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thespaguy17

When Is My Hot Tub Not Worth Repairing?

Updated: Nov 4, 2021



A common question I get from customers is: when do I say enough is enough? In other words, when am I better off replacing rather than repairing? When does the cost of the repair outweigh the value left in my spa? This is a very good question. No one wants to throw good money after bad, or be penny-wise but pound-foolish, or whatever cliché you want to use. Neither spas nor spa repairs are cheap. So where or how do you draw that line?

First, depending on things like the climate in which the spa is used and how well it has been maintained during its life, the average spa should give you 10-15 years of solid life before one should begin to weigh the cost of some repairs. I believe that if a reputable spa is properly maintained throughout its life, there is no reason one shouldn’t get 20+ years out of it.

There are, however, some things a spa owner can expect to replace at least once, if not 2-3 times over the life of a spa: the heater or heating element, the jet pump(s), the circulation pump (if the spa has one. These usually need replaced several times over the life of a spa), the topside control unit (the interface, or plate with the buttons you push), the filter(s), and the circuit board(s).

Most of these components are accessible through a removable access panel that is almost always located on the same side of the spa as the topside control unit. The accessibility of the components therein is what makes their repair or replacement more affordable. While jet pumps and circuit boards can push upwards of $500, they typically don’t take more than an hour to an hour-and-a-half of labor to replace. If your spa has been well maintained and is in good shape otherwise, I would almost always encourage the replacement or repair of any of the aforementioned spa components when they fail.

The most common, inaccessible type of repair that I perform is leak repair. These repairs can be expensive, not necessarily because of the parts required, but for the time they take. If your spa is recessed into a deck, for example, it may need to be lifted out of its hole for the repair person to be able to access the leak. Needing to move your spa means more time and potentially more labor and, thus, more money.


Even with ample access on all sides of the tub, leaks can still be difficult to locate. Some spas are designed so that only the access panel itself can be removed, which adds to the challenge. In these cases, the siding is typically destroyed in its removal and has to be replaced with new slats or panels upon completion of the repair. With leaks, it doesn't take much for the parts list to grow, or for it to become a 6, 8, or 10+ hour repair.

So, if your spa is showing signs of a leak, and it appears to be dripping, pooling, or running off in an area that would be difficult for someone to access, then consider the age of your spa carefully. If it’s in its final years, you may spend a pretty penny to repair one leak only to find that you have another one to deal with not far down the road. All of the plumbing in the spa is the same age and has been subjected to the same conditions. If one joint is failing, it may be that more will follow sooner than later. This is when the word “money-pit” comes to mind. Still, it is always best to get a professional opinion if you are ever in doubt. I hope this helped. Happy soaking!

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