Have you recently bought an exciting brand-new hot tub and want it to be hooked up today so you can relieve stress and relax?
We get it. You’re super excited for the hot tub and want to jump right in, but before you jump in and enjoy the bubbles, we have to talk about safety and functionality.
Yes, we know it’s boring, but not using your hot tub in a safe manner can present risks of accidents or injury.
Your hot tub needs power to run. This seems simple, but not every garden has an easy access point to a source of power. So, what do you do? An extension cord, of course!
While that may seem obvious, it can be an extremely dangerous option and certainly something you should never do with your hot tub.
In this article, we will discuss the risks of using an extension cord with your hot tub and what action you can take if there’s simply no other option.
WARNING – Always get the advice of a professional when installing electrical items or pay to have it installed.
Do You Plug A Hot Tub Into A Normal Power Outlet?
Before we dive into the details if you can even use an extension lead with your hot tub, it is vital to get clear on how your hot tub is powered.
Inflatable and 110 volt hot tubs can use the normal electric outlets in your home.
These are generally referred to as plug and play hot tubs and many find them much easier and more convenient to use.
But if you own a full hot tub then it does not plug into the main sockets in your home.
Instead, these are connected into mains power so there wouldn’t even be a question of using an extension cord with these hot tubs.
Can You Use An Extension Cord With A Hot Tub?
For this article, we will focus on a 110v hot tub which plugs into an ordinary socket.
As with so many household appliances which you have connected to the main socket using an extension, most people would presume that a hot tub is no different.
However, there are many issues and hazards with using an extension lead to plug a hot tub in and once you are aware of the issues it is unlikely that you would even want to.
Also, you would find that most hot tub manufacturers give you long enough power lead that you do not need to use an extension in the first place!
- Most of the extension cords that are available for household use and made for use inside the home simply won’t be able to handle the safely load of current you hot tub will require.
- Domestic extension cables are not designed for use in extreme environments including outdoor use for long periods of time. As a general rule, extension cords should not be used if the temperature will continuously or repeatedly drop below 41ºF.
- All electrical appliances must be installed with a residual current device (RCD), and if your hot tub has one, the extension cable probably doesn’t. This means that in the event of an emergency or a power surge, the power will not cut automatically.
- The socket you plug your extension lead into probably won’t be weatherproof, which is a hazard in itself.
- Most domestic extension leads are quite long. If it has a long run to the hot tub, it will take longer to reach your hot tub, which means that some of the electrical power may be dissipated before it even reaches the hot tub. If any power is dissipated on its way to your hot tub, then the hot tub will not have the capacity it needs to operate properly, it could overheat and be damaged or permanently damaged. Long extension leads are also a trip hazard!
What Happens If I Really Need To Use An Extension Cord?
Check out your manufacturer’s instructions and it is highly likely that they will discourage any form of extension cord use.
However, if there is absolutely no other way to connect your tub to power than you may be forced to.
In this sort of a situation – You want to have at least a 14 gauge cable, if not larger. Your extension cord should also be both waterproof and weather resistant.
Additionally, you want to make sure that you select the minimum length required as this will limit the distance the power will need to travel.
Not that all of this really matters, as it will always be preferable for a qualified electrician to come to your home and have an outlet installed closer to your hot tub and therefore remove the need for any extension cord at all.
Conclusion
You are anxiously awaiting to enjoy your hot tub, but you need to ensure that it is safe to use before you jump in!
It would be understandable if you thought you could just plug your hot tub into power with an extension cord, but that can be very dangerous for you and your hot tub.
If the power cable that comes with your hot tub is not long enough to reach your power outlet, the only safe option is to contact an electrician and have them install a new oulet.