In a major dilemma!
1. Any thoughts on placing a hot tub in the basement of a new home (in a sun room in the basement) with regular ventilation fans and having the room walled off with french doors from the rest of the basement…is it likely that there will be a dank musty odor through the whole house?
2. What is the best brand? thermospa or sundance or hot springs or just get the cheapest one from home depot called Key spas.
Very confusing to try to sift through the information. I need help!!!
Replies
no matter what you do you will have elevated humidity in the house...
this can encourage the growth of spoores and mold and promote rot...
plan on a dehumidfier... a whole house sized one...
the Home Dimwit ones are junk.. you'll never stop the leaks and equipment failures...
Hot Springs build some nice units...
keep in mind you get what ya pay for...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
We built a house here in Iowa (humid) and the new owners wanted a hot tub in the basement.
We built a room dedicated for the hot tub, the HO's keep one of those insulated tops on the tub with the exception of the times when it is in use and you would never know that its there. I doubt that the humidity level in the house is raised by a single percentage pt.
I've been in the house a number of times and I cant smell any dampness/musty odor or anything else associated with the tub.
Doug
I traded a countertop in a hot tub dealers new house for a hot tub.
I installed it on our rear deck outside and my wife thought I was nuts. That is until her naked hinie slid under the water with the jets massaging her back, the snowflakes falling around us and a glass of wine in her hand. Then I was a genious.
Put 'er outside, trust me.
Kowboy
When I bought my tub, the owner of one of the hot tub stores let me soak in her hot tub in the basement to test it. I didn't notice humidity or smell (of santizer) in the main house but I did in the basement, quite strong in the basement in fact. I put mine ouside on the deck and would strongly recommend putting a hot tub outside. It really is much nicer outside. If possible put it near the house so it is easily accessible and minimizes snow shoveling to get to the tub. (If you live where it snows...) You'll use it more. If you put the tub in the basement, I would strongly recommend you don't put it over carpet. (The store owner's tub was on carpet which probably contributed to the smell.) A tiled or sealed concrete floor will be easier to maintain and minimze odor and humidity.
I've had a Sundance for about 8-9 years and it has been very reliable and easy to care for. We use it a lot. You keep them covered, so I don't think humidity is as big a problem as you might think. It is nothing like an indoor pool in that respect.
As far as location, a view is very nice. Some people like outdoors, but in a snowy climate like mine (Maine), the prospect shoveling it off to use it had no appeal. We put ours in an unheated shed attached to the house and open the windows when we use it. If I had it to do over, I would consider putting it outside with a roof over it to keep the snow and ice off, but there is no need for walls.
When we built our house 3 years ago we designed the basement (media & rec room) to include a hot tub. We have a Jaccuzzi brand hot tub. We're located in northern NH, so having the tub outside was not viable (heating costs, freezing pipes during extended power outages, etc...). Our basement is a 'walk-out' basement with regular windows & doors/sliders. The floor is sealed/stained concrete around the tub area. We have NEVER had a problem with humidity or odors, in part I'm sure because of the insulated cover that is on the tub when it is not in use.
A couple of related ideas to consider:
- we designed our floor plan so that the hot tub is only about 10-12 away from the bathroon, which has a full shower & washer/dryer. This makes it easier for people to change and clean up after using the hot tub without walking thru the whole house. The floor between the hot tub area and the bathroom is sealed concrete due to the high 'wet' traffic.
- we placed our tub right in front of a big picture window so that people can enjoy the outdoors (snowfall, etc..) without having to BE outside.
- we built seating around the tub at tub-top height so that the kids (20 somethings) can have people in the tub and also people sitting dangling their legs in the tub.
- in a corner we installed a small dorm sized fridge that is reachable by people in the tub (think beer).
- above the fridge we installed a small TV for watching those Sunday afternoon football games.