Here's a picture of the Jacuzzi hot tub that came with a cabin we bought a few years ago near Chicago. It's indoors but we're thinking we'd rather have it outdoors.

Can this tub be used out doors, or would we have to buy a different type? My wife thinks that since it's shell is wood that'll rot.

In general, what are all the issues we should be aware of if/when we have a tub outdoors? The cabin is only used every couple weeks in the winter so freezing is a concern. With all the trees and animals I'm wondering how much of a hassle that'll be. It's currently set up for 110VAC so I'm wondering if it has to be converted to 220VAC.

Any advice out there?

Thanks,
Mike

You're both right. Yes, you can put it outdoors, and yes it will rot. So to speak. It'll be like any other wood furniture outdoors. You'll need to keep a fresh coat of stain on it and maybe seal it (and the tiles) once in a while. It will weather, the cover will get stained and eventually dry rot or take on water. All kinds of things that will happen to it when it gets outside, but it is a tub that would normally be placed outside.

When you say it's only used every couple of weeks in the winter, you mean it doesn't get used at all during the rest of the year or that in winter it gets less use than usual?

It gets used about once a week in the summer, and once a month in the winter (Northern Illinois, near Galena).

I don't know much about hot tubs so forgive the dumb questions. Is there an indoor vs outdoor version, or are they all designed for outdoor use?

Thanks

Most "portable" hot tubs are made to used outside. Tubs that aren't made for outside use tend to be built in units like garden tubs/whirlpools.

My concern with it not getting much use is more chemical than anything else. The more your water balance gets out of whack the more likely you are to have a bad motor seal or something that could lead to worse issues like freeze damage. You'd still have issues if it were inside since you could potentially get water all over the cabin if a seal went out while it was vacant.

In short, there's no problem with putting it outside. Like I said, that's where most of the ones like yours live.