Table of Contents:
- Is An Electrician Required To Wire My Hot Tub?
- DIY Hot Tub Wiring Errors
- Why Should You Hire An Electrician?
- Electrical Tips when installing a Hot tub
Is An Electrician Required To Wire My Hot Tub?
You can find them all over the internet — articles with enticing titles like “Do It Yourself and Save” or “How to Wire a Hot Tub Without Paying an Electrician.” However, installing a hot tub is not a simple task. This type of wiring can introduce a slew of unexpected complications; you may even need to upgrade your electrical service to handle the increased power load.
DIY Hot Tub Wiring Errors
- Protection Against GFCI
Any electrical outlet located outdoors or near water must be protected by a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter). In the event of an electrical short, a GFCI circuit quickly disconnects your hot tub from the power source.
Failure to install a GFCI – or installing one incorrectly – could result in fatal electrocution.
- Bonding Errors
Water, electricity, and metal components can all be dangerous in combination. That is why the current-carrying metal components must be properly bonded together and reconnected to the electrical panel. Careless errors can result in a wiring issue or a short, resulting in shock or electrocution for hot tub users.
- Mistakes in Grounding
Similarly, the wiring for the hot tub must be grounded, allowing electricity to be safely channelled into the earth in the event of an emergency. By skipping this step, you expose both yourself and your guests to an unexpected electrical hazard.
- Breaking The Circuit
When you turn on your hot tub and immediately trip the breaker, you have a problem. The cause may be as straightforward as a small amount of moisture in the system or normal wear and tear. Alternatively, it could be something as simple as loose wires or improper connections made by an overconfident amateur who believed he could wire the hot tub himself.
This is a risk, not an annoyance, resulting in extremely dangerous conditions and possibly an electrical fire. Your breaker is alerting you to a serious problem – heed the warning!
Why Should You Hire An Electrician?
- Electrical Standards
A licensed electrician is trained and experienced in adhering to the complicated requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) and the local STANDATA, including their numerous revisions and updates. This enables him to obtain the required permit from the Electrical Inspection Authority and wire your hot tub in a way that ensures your safety while also meeting the requirements for passing an electrical inspection.
- Insurance
If the unthinkable occurs and a hot tub electrical problem results in an accident, your insurance provider will require proof that your hot tub installation passed inspection. If you skip this critical step, your chances of settling are extremely slim.
Even in less tragic circumstances, your insurer may request an electrical inspection of your home (for example, as part of an update or if you’re switching insurance companies). When this occurs, you’ll want to ensure that the wiring in your home, including your hot tub, is completely safe and professional.
- Professionals who have been trained
Allow me to be direct and rephrase the question. Rather than “Do, I require the services of an electrician to wire my hot tub?” Instead, ask yourself, “Whom would I rather trust with my safety (and possibly my life) – a trained, licensed professional electrician or an amateur following YouTube instructions? “
More for you:
Electrical Tips when installing a Hot tub
There are numerous factors to consider when it comes to installing a new hot tub in your home. Which colour will my hot tub be? Where am I going to put it? How much will the installation cost? As a Floridian, one of the most critical factors to consider is the wiring that powers your hot tub. When installing a hot tub in your home, keep the following points in mind:
- Avoid installing near power lines.
- Install no low-voltage lighting within a 10-foot radius, even if a GFCI protects the circuit.
- If possible, avoid underground wiring.
- If underground wiring is required, install your hot tub in a rigid metal conduit, an intermediate metal conduit, or a nonmetallic raceway system that has been approved for direct burial.
Some people believe that hot tub wiring is a do-it-yourself project, but this is simply not the case. Hot tubs require a dedicated 240-volt GFCI circuit with a minimum of 100 amps to operate safely and efficiently. While most modern homes are equipped to handle this level of circuitry and amperage, homes older than 20 may be unable to handle your increased electrical load safely.
Allow Gregg Electric to wire your hot tub safely.
Make your hot tub both safe and enjoyable. Schedule a professional code-compliant installation with one of our skilled electricians.
