Hot tub moving

A hot tub is bulky, heavy and often installed in a place that was easy to reach with a crane but is hard to reach by hand. Getting it out of a back yard, through a gate and onto a truck means planning the route before anyone lifts. This is why O'Brien's looks at the tub and the path first.

At a glance

• Back-yard routes, gates and side yards planned in advance
• Moved with the rest of the house or on its own
• Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Lake Tahoe
• Free in-home estimate

Before the move

The tub must be drained, and the water in the lines allowed to run out. The power should be shut off at the breaker by the person who installed it. The cover and steps come off and travel separately. Disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical supply is work for a licensed electrician, and plumbing is also a trade matter; check with the estimator about who handles which part before moving day.

• Drain the tub and open the drain valves
• Have the electrical supply shut off by a qualified person
• Take off the cover, steps and any loose items
• Clear the path from the tub to the gate

Getting it to the truck

Width is the first question: side gates, fence lines, and hedges. Slope is the second, since many tubs sit on a deck or pad. The estimator walks both ends and measures what could pinch. On a Tahoe or Washoe Valley property with steps or a grade, the route may need more crew. That detail goes into the written estimate.

Setting it up at the new address

The new location needs a flat, firm pad, a clear path and a power supply ready before the tub arrives. If the pad is not ready, the tub can wait in the warehouse in Sparks. Having the site prepared first is what keeps a hot tub move to one trip.

Other ways to book

Some customers add the tub to a full household move. Others call only for the tub because they are staying put and swapping to a new model. Either way, the estimate itemizes it. See other specialty items such as pool tables and household appliances, or the local moving page for the rest of a house.