Watkins Hot Spot Owner's Manual - Installation Instructions
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
SITE PREPARATION
You probably have a spot picked out for your new spa, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, on a patio or on a deck. Just make sure you check the
following:
• Always put your spa on a structurally sound, level surface. A filled spa can weigh a great deal. Make certain that the location you choose
can support the weight of your filled spa.
• Don’t forget to level your spa before filling it.
• Locate your equipment compartment, which houses all of the electrical components, in a place where water will drain away from it.
Allowing water into the equipment compartment can damage the electronics, or may result in tripping your house’s circuit breaker.
• Leave yourself easy access to the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) for testing. The GFCI is located at the end of the power cord, or
at the subpanel of a hard-wired spa.
• Never let water get into the subpanel or into the electrical outlet that your spa is plugged into. Consult your local code authority to
determine if an electrical outlet with a cover is required for your installation.
• Leave access to the equipment compartment for periodic spa care and maintenance.
WARNING: Damage to the spa’s equipment compartment components or internal plumbing as a result of rodent infestation is NOT
covered under your warranty!
OUTDOOR AND PATIO INSTALLATION
No matter where you install your new spa, it’s important that you have a solid foundation to support it.
Structural damage to the spa, resulting from incorrect installation or placement on an inadequate foundation,
is not covered under the spa’s limited warranty.
If you install the spa outdoors, we recommend a reinforced concrete pad at least four inches thick. The
reinforcing rod or mesh in the pad should be attached to a bond wire.
DECK INSTALLATION
To be certain your deck can support your spa, you must know the deck’s maximum load capacity. Consult a
qualified building contractor or structural engineer. To find the weight of your spa, its contents and occupants,
refer to the Spa Specifications chart on the back cover. This weight per square foot must not exceed the
structure’s rated capacity, or serious structural damage could result.
INDOOR/BASEMENT INSTALLATION
Be aware of some special requirements if you place your spa indoors. Water will accumulate around the spa, so
flooring materials must provide a good grip when wet. Proper drainage is essential to prevent a build-up of water
around the spa. When building a new room for the spa it is recommended that a floor drain be installed. The
humidity will naturally increase with the spa installed indoors. Water may get into woodwork and produce dry rot,
mildew, or other problems. Check for airborne moisture’s effects on exposed wood, paper, etc. in the room. To
minimize these effects, it is best to provide plenty of ventilation to the spa area. An architect can help to
determine if more ventilation must be installed.
Your spa dealer can help you with local information such as zoning regulations and building codes.
SPA LEVELING PREPARATION
Concrete sloped at 1 inch per 10 feet is preferred so that rain water and water spillover will run off and not puddle underneath the spa (water under
the spa for long periods of time may cause the wood to deteriorate). Other options are brick, stepping stone, or blocks.
It is important to note that soft surfaces, even when stepping stones are used to evenly distribute the weight of the spa, will have a tendency to
settle, thus resulting in an unleveled spa.
NOTE: Placing the spa on grass or dirt may increase the amount of debris which is inadvertently brought into the spa water and may cause harm
to your equipment as well as the spa surface, which is not covered under warranty.
Page 4
Installation Instructions
Slope 1 inch per 10 ft. for proper drainage.
1 inch
10 ft.
Stepping stones or brick may settle
causing the spa to be unlevel.
WARNING
Watkins Manufacturing
Corporation recommends
that the Hot Spot
®
spa be
installed above ground.
Lowering the top of the spa
to ground level, or
employing decking which
raises standing level toward
the top of the spa
substantially increases the
hazard of accidental entry.
Consult a licensed building
contractor to design or
evaluate your custom
decking requirements.