Getting a Hot Tub Out of the Lanai and Into Its Next Home

A hot tub move is part electrical job, part plumbing job and part heavy lift. In Southwest Florida it often starts inside a screened lanai, which makes access the first thing to plan.

Get a Free Quote · Call 941-273-6928

Hot tubs are heavy, wide and wired into the house, and most of them sit in places that were never designed to be exits: screened lanais, pool cages, fenced side yards and patios behind the garage. Before anyone picks up a dolly, three questions need answers. Who will disconnect the power, how will the tub get out, and where exactly is it going?

Start with the electrical disconnect. Most full-size hot tubs are hardwired to a dedicated circuit with a disconnect box near the tub. Hire a licensed electrician to shut off the circuit, disconnect the tub and make the old wiring safe. You will need an electrician again at the new home to connect it to a properly rated circuit. Book both appointments early, because electricians get busy, especially after storms.

Drain the tub a few days before the move. Use the drain valve or a submersible pump, remove the filters, and wipe out standing water. Leaving the cover off in the sun for a day or two helps it dry. A tub that still has water in the plumbing is heavier and can leak inside the truck. Check your community's rules on where drain water can go, especially if you use chemicals.

Know the weight and the dimensions. An empty hot tub is still a heavy load. The manufacturer's spec sheet lists dry weight and dimensions, and you need both. Measure the tub's width when turned on its side, because that is how it usually travels.

Now plan the route. In a lot of Southwest Florida homes, the tub is inside a screened pool cage or lanai. Screen doors are usually too narrow for a hot tub on its side, so one or more screen panels may need to be removed and replaced afterward. Plan for that with a screen repair company if you do not want to do it yourself. Look at side yards, gates, AC units, pool equipment and landscaping between the tub and the driveway. A tub that fits through a gate on paper may not clear an AC condenser or a fence post.

The move itself usually involves tipping the tub onto its side onto a spa dolly or a sled, strapping it, and rolling it along a protected path. Pavers, pool decks and soft ground need plywood. Several people are needed to control the tip and keep the tub from twisting. For tight backyards, some owners use a crane service to lift the tub over the house or cage, which is a specialist job with its own costs and permissions.

Prepare the new location before moving day. A hot tub needs a level, solid base, such as a concrete pad or a support system designed for spas, and power within reach. If you live in an HOA community, check whether an outdoor spa needs approval before you place it.

When to hire a spa mover: if the tub is large, the route is tight, or a crane might be involved, a hot tub specialist is the right call. Many homeowners pair a spa mover for the tub with a regular moving crew for the rest of the house on the same schedule.

Flamingo Moving handles residential and local moves across Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties and can coordinate the household move around your hot tub plan. Call 941-273-6928 for a free written quote.

What's included

Licensed electrician disconnect and reconnect
Drain, remove filters, dry the shell
Measure tub on its side versus every gate and screen door
Plan screen panel removal in pool cages
Level pad and power ready at the new home

Working around pool cages and lanais

Screened enclosures are the biggest obstacle in Southwest Florida hot tub moves. Look at where the tub can exit with the least disruption, usually the panel closest to the driveway or side yard. Take photos of the screen before work starts so it can be restored. If the tub has to cross the pool deck, protect the surface and keep everyone clear of the pool edge while the tub is on its side.

Timing around weather

Summer afternoons in Southwest Florida bring heat and frequent storms, which make outdoor heavy lifting harder and slicker. Morning moves are safer. During hurricane season, from June 1 to November 30, avoid leaving a disconnected tub or loose cover outside if a storm is forecast, and secure the cover or store it indoors. Build a spare day into the schedule so the electrician, the spa mover and the rest of the move are not all squeezed into one afternoon.

What to do with a hot tub you are not keeping

If the tub is old or the new home has no space, moving it may cost more than it is worth. You can sell it to a buyer who handles the removal, or arrange removal and disposal. Ask whether it can be cut apart on site, which makes removal from a pool cage much simpler than moving a whole shell.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an electrician to move a hot tub?

For a hardwired tub, yes. A licensed electrician should disconnect it at the old home and connect it to a proper circuit at the new one.

How long before the move should I drain the hot tub?

A few days ahead gives it time to drain and dry, which reduces weight and prevents leaks during transport.

Will the pool cage screen need to come off?

Often, yes. Screen doors are usually too narrow for a tub on its side, so a panel may need to be removed and rescreened afterward.

Can Flamingo Moving move my hot tub?

Call 941-273-6928 with the tub's size and photos of the access. We will tell you if it fits our crew or recommend a spa specialist, and quote the rest of the move.

Loading & unloading help from Flamingo Moving