Hot Tubs and Spas: A year-round vacation that you can enjoy at home with family and friends.

Early summer brings the possibility of moving somewhere new. The kids are out of school and you are starting to look at different neighbors or houses for them to grow up in. Then you find it! The perfect house. As you walk through the house you just sold and begin to start packing the boxes, you may begin to notice the larger items you have acquired in recent years and wonder how you will move those. Well do not worry about that hot tub. We have a great plan to help you get it to your next house so the fun times can continue for years.

If you are moving your home with a professional Van Lines, check with them about moving your hot tub. They will have the manpower and the equipment and this may be an economical option.

If it is a "friends and family" move, you should start by whipping out your owner’s manual to see what equipment needs to be detached for moving. This may include the heater, pump, blower and electrical and plumbing units. For many portable hot tubs, it is fine to leave this equipment in place or attached. We suggest following your manufacturer's directions. If you lost those directions long ago or if you cannot find them in the sea of boxes you are living in, consult a hot tub dealer who handles your brand of hot tub.

You can begin the preparation process by draining the hot tub. If you are moving to a cold climate where freezing might be an issue, blow out the pipes with compressed air to make sure no water is left in the pipes, which might freeze and then crack. Make sure you disconnect all electrical and gas lines and secure any loose cords or lines. It is best to set the cover aside to move separately.

We then suggest calling up some of your strongest friends. Make sure you ask nicely and remember that the beer and some pizza should come out after the hot tub is moved, not during the move. Start by carefully tipping the hot tub onto its side and place it on a pair of furniture dollies or a large dollie with wheels. Strap the hot tub to the dollie and you are ready to roll. You will need a person handling each dolly if you have two and a couple more to walk along with the hot tub, making sure it remains steady and helping it over obstacles. You can use pieces of plywood to roll over grass or to make a ramp to move the hot tub from a deck or patio onto a flat bed trailer. Remember hot tubs can be very heavy and you don't want to create a flimsy ramp that could fail.

If you want to plan like professional, you can rent the moving truck with the lift gate. You may then tip the hot tub upright for the move and secure within the truck or on the trailer. Secure the lid separately so it doesn't get torn or damaged while the truck is in motion.

When you reach your new destination, you can just repeat the above steps in reverse. The only legal recommendation we can make is to hire a licensed electrician to complete the electrical hookup. You should be ready to go! Fill your hot tub and begin enjoying it at your new place. You can invite over some neighbors to join in on the fun and kill two birds with one stone. Now is the time for beer and pizza. If you would prefer to buy a new hot tub for your new home, see the full selection of hot tubs for sale at Spas And Stuff.