Year-round outdoor whirlpool

An inflatable whirlpool is a summer thing. One layer, 2 kW of heating, and in frost the manufacturer advises against it themselves – the water would freeze and the liner would split.

A year-round whirlpool solves three things the inflatable one does not have:

• Insulation in several layers – PU foam on the shell, insulation around the frame and cladding with reflective foil. Heat does not escape through the walls into the frost.
• A lockable thermal cover – it holds the heat while you are not bathing, and that is ninety per cent of the time.
• 3 kW heating with circulation – the water keeps moving, so it does not freeze even during a long cold spell.

You see the difference on the electricity bill. We worked it through in What a whirlpool costs to run.

The base. A level surface that carries the whirlpool full of water with people in it – around two tonnes for a six-seater. A concrete slab, paving on a compacted sub-base, or a terrace with sufficient load capacity. Details in Where to put a hot tub.

Power. A 400 V connection with its own breaker and an RCD, wired by a qualified electrician – that is a condition of both the warranty and your insurance.

Access. The whirlpool is delivered in one piece. We need a route at least 20 cm wider than the unit, and space for a crane or enough hands.