How To Get Rid Of A Hot Tub

Hot tubs are a great way to relax and soothe your muscles after a long day at work or a tough workout. What is not relaxing is the thought of breaking down and removing your hot tub or spa on your own.

Not only is the process very labor intensive, but once you have the hot tub broken apart you need to think about where to haul the pieces. Will they fit in your car or truck? Where do you bring them to responsibly dispose of the various parts?

Learn More About Hot Tubs:

Why do You Need Hot Tub Removal?
What is Hot Tub Removal?
Your Other Options for Hot Tub Removal
Old Hot Tubs and the Dump
Hot Tub Recycling
Hot Tub, Spa or Jacuzzi?
Hot Tub Removal FAQs
Hot Tub Removal Service

Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly hot tub removal service so you don't need to worry about the pick up or disposal of that old tub. We do it all - simply show us where the old hot tub is and our removal pros will break it down and carry it to our specialized truck. Not only that, but we make sure that your old spa ends up in the right place; in some cases a recycling facility to ensure your tub is disposed of in an eco-friendly way.

Ready to get rid of your hot tub? It's as simple as 1, 2, 3. You make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1-888-888-JUNK (5865). Our professional and insured hot tub removal team will show up at your home or office; we call 15 minutes before we arrive on site and we'll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You point and we haul those items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.

You point and we haul those items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees. tweet this

Whatever you call it: hot tub, spa or Jacuzzi, we're the pros who will make sure you can relax while we do the hard work.

Not only are we hot tub disposal pros, we specialize in all sorts of junk removal including:

Television Removal
Furniture Removal
Yard Waste Removal
Trash Removal
Mattress Disposal
Refrigerator Disposal & Recycling
Construction Waste Removal
E-Waste Disposal
Foreclosure Cleanouts
Garbage Removal
Dumpster Rental Alternative
And just about anything else you don't want!

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Why Do You Need Hot Tub Removal?

Hot tubs don't last forever and eventually you'll want to purchase a new, improved tub or spa. And, while this is a great idea, you still have the old one to get rid of. And that is not an easy task, especially as a DIY project. They are far too big to simply pick up and carry off to the dump. And you can't drag it out to the curb for the garbage truck to take away for you!

The number of hot tubs, spas and Jacuzzis being sold in the U.S. has been increasing almost every year since about 2011, according to resources in the hot tub and spa industry. With the latest improvements and new features such as swim spas, sales are expected to continue to increase. A growing number of these new customers are buying spas and hot tubs to use for hydrotherapy or to treat other physical ailments.

And, since the "shelf life" of an average hot tub is about 10 years, there's a large batch of old ones that are destined to be gotten rid of soon. tweet this

There are more than 7.3 million hot tubs in operation in the U.S., according to a study conducted by Pool and Spa Marketing. And, since the "shelf life" of an average hot tub is about 10 years, there's a large batch of old ones that are destined to be gotten rid of soon.

One source reports that,

"Inexpensive hot tubs that are not constructed with quality materials may last only about five years. At the other end, hot tubs made with high-quality materials that also typically come with a long warranty and a high price tag, can last 20 years or more. Mid-grade hot tubs have an average lifespan of around 10 years."

That also means a massive number of old hot tubs are being disposed of across the country. Which is why hot tub removal is a task that should be handled professionally.

The question now is how do you remove and dispose of the old hot tub? tweet this

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What is Hot Tub Removal?

So, your old hot tub has finally bubbled it's last. Or perhaps you have decided to get a brand new replacement. The question now is how do you remove and dispose of the old hot tub? It is probably quickly apparent that hot tub removal is a project, not a task!

It should be fairly obvious that a hot tub or spa is far too big to leave on your curb next to your household garbage. Besides, your residential waste management pick up service is not going to take it anyway. So what do you do with your old hot tub, spa or jacuzzi now that you've bought a new one?

You could try selling it to a neighbor or even online, but how long is that going to take to find a buyer? You probably need to be rid of it sooner than that. Perhaps donating it might be an option but, unlike a refrigerator, washer or dryer, there's probably not much demand for a used hot tub as a donated item.

Usually, the best thing to do is to simply have large junk items like hot tubs professionally removed, hauled away and properly disposed of.

This is a reasonable choice considering that many places in the U.S. have enacted Zero Waste initiatives and Landfill Diversion goals designed to increase local recycling efforts and reduce overall waste and landfill use. In other words, even if you could manage to get the thing out of your backyard, into a truck and off to a landfill it probably wouldn't be accepted there.

There are other good reasons for professional hot tub removal, as well. Keep in mind that you have will have to carry your hot tub out of your yard and then you still need to figure out what to do with it. Since most cities don't allow large appliance items to be left on the curb you may only have the option of a special appliance pick up service on a limited schedule. And you still have to do all the heavy lifting!

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Your Other Options for Hot Tub Removal

Here are a number of other options that can even provide a new home for your old appliance:

Sell your hot tub

A hot tub or spa can certainly be sold if it's clean and in good working condition. But, while you might make some money from it, it's still going to be a major project to get your hot tub out of your yard and into someone else's. There are, however, a number of online sites and apps to help you get that trusty old spa on the market.

Give it away

Is your old hot tub or jacuzzi still nice enough for someone else to use? If so, you can always offer it to a friend, a neighbor or a local charity that could make use of it at a facility of some kind. Reuse is always a better option than disposal. In addition, you'll be making someone else happy and relaxed!

Repurpose it

While scrap metal buyers can be a good option some of the fittings and motor parts, there is little else aside from the cover that can be sold as scrap. However, the tub itself can be reused as a fish pond or even a kid's wading pool. With a little work and a little imagination your old tub can repurposed for an extended life.

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Old Hot Tubs and the Dump

Assuming you have decided to take on your hot tub disposal challenge yourself and have successfully dismantled and loaded up your old unit, what do you do with it? Before taking it to your local landfill, consider that many municipalities have strict guidelines for the disposal of appliances, including hot tubs and spas. In fact, it is quite likely that they won't accept it at all.

In fact, it is quite likely that they [the municipal dump] won't accept your hot tub at all. tweet this

In fact, disposing of any appliance at a public landfill is often only permitted if it qualifies for certain recycling requirements. But even that might not be an option depending on where you live, considering that, as of 2017, at least 22 states had banned appliances from their landfills. These include Massachusetts, New York, California, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

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According to the EPA website,

"Some municipalities require you to make an appointment for bulky item collection. Others require you to haul items to a transfer station or landfill (your municipality can direct you to a solid waste contractor for more information)."

In some facilities the disposed appliances are landfilled as a whole unit, without being shredded or removing durable components. Generally speaking, it's never a good idea to opt for the landfill or local dump when getting rid of you old hot tub.

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Hot Tub Recycling

If you simply need to get rid of your old hot tub or spa and don't want it to end up in the waste stream, recycling it's components is a great option. And the easiest way to do this is to have a professional junk hauling firm pick it up and take care of it for you.

At Junk King, being eco-friendly is a major priority with us. We're the greenest large junk removal service, and we work to keep it that way! We recycle or donate most appliances we take, including hot tubs, by using our own recycling facilities or other local drop-off centers.

Junk King's recycling process will keep your old hot tubs from ending up in a landfill or junk yard. tweet this

For hot tubs and other large junk appliance items, we will disassemble the units or take the equipment to an industrial recycling processor for safe, clean, energy-efficient repurposing. Junk King's recycling process will keep your old hot tubs from ending up in a landfill or junk yard.

Once the appliance is dismantled, the reusable parts can be recovered. Recycling your hot tub, spa or Jacuzzi helps keep substantial amounts of metal, plastic, and fiberglass out of landfills while reducing the need for extracting or producing raw materials.

Junk King can usually handle the removal and recycling of any and all appliances. In fact, Junk King can haul away more appliance items than anyone else and our junk removal contractors use various methods to dispose of appliance items.

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Hot Tubs, Spas or Jacuzzis?

For most folks who have never used or owned one of these, it is typical to refer to everything with hot water as a "hot tub." And, although that's not an issue for most folks, if you're in the market to upgrade or replace yours, or especially if you're buying your first unit, it's important to know and understand the distinction between these terms.

With that in mind, here's a handy definition from an article at PoolandSpa.com,

"What is the difference between a spa, hot tub Jacuzzi and whirlpool?

A. Basically, the word "spa" is used to describe any one of a number of jetted, heated, water-filled tubs. According to Webster's Dictionary, a spa is defined as "a celebrated watering place in Belgium; any place, especially a resort, having a mineral spring."

Most "spas" are made out of either fiberglass or acrylic. Acrylic spas are, by far, the better of the two types and will provide longer life and service to their owners.

"Hot tubs" are made of wood, sometimes with a liner set inside. They can provide you with that "jet action", but without the contoured seating acrylic spas offer.

A "whirlpool", the way the word is commonly used, refers to any spa or hot tub's circular "water action". Remember, a "Jacuzzi" is not a generic name for spas. Jacuzzi is a company that makes "whirlpool baths" and spas. Any spa or hot tub will provide you with this "whirlpool action" of the water."

Regardless of what you call yours, however, the biggest chore facing you when bringing home your new appliance is disposing of your old one!

If you've owned your spa, Jacuzzi or hot tub for a while, you already know it's a great way to take off the evening chill and enjoy a glass of wine or relax after a long day at work. In addition, hot tubs and spas are great places to entertain guests or family in a fun and relaxing atmosphere.

And, even though maintaining a hot tub can be a lot of work, most owners can't imagine ever living without one after having had one for a period of time.

Unfortunately, if you've decided that it's time to replace it, you may already know that it's going to be difficult to break down and remove that old hot tub or spa by yourself.

A typical hot tub makes removal and disposal a very labor intensive process because of its size and its construction. For starters, the sheer size and bulk of the tub usually requires cutting it into smaller sections to remove it from your yard or your deck.

The skirting, base and all the connections and components must be dismantled or disassembled and removed even prior to cutting the tub portion down into manageable pieces. Finally, all of the pieces, parts and debris must be gathered up and carried from the yard and out to the street.

Once you do have it [your hot tub] removed, you have to have an efficient method for both transporting and disposing of all those parts. tweet this

Once you do have it removed, you have to have an efficient method for both transporting and disposing of all those parts. And, unless you have a truck or suitable trailer - or access to one - this can be a problem.

As we've already noted, you really can't just throw it all into your residential trash can, even if it could fit. And you probably shouldn't use your dumpster at work, if there is one, since so many components need to be properly disposed of. Some of the elements might contain hazardous material, for example.

So, what might have seemed like a simple matter of putting your old hot tub into a truck and hauling it off to the closest landfill, turns out not to be a simple DIY task. And, for many people, this is not a feasible option for a number of reasons.

The first is usually the unavailability of a suitable vehicle. Then there is the lack of disposal options. But for others, just the task of trying to break down, dismantle and cut down a hot tub is more than they either are capable of or want to tackle. In other words, for many people old hot tub disposal would never be a DIY project.

So, the question becomes "How do you dispose of your old hot tub efficiently?"

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Hot Tub Disposal FAQs

Do I need to empty out my hot tub before you pick it up?

We recommend you drain all water and disconnect any hoses which may connect to your hot tub. Do you know how to drain the water from your hot tub? The first thing you must do is attach a garden hose to the hot tub's bottom drain spout and check that is connected firmly. Open the spigot and allow the tub to drain.

Do I need to disconnect my hot tub before you haul it away?

Junk King recommends you disconnect your hot tub before we arrive. The first thing you should do is turn off the heater on the side of the hot tub, and switch it off at the main supply. If you are not sure, contact your local plumber. Second locate the circuit breaker for the hot tub and turn it off. If your hot tub has electric air blowers, turn the circuit breaker back on and replace the spa cover. The next thing is to turn on the blower and let it run for a minute. If the water won't drain through the spigot, use a shop vacuum to clean up the leftover water.

Will a hot tub fit in one of your trucks?

When you call the professional hot tub removal and disposal professionals at Junk King you receive a full service hot tub removal and disposal service. Junk King has developed specialized system to remove and dispose of your old hot tub or bathtub. Regardless of how large or small you hot tub may be, our team has the tools and the trucks to remove and dispose of the hot tub waste and debris. Call today and schedule a time for our crews to stop by and pick-up that old hot tub.

How much notice do I need to schedule a hot tub removal pick-up?

Most people wanted us yesterday but we offer same-day service or the very next day. Call today and schedule a pickup time for your local Junk King franchise to haul away your hold hot tub.

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Hot Tub Removal Service

Junk King is proud to be North America's greenest hot tub removal service. We pioneered recycling-based junk removal in 2005 and have been going green ever since. We sort each and every job for metals, e-waste, paper, household goods, textiles, furniture and appliances, in our recycling warehouses.

But "going green" also means we donate, repurpose, and reuse everything from clothing, toys, baby cribs and strollers to office furniture and supplies. We run many of our trucks run on biodiesel, a domestically produced fuel made from more environmentally safe non-petroleum, renewable resources. Junk King is committed to continuing to lead the way to help keep our planet clean, green and beautiful for our generations to come.

Ready to remove that old hot tub?

It's as simple as 1, 2, 3. You make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1-888-888-JUNK (5865). Our professional and insured appliance removal team will show up at your home or office; we call 15 minutes before we arrive on site and we'll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You point and we haul those items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.