An old hot tub is one of the hardest things to get rid of. Most weigh hundreds of pounds empty, they're often wired straight into your home's electrical panel, and they rarely fit through a gate in one piece. Curbside trash pickup usually won't touch them.
The good news: you have options. Here's how to get an old hot tub out of your yard, and what happens to it afterward.
Your options for getting rid of a hot tub
- Sell it. If it still heats, holds water and the cover is in decent shape, someone may buy it. Expect the buyer to want a low price, since they'll have to move it themselves.
- Give it away. Listing it as free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist can work. Be ready for no-shows, and for people who show up without enough help or a big enough trailer.
- Tear it down yourself. It's possible with a reciprocating saw, a free weekend and a trailer. But it's heavy, messy work, and there's fiberglass, wiring and foam to deal with. You'll still need to haul the pieces to the right places.
- Hire a junk removal company. A crew does the dismantling, loading and cleanup, and takes care of disposal and recycling. Have a licensed electrician safely disconnect any hardwired electrical supply first. For most people, this is the easiest and safest option.
Before removal day
A little prep makes hot tub removal faster and safer:
- Drain the water. Use the drain valve or a submersible pump, and empty it a day or two ahead so it has time to dry out.
- Shut off the power. Turn off the breaker for the hot tub. Most hot tubs are hardwired on their own circuit, so have a licensed electrician disconnect the wiring and cap it safely.
- Clear the path. Move patio furniture, planters and anything else between the hot tub and the driveway. Unlock gates.
- Remove the cover and steps. These can go with the tub, but setting them aside first makes the job easier.
How we remove a hot tub
- Free in-person estimate. Call or text us, and we'll send an experienced team member out to look at the hot tub. We'll check its size, where it sits and the path out, then give you a free, no-obligation quote.
- Schedule a time. Pick a time that works for you. You don't have to be home, but we always enjoy meeting our customers if you can be.
- Cut it down on site. Sometimes a hot tub won't fit out the way it came in. Maybe the patio or porch has a new screen enclosure, or the backyard has a new fence or gate. When that happens, we cut the tub into manageable sections right there, after safe electrical disconnection.
- Load and haul. Our crew carries every piece to the truck. There's no dragging across your lawn and no heavy lifting for you.
- Clean up. We pick up debris, foam and screws so the spot is ready for whatever comes next, whether that's a patio, a garden or just more yard.
What happens to your old hot tub
We keep as much of it out of the landfill as we can:
- Pumps, motors and heaters go to metal recycling.
- Metal frames and hardware are recycled as scrap.
- Wood cabinets in good condition can be reused. The rest is disposed of properly.
- Working tubs or parts are donated or passed along when possible.
Only what can't be reused or recycled goes to disposal.
Hot tub removal across Alachua County
We've removed hot tubs for homeowners in Gainesville, Alachua and High Springs. Some were on backyard patios and some were built into decks. Others sat in tight spots behind narrow gates. Every setup is a little different, and our crew has handled all of them.
We also serve Newberry, Archer, Hawthorne, Micanopy and the surrounding areas.
Get a free estimate
Ready to get your yard back? Jamrock Junk Removal is a licensed and insured, family-owned business. We dispose of every hot tub in an eco-friendly way, recycling whenever we can.
Call or text (352) 682-3734.
Estimates are always free, with no obligation.