recommend attaching foam or cardboard to do so.
DO NOT try and move the hot tub by yourself. It is far too heavy for one person.
FAQ
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MOVE A HOT TUB?
If you plan on having some professionals come over to help you move your hot tub, you are going to have to pay the price for it. To hire professional hot tub movers at this time, you can expect to pay anywhere from $280-$300, as that is the national average. Professional hot tub movers have the right equipment and muscle power to do so. If you aren’t confident in moving it with your own group, we recommend hiring a team to do so.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB ON GRASS?
If you are planning to move your hot tub across grass, you are going to want to make sure that your dolly has wheels that are thick enough to slide across it without sinking. You are also going to want to make sure to inspect the grass path, as the last thing you want is to slip into any holes during the moving process.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB ON A TRAILER?
You want to begin by moving the hot tub on its side. Once it is on its side, line it up with the trailer (if you don’t have a trailer, we recommend renting one from a company such as Uhaul). Slowly tip the upper edge towards the bed of the trailer until it is resting on top of it. Have a few people lift up the other side and slowly slide it until it is completely on the trailer bed.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB ON ITS SIDE?
We don’t recommend trying to lift a hot tub on its side in one swift move, as you could hurt your back. Instead, lift one side just enough to get a few boards underneath it. Keep sliding them under until the opposite side is raised a few inches off the ground. You can then pick the hot tub up from the raised side without boards under it to get it on its side.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB WITH PVC PIPE?
You could make like the Ancient Egyptians and move your hot tub with PVC pipe. To do this, follow all of the preparation steps before lining up a few PVC pipes side by side. We recommend having around 10 large pipes. You can use them to roll across flat ground, stopping and replacing one in front every time it is in the open.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB WITH ONE PERSON?
Although we highly recommend against trying to move a hot tub by yourself, there are ways that you can do it. Unfortunately, it may not be possible unless your hot tub is sitting on a raised platform are ready, unless you are ready to lift a few hundred pounds of hot tub off of the ground on your own.
Simply place your dolly, PVC piping, or other moving apparatus next to your raised platform. Slowly being pushing the hot tub until one side of it is hanging off the deck. Once that side begins tipping onto your moving apparatus, you should have enough leverage to lift it onto its side. Just make sure that you do it carefully so that it doesn’t tip upside down.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB OFF A DECK?
Moving a hot tub off a raised deck, are you? This may require a bit more manpower and some ingenuity. Depending on the size of the deck, you will likely want to build yourself a dual 2x4 apparatus like these guys did, which can help you to carefully slide the hot tub off of your deck and onto your trailer, dolly, or other moving apparatus.
HOW TO MOVE A HOT TUB UP OR DOWN STAIRS?
If you have to move your hot tub down a flight of stairs, we recommend covering those stairs up with long boards so that you don’t actually have to move your hot tub down each one. Begin by measuring the length of your stairs. You can then go down to your local hardware store and purchase some wide planks that can run the entire distance of your staircase.
Once your hot tub has been moved on its side. You should be able to carefully slide your hot tub down the staircase. We recommend putting some cardboard underneath it so that the sides don’t get damaged.
HOW TO HOW TO JACK UP A HOT TUB?
One of the most intuitive ways to move a hot tub is with a hydraulic car jack if you have one. Simply slide your car jack underneath one side of your hot tub and begin jacking until it is at least half-a-foot off the ground. This will give you the proper leverage to get underneath it and lift it on its side.
NEXT STEPS
We hope that our article has given you some good advice as to how you can move your hot tub safely and effectively.
It is time to get all of your supplies together and begin the moving process.
If you can, we recommend getting as many people as possible together if you can.
The more manpower you have, the easier the job will be.
Of course, if you don’t want to move your hot tub by yourself, you can shop around and get some quotes from different movers who can help make your experience easier!
If you are in the market for a new hot tub, see the top manufacturers latest models and prices click the link below:
About The Author
Meredith Kiley
Full-time staff writer at wyllz.com and stay-at-home mom.