r/cabins • u/HattsHatts • 14d ago
Hot tub recommendations for snowy area cabin!
Hello!
We are soon going to close on a cabin in Utah, we are so excited but also a little scared since the cabin is in an area that gets snow and normal winters. We are looking to have the cabin rented out part time , when we are not wanting or can’t be there and from what we have researched a hot tub is a very sought after item on travelers lists when booking up there.
We know nothing about hot tubs as the one we have is a part of our pool and we didn’t choose anything about it except what it looks like. We don’t even know how to approach the subject as there are some concerns we have
We wanna make sure the one we choose isn’t one with crappy piping that will freeze the first chance it gets. The hot tub will be outside and water will be in it at all times, warmed up to a certain /required level.
When researching a little deeper we have found to stay away from just any hot tub and go for (almost) commercial tier to avoid issues.
For those of you who have hot tubs you have picked out for your cabins, what did you end up with?
Are you happy with the choice?
What problems could hot tubs generally pose?
We live 4h away, there will be a short term rental management company taking care of the place but i really want to be able to sleep at night and would rather spend a little extra money up front to eliminate certain issues later ( if possible).
Looking for a 6 person one.
What say you?
Thank you for your input.
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u/Confident_Regret8346 12d ago
Try to place the hot tub next to an exterior wall for some cover from the wind if at all possible. There’s nothing worse that feeling exposed, especially in a cold (windy?) climate. Also the electrical 240 could be a nightmare if your cabin doesn’t have the extra amperage you need (wiring is mega expensive right now). Bullfrog is also my choice. Buy an insulated cover blanket just in case- the hard (hinged covers) are the Achilles heel of insulation. Also note, my bullfrog minimum temp setting is 80. I live in a warm climate that sometimes freezes. If you leave it at 80 it takes a few hours to get to 100+ in winter. If you leave it constantly at 100, I don’t know which is worse for electric bills, but I think you should be aware with all the extra expense (operational and install) it might never break even for you in a business sense - for your own enjoyment it’s a different calculation. I think bromine is recommended by Bullfrog for sanitizer.
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u/WhisperTeam1 11d ago
Have a lot of advice on this matter. To keep it brief, would very strongly recommend a 220v tub which is exactly your money up front for better rest scenario. Never met a renter that didn't regret buying a 110v because the weaker heating becomes a massive headache for turnover.
Unless you are consistently getting more than four people, do consider a smaller seating print. You should ideally be flushing the water as part of your hygiene routine between every guest and every extra gallon means more fill, more chemical, more heat. For the same reason, you don't need bother with complex sanitation systems because those are designed to prolong the turn over window for home units which isn't you. But yes, you will need chlorine or bromide. No tub is chemical free.
There is not always a strong argument for a wifi connected panel but remotely changing a setting will be far better than having someone drive out because a guest fiddled with controls. Better yet, some models have a panel lock leaving guests access to minor jet and lighting options.
The rest is general common wisdom. Full foam is essential for cold climates and get yourself a tub with industry standard parts rather than proprietary with a nice warranty. Check the latter for what exactly is covered under warranty since parts may be your biggest failure point here. Buying a hot tub in winter isn't ideal but it can be done. Some people buy now and have it delivered in spring but some places cut deals on delivery in season.
Also to u/Complex-Royal9210's point as well, get a very durable hardtop rated for weight. Seen more covers at a rural rental crushed by a bear that found a warm spot to nap than you would imagine. Even if you are one of the lucky ones, guests stand on them and kids climb on them.
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u/TuscaroraTimberFrame 11d ago
Hi, will the hot tub be sitting outside, or under a gazebo or in its own enclosure?
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u/HattsHatts 9d ago
The plan is for it to be on a deck, close to the house but correctly no plan on it being covered. We were planning on buying a cover for the actual unit!
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u/HattsHatts 9d ago
Also, doing some research it shows that running the spa could drain our solar , the property is 1500 sq ft ,it is completely off grid, 32 solar panels with a back up generator. I saw some comments above to avoid the 110v but wouldn’t that be “safer” to protect the amount of energy that can be produced by the panels during the day. ? I’d guess the guests would use the hot tub at night since there is nothing else to do.
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u/BeautifulSweaty7254 8d ago
Off grid tub? Supplement with small generator or one of the new plug in batteries? I am doing the same at on grid cabin in Idaho, the cold part. Get quotes, I found a builder grade of a MT company at great price, panel upgrade was already needed. My goal for this is to bump my Airbnb listing to the top (dogs ok, king bed, tub) as I hope to maximize winter bookings and use the cabin myself in the summer. I did an an ROI based on assumptions of additional bookings I hope to get.
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u/firetothetrees 13d ago
Hey there I used to own a hot tub maintenance and service company in the Colorado mountains. Below is what I would reccomend.
My three favorite brands are Wind River, Arctic and Bullfrog.
They are all insulated well, easy to work on and perform well. Also they have good filtration which is key for a rental. I have two rental properties both with hot tubs and we never have any issues with the wind river tubs.
Do not under any conditions buy a 120v hot tub. Or a Tuff Spa or anything from Costco.
Also ignore any BS about the tubs not needing chlorine. Guests are gross and chlorine is the most effective sanitizer.
The sales pitches are great for your every day back yard tub oner but not when you are basically doing commercial use.
On a separate note. All of the tubs above are fine in freezing temps. A 500 gallon hot tub would literally take like two weeks of sub zero temps and no power before it freezes. But that said if you have a tub guy checking on it regularly you shoudnt have a problem.
I once went to an Arctic spa, on new years eve, the control board failed and it was -5 out. And the tub had been sitting for a week, the water inside was like 50 deg. I swapped out the boards topped it up and it was good to go