How to Dispose of a Hot Tub or Spa

A hot tub seemed like a great idea when it was installed. Fast forward a few years, and it is cracked, leaking, too expensive to maintain, or simply not being used. Now you have an 800-pound fiberglass, acrylic, and wood structure sitting in your backyard that cannot be picked up whole by any reasonable means.

Hot tub removal is one of the more involved disposal tasks a homeowner faces. These units are too large to move in one piece through most yard gates, too heavy for a standard truck, and built from materials that do not break apart easily. Here is how to handle it.

Option 1: Professional Removal Service

For most homeowners, hiring a professional junk removal service is the most practical option. A crew arrives with the tools and manpower to disassemble the hot tub on-site, carry the pieces out, load them into their truck, and handle disposal.

What Professional Removal Includes

• Disconnection: The crew disconnects electrical wiring (after you have had an electrician cut power at the breaker, which is recommended)
• Disassembly: Using reciprocating saws, they cut the shell, cabinet, and frame into manageable pieces
• Hauling: All pieces are loaded and removed from your property
• Disposal: Materials are taken to an appropriate disposal or recycling facility
• Cleanup: The area where the hot tub sat is left clean (though you may want to plan for the concrete pad or deck beneath it)

Cost Factors

• Size of the hot tub: A two-person tub is significantly less work than an eight-person model
• Accessibility: Ground level with easy truck access is cheapest. If the hot tub is on a raised deck, behind a narrow gate, or requires crane access, costs increase
• Built-in vs portable: Built-in spas with surrounding decking or concrete are more complex than portable freestanding units
• Location: Portland metro area pricing may be slightly higher than mid-valley or Eugene-Springfield

Expect to pay $300 to $600 for a standard portable hot tub with good access, and $500 to $800+ for larger or harder-to-reach units.

Option 2: DIY Disassembly

If you are handy and want to save money, you can disassemble a hot tub yourself. Be warned: this is a full-day project that requires the right tools and a reasonable comfort level with demolition work.

Tools You Will Need

• Reciprocating saw (Sawzall) with demolition blades
• Drill or impact driver
• Pry bar
• Heavy work gloves and safety glasses
• Steel-toed boots recommended
• A vehicle to haul the pieces (truck or trailer, multiple trips likely)

Step-by-Step Process

1. Disconnect power: Have an electrician disconnect the hot tub from the electrical panel, or at minimum turn off the breaker and verify no power is flowing
2. Drain completely: Use the drain valve or a submersible pump. A standard hot tub holds 300 to 500 gallons. Direct water to a storm-safe area or your lawn (avoid draining chemically treated water directly into storm drains)
3. Remove the cabinet panels: The wood or composite siding is usually screwed or stapled to a frame. Remove these panels first.
4. Remove internal components: Pull out the pump, heater, filter housing, and plumbing. These can be recycled as scrap metal.
5. Cut the shell: Use the reciprocating saw to cut the acrylic or fiberglass shell into pieces small enough to fit in your vehicle. Cut in straight lines to create manageable sections.
6. Break down the frame: The wood or metal frame comes apart with a combination of cutting and prying.
7. Remove foam insulation: Hot tubs are filled with spray foam insulation between the shell and cabinet. This creates significant volume of waste. Bag it up.
8. Haul to transfer station: Load the pieces and make one or more trips to your nearest transfer station.

Plan for 4 to 8 hours of work and two or three trips to the dump. Total cost for DIY removal runs $50 to $150 in dump fees plus blade costs, compared to $300 to $800 for professional service.

Option 3: Sell or Give Away

If your hot tub still works, someone may want it:

• Facebook Marketplace: List it for sale or free pickup. Working hot tubs, even older ones, attract interest. Be clear about condition and dimensions.
• Craigslist: The "free" section on Craigslist is active in Portland, Eugene, and Salem. A free working hot tub will usually get claimed within days.
• OfferUp: Another marketplace option popular in Oregon.

Reality check: The buyer or taker is responsible for disconnection, removal, and transport. Moving a hot tub requires a truck, a trailer or crane, and usually four or more people. Many "I will take it" responses fall through when people realize what is involved. Be patient and vet responders.

Option 4: Rent a Dumpster

If you are disassembling the hot tub yourself and do not have a truck for hauling, renting a dumpster is an alternative. A 10-yard or 15-yard dumpster placed in your driveway gives you a place to toss pieces as you work.

Dumpster rental runs $300 to $500 for a 3 to 5 day rental in Oregon, which makes this option similar in cost to professional removal but with you doing all the labor. It makes the most sense if you are combining hot tub demolition with other cleanout work.

Preparing for Hot Tub Removal

Regardless of which option you choose, take these preparation steps:

1. Drain the hot tub at least 24 hours before removal. A full hot tub weighs 3,000 to 6,000 pounds. It must be empty.
2. Disconnect electrical power. Ideally, have a licensed electrician disconnect the wiring at the panel. At minimum, turn off the dedicated breaker.
3. Clear the path. Make sure the crew or your helpers have a clear route from the hot tub to the truck. Move patio furniture, planters, and anything else that is in the way.
4. Check gate width. Measure your yard gate. If it is less than 36 inches wide, the hot tub cannot be moved out whole (which is the case for most homes). This is why disassembly is almost always required.
5. Plan for the pad. Once the hot tub is gone, you will have a concrete pad, gravel base, or reinforced deck section. Decide in advance what you want to do with that space.

What Can Be Recycled from a Hot Tub?

• Pump, heater, and metal components: These are scrap metal and can be recycled at any scrap yard
• Wood cabinet and frame: Clean untreated wood can be recycled or composted. Treated wood goes to landfill.
• Copper wiring: Has scrap value and is recyclable
• Acrylic shell: Some recyclers accept acrylic. Check with your local facility.
• Foam insulation: Generally not recyclable and goes to landfill

Cost Breakdown: Hot Tub Disposal