Hot Tub Capacity - Splashy Home

There are several things that can be considered a hot tub capacity. A number of people that can jump in and have nice relaxation moments are one kind of a hot tub capacity. This is the way how people that do not own a hot tub see a hot tub capacity. For them, some hot tubs are bigger, some are smaller, some can fit up to three, four, or six people. But owners of a hot tub have something else on their mind when they think of hot tub capacity. They always think gallons. For them, it is the only measure they use for hot tub capacity.

Why Is Hot Tub Capacity Important

Safety First

The most important reason to know the capacity of your hot tub is your safety. Having a hot tub requires you to have basic knowledge about the chemicals needed to keep your water hygienically clean and clear. These chemicals kill bacteria and break down organic waste that may be found in your hot tub. The amount of chemicals that you should add to your hot tub is always determined per gallon of water. Very often you can see instructions saying to set chlorine level to 3ppm add 1 ounce of chemical per 500 gallons of water. To use hot tub chemicals you have to know the volume of your hot tub in gallons. Then you need to know how to calculate the amount of chemicals needed for your hot tub precisely. Otherwise, you will not achieve the level of chemicals that make your hot tub safe to use.

It is not just the amount of chemicals that depends on how many gallons you can fit into your hot tub.

Hot tub capacity is important for pretty much everything that is related to your hot tub. This is not hard to understand. Of course, the price at retailers is higher for bigger hot tubs. The price for a luxurious six-person hot tub is several times higher than a basic two-person model. And it is not just the price. Bigger hot tubs need stronger pumps and heaters. Bigger models consume more chemicals. Heaters consume more power. Also, maintenance of bigger hot tubs is more expensive. Transportation and installation are also more expensive and should be taken into your calculation of how much does a hot tub costs you.

You should think of these factors before you decide which model of a hot tub will become your aqua oasis. If you go for a big model be assured it is going to be costly. The idea of having a nice evening with guests at your home that ends up in a six-person hot tub may be seducing. But there is a price for that. Having a big hot tub is very nice but not so practical. A hot tub is most often used by only one or two persons no matter the capacity. So it may be a good idea, to be honest with yourself about how big a hot tub you really need. The bigger the capacity higher prices to start, the more water, power, and chemicals consumption, the more expensive the maintenance is.

Bigger Hot Tub Weighs A Lot

A bigger hot tub will require more room. You can’t just fit a hot tub anywhere. You need a nice space, adequate to the hot tub capacity. Not just that, with bigger capacity, comes more weight of a hot tub. You should know that the average two-person hot tub weights empty about 500 pounds and over 3000 pounds when filled with water. A six-person hot tub filled with water typically weighs over 6000 pounds. So if you are planning to put your new six-person hot tub on a deck, will the deck hold it when it is fully filled with water? Does your deck need some extra support? If the deck is built to hold 100 pounds per square foot it will hold almost any type of hot tub. Many decks are designed to hold up to 50 pounds per square foot and if you want to put a kind of bigger hot tub on this kind of deck, it may need some extra support underneath.

How To Calculate Your Hot Tub Capacity

Every hot tub manufacturer manual contains information about the capacity of your hot tub. It can happen to everyone to misplace a copy of a manual that came with a hot tube. It is most likely that all themanufacturers provide manuals online for all models they are selling or have been selling since the beginning of the business. So, you know where to find it if you know which models manual you are looking for. If you don’t know the name of the model or manufacturer, look for a label with this information. Every hot tub has at least one. It is usually mounted inside the cabinet where the pumps and engine are located.

If for any reason, you have to calculate the capacity of the hot tub that shouldn’t be a problem, it is easy. And there are various methods. Here are two methods applicable to calculate the capacity in gallons of any hot tub.

Measuring outside dimensions

If your hot tub is square or rectangular measure the length, width, and depth in inches with a measuring tape or measuring stick. If the tub is round measure diameter and depth. For square and rectangular hot tubs multiply the length by the width by the depth. Divide the result by 1.728 and then multiply by 2.4 if the tub has seats, or multiply by 4.8 if there are no seats. The result is how many gallons of water the hot tub holds.

If the tub is round multiply the diameter by the diameter by the depth. Divide the obtained result by 1.728. Then, multiply the result with 2.4 if the tub has seats or multiply by 4.8 if the hot tub has no seats. This is how you calculate the capacity in gallons of the round hot tub.

This method is not so accurate, gives approximate results only but is applicable when the tub is filled with water.

Time Per Gallon

You can get a more accurate result if your tub is drained. Start filling up the tub with a hose and track the time needed to fill it up on a stopwatch. Write down the time when the tub is full. Convert the time into seconds. Take a one-gallon container and fill it up with the same hose and the same water source. Track the time. Convert time to seconds.

Divide the total number of seconds needed to fill the tub by the total number of seconds needed to fill up the one-gallon container. The result is the number of gallons the tub holds.

Gallons Matter

Knowing the number of gallons that your hot tub holds is important for many reasons. All the chemicals you add to the water in your hot tub have to be the right dosage according to the gallons of the water in the tub. Do not add chemicals approximately. If you are not sure how to measure the exact amount of chemicals needed to keep the water hygienically clean and safe to use the best way is to contact a professional. The water with the wrong amount of chemicals may be harmful to anyone who is using the tub.