There’s nothing quite as relaxing as soaking in a hot tub in the comfort of your own surroundings. If you’re not careful, however, you could end up seriously injuring yourself. Bailey & Shipp, one of the state’s top commercial electrical contractors, shares some hot tub safety tips below.
Be On the Lookout for Electrical Hazards
Be sure to place your hot tub away from electrical hazards like overhanging power lines and lighting. Likewise, install the tub away from electrical outlets, and drape a waterproof cover over outdoor receptacles to prevent them from getting soaked. Keep in mind that all outdoor outlets need to have ground fault circuit interrupter protection.
If there are overhanging power lines, call your local power company. Just to be on the safe side, you can also ask your local electrician to double-check if there are any electrical hazards or power lines within close proximity of your hot tub that you may have missed.
Know the Location of the Disconnect Switch
Of course, even if you’ve observed all of the standard safety precautions, there’s always the possibility that something unexpected might happen. In instances such as these, it’s important to know where the hot tub’s disconnect switch is located. In most cases, the disconnect switch also functions as a timer, which shuts off the power supply every 30 minutes or so. The switch must be located at least five feet from the edge of the hot tub but no more than 50 feet away. This will enable you to turn it off quickly if something goes wrong.
Get Permits Before Installing a Hot Tub
Local codes have varying guidelines about hot tubs, so it’s best to check on these first before installing one. Most likely they’ll require that the hot tub be installed by a qualified electrician.
Bailey & Shipp, one of Home Advisor’s top-rated electrical contractors, offers residential electrical services as well as a variety of premium generators. To request an estimate, call us at (410) 457-3507 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia.