The Spa Guy

Spa tip: When do I throw in the towel on my hot tub?

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?

1st, depending on things like the climate in which the spa is in use, and how well it has been taken care of during its life, the average spa should give you 10-12 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 during its life, there is no reason one shouldn’t get 20+ years out of it.

These are some of the 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 tend to be accessible through an 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 lends to the overall affordability of their repair or replacement. 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 type of repair that I perform beyond the convenience of the access compartment is leak repair. These repairs can be expensive not necessarily because of the parts involved, but for the time it can take to complete, especially if access is an issue. 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 source of the leak. This means more time and potentially more labor if the spa needs to be significantly moved. Even then, sometimes leaks are hard to find. There can be several hours in just finding and then clearing and prepping the damaged plumbing. Additionally, some spas are not designed to have the side or back panels removed. In these cases, they are typically destroyed in their removal and have to be replaced with new slats or panels. It doesn’t take much for a leak repair to become a 4, 6, or even 8+ hour project, or for the parts list to extend beyond just the leak itself.

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 this 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!

Spas are great, without a doubt. But it helps to understand that, like a sauna or steam room, they are to be enjoyed for shorter rather than longer periods at a time. The hotter you like it, the more conscious you need to be of your soaking time.

All spas are programmed to have a maximum set temperature of 104ºF. Some also allow two degrees of “OT,” or over-temperature setting, so if you like you water really hot, look for spas with this feature. Remember, though, that when the water gets really hot, the body works really hard to fend off over heating. If it didn’t, your body would heat to the temperature of the water it’s in. If the water is 106º, that’s like having a fever of 106º, clearly not healthy!

If you are new to spas, try setting it to 102ºF. But get one. Because they’re awesome. Most come with a 3 to 5 year warranty, and most dealers will make sure you know how to maintain it upon delivery. And if you have problems after the warranty period, you know who to call.

Spa tip: If you plan to decommission your hot tub for any length of time during the winter months, it is essential that it be “winterized.” Simply draining the spa and turning it off can create a world of problems, namely leaks. Draining doesn’t get out all of the water, and what is left behind can freeze, causing cracks in pipes and fittings. Leak repair is potentially the most costly of all spa repairs. Save yourself a lot of money and heartache by having your spa professionally winterized.

For winterization, service, repair, or worry-free maintenance, contact The Spa Guy today!

Spa tip: Many spas today are made with a small circulation pump that runs 24/7. Constant circulation causes the filter to get dirtier faster. If your spa has multiple filters, the one that feeds the circulation pump will almost always appear the dirtiest. Regularly cleaning spa filters has always been good practice, but this is especially true for circulation pumps. They lack the strength to draw well through dirty filters and can burn out more quickly from the additional strain. Check your filters on a monthly basis. Filters should appear white and free of debris. If they are off color at all, they likely need rinsed. If they won’t whiten during cleaning, they may need to be replaced.

For service, repair, or worry-free maintenance, send a message to The Spa Guy today!