Top Tips for Designing the Ultimate DIY Hot Tub

If you’re thinking about designing your own DIY hot tub, you’ve come to the right place. Building a hot tub in your backyard is a rewarding project, and with the right approach, you can create the perfect oasis. Here are my top tips to help you design the ultimate DIY hot tub.

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Tip 1: Have a Plan

As the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Before you dive into it, it’s essential to have a clear plan. Know exactly what you’re going to do, what materials you’ll need, and how you’re going to set everything up. Proper planning will save you from headaches down the road.

For inspiration and a wide range of hot tub accessories, check out the case studies on my website, you can find them here. If you’re looking for a shortcut, I’ve got plenty of pre-made designs that will simplify the entire process. You can check those out here.

Tip 2: Choose the Right Materials

What are you actually going to use to build your DIY hot tub? Are you going to use CMU blocks, concrete forms, or ICF blocks? This decision should be made during the planning stage, as the materials you choose will affect the structure, durability, and cost of your hot tub.

Tip 3: Decide on the Type of Hot Tub

Are you going to build a standard hot tub, or if you have a great view, will you opt for an infinity hot tub? These decisions need to be made early on, as changing your design later will be difficult and costly.

Tip 4: Plan the Control Room

One of the most critical components of your hot tub is the control room—the place where you’ll house all the important equipment like the spa pack, pumps, blowers, and more.

• Distance matters: The further your control room is from the hot tub, the more powerful your pumps need to be to compensate for flow loss and potentially you may need larger pipes too.
• Pump placement: If the pump is above the water line, you’ll need a self-priming pump. If it’s below the water line, a regular centrifugal pump will do the job. Centrifugal pumps are a lot cheaper so worth considering getting your control room below the water line.
• Space is key: Make the control room as large as possible. You’ll appreciate the extra room if you ever need to perform repairs or replacements. Trust me, it’s much easier to work with extra space.

Tip 5: Choose the Right Size

How big is your hot tub going to be? My advice is to avoid going too big. Larger tubs require more water and take longer to heat. Choose a size that fits your needs.

From my experience with the 1300+ DIYers that I have helped, the most common size for a DIY Hot Tub is an 8×8.

Tip 6: Think About Heating

Heating your hot tub is a crucial consideration. The method you choose should align with how you plan to use it.

• Electric heating is ideal if you want a more gradual heat, but it can be expensive if you plan on using your hot tub frequently or have a large body of water to heat.
• Gas heating is a faster option for those who want to heat their tub quickly and use it more often, but the initial outlay for heaters is more.
• Air source heat pumps can also be an option, but they are heavily dependent on the weather you have. If you have months of the yeat that are below freezing, its probably not the best option. Down in Florida with 70s all year round – well worth considering.

If you’re unsure which method is best for you, I’ve got a video that goes into more detail, which you can check out here.

Closing Thoughts

Designing your own DIY hot tub can be a challenging but highly rewarding project. With proper planning, the right materials, and a thoughtful approach, you can create the perfect space to relax and unwind. 

Can I Help You?

If I can help you in any way I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch using the form below.

Thanks - Andi

 

Hi, Andi here. I own Buildahottub.com and also write all of the articles and info pages on the site. Some years back now, I built my own hot tub but struggled to find the information I needed. So, once my tub was complete, I started this website to help others in their own pursuit of hot tub and plunge pools DIY building information.

Today, I've helped over 1000 DIY customers just like you all over the world build hot tubs and pools. Have a good look around the site, there are lots of resources here. Please do get in touch if I can help you. - Cheers, Andi