Hot Tub Removal Prep: What to Do Before We Show Up in Boise

A lot of people getting a hot tub removed aren't sure whether they're supposed to do anything first. Often the spa is still full, the breaker's still on, and the side gate is narrower than the tub.

We can usually still work with that. But a little prep saves time, and time is most of what you're paying for. Here's what I'd tell anyone in Boise or elsewhere in the Treasure Valley before we come haul one away.

Drain it a couple of days early

A full hot tub holds a lot of water, and water is heavy. Nobody is lifting or cutting up a spa that's still half full.

Most tubs drain through a spigot near the bottom of the cabinet. Hook up a garden hose and let gravity do it. If yours drains slowly, a small submersible pump from the rental shop speeds things up. Either way, give it a few hours.

So where does the water go? Not the gutter. Whatever runs down the street ends up in the storm drain, and around Boise a lot of that heads toward the river.

Stop adding chemicals a few days ahead and leave the cover off so the chlorine can break down. Then let it soak slowly into the lawn or a flower bed. Your grass will probably be fine with it.

Kill the power the right way

This is the one step I really don't want you to skip.

Most hot tubs run on a dedicated 240-volt circuit. There's usually a disconnect box on the wall of the house a few feet from the tub. Shut off the breaker in your main panel and flip the disconnect too. Both of them.

We check it ourselves before anyone touches a wire. Still, if you can't tell which breaker it is, or the wiring looks like somebody's weekend project from twenty years ago, have an electrician cap it off first. It's a short visit and worth every minute.

Heads up: If you're planning a hot tub removal in the fall or winter, drain it before the first hard freeze. Water left in the lines can crack them, and a tub full of ice can't be pumped out. In the Treasure Valley that freeze can show up by late October.

Measure the way out before hot tub removal day

This part surprises people. A hot tub doesn't leave the way your patio furniture does.

Smaller tubs can often be tipped on their side and carried out whole. When that works, it's the tub's height, not its width, that has to squeeze through the gate. Grab a tape measure and check your tightest spot. That might be the side gate, the gap between the house and the fence, or a set of steps.

If it won't fit, that's fine. We cut it down right there and carry it out in pieces.

That's normal for bigger spas. It's also common in the newer subdivisions in Meridian, Kuna and Star, where the houses sit close and the side yards are narrow. It just takes a bit longer, so it's nice to know going in.

While you're back there, move whatever's in the way. Planters, the grill, the kids' bikes. Put the dog inside and unlock the gate. If a sprinkler head sits right in the walkway, stick a flag in it so nobody steps on it.

Decide what's leaving with it

It's rarely just the tub.

There's the cover, which is usually waterlogged and a lot heavier than it looks. The steps. The cover lifter bolted to the side. Sometimes there's a whole deck built around it, or an old gazebo that sheltered it.

Tell us about all of it when you call. The price depends on what's actually going and how it's getting out. A small tub that rolls out whole is a quick job. A big spa sunk into a cedar deck is a much bigger afternoon, and the estimate reflects that.

What about the concrete pad underneath? Some folks keep it for a patio or a future shed. Others want it gone. Either is fine. Just mention it early so nobody's guessing on the day.

Can any of it be reused?

Honestly, not much. Donation spots like Idaho Youth Ranch and St. Vincent de Paul generally aren't set up for used hot tubs, and an old spa has little resale value once the pump or heater quits.

If yours still runs, try listing it for free first. Someone in Nampa or Caldwell might be glad to come get it. If nobody bites after a week or two, it's probably time to have it hauled.

What hot tub removal day actually looks like

We look over the setup, confirm the power's off and decide whether it leaves whole or in sections.

If we're cutting, we break down the shell and cabinet, bag the insulation foam and carry it all out. Metal parts get recycled when we can. The rest goes to the Ada County Landfill out at Hidden Hollow.

Then we sweep up. You'll probably have a dead square of grass or a bare pad. What you won't have is foam bits blowing around the yard for the next month.

Whoever does the removal, handling the water, the power and the path ahead of time will make it go faster and usually cost you less.

Bottom line: Drain it a few days early, shut off the power at both the panel and the disconnect, measure your gate and clear the path. Do those four things and the removal goes a lot more smoothly.

If you're in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle or anywhere nearby and want a free estimate, call or text us at (208) 912-7550. Send a couple of photos of the tub and the way out, and we'll tell you how we'd handle it.