I live in SC and my husband and I are filling in the inground pool and decided to buy 2 clawfoot tubs for the porch. The hot water heater will be located on the slab, next to the house wall, 20 feet from the tubs, (the pool filter use to sit on it}. It will be out in the rain. How would you suggest we enclose the 80 gallon water heater to keep the rain off but still have access to it? Thanks in advance, Tawnya

Will this be electric or gas heater? I am not sure why you want to go to the expense of a second heater when you could just run pipes out to the tubs. Have you thought about a hot tub instead?

It will be an electric heater. Our heater for the house is too small... 40 gallons. We had a hot tub in the past... after two years we had to replace the heating unit and the control pad. The cover fell apart! Then we had a gazillion tree frogs... it was like basking in frog soup! Tried everything to get rid of them.. we did go to Rec Warehouse to consider the hot tub again, but for $6,000 and no improvement in the designs from 10 years ago, we decided to go with the clawfoot tubs. The plus is we can add oils or bubbles and NO chemicals... fresh water every time! 2 can snuggle in one and..! Or one can enjoy peaceful alone time filling only one tub.

Why not put the 80 gallon inside your home and do away with the old 40?

The 40 is only 1 year old and I really want my hot tub heater outside.