Getting rid of hottub?

[KTP]

I am starting to panic about getting our house ready to sell next spring and have been eyeing a few chores. One of the things I need to do is re-stain our back deck. We have a rather large hottub (about 7 feet x 7 feet) that needs to go. It is around 11 years old but has been unused for the past 3 years. Mechanically and electrically I think it still works, but we had a problem with the plastic jets reacting with bromine (nobody told us this). It caused them to become brittle and break. Rejetting the hottub would involve replacing about 40 jets and really the housing for them too...and recaulking them all. Probably $1000 or more including labor.

Should I remove the control board, heater, and pumps and list them on craigslist, then chop up the rest of the hottub into manageable bits and haul to the dump? What do you think the likelihood I could find someone to haul away the whole thing for free without damaging my deck?

What would you do?

[disneysteve]

I'd list it as is describing what is wrong with it. You may find someone willing to spend the money to rehab it into working condition.

[ua_guy]

It really depends on how it's situated in/on your deck. Having just moved my own, I know for a fact that those suckers are heavy. Craigslist freebie hunters might not be as careful/strategic about it. Also, not many people are going to want an older, corroded hot tub. It's certainly not a feature that sells a home. But, you could try posting it up and seeing if anyone wants it.

Seems like your best bet is to salvage the parts that might have some/any value, and disassemble and dispose of the rest, being careful of your deck and surrounding landscaping in the process.

[KTP]

Yes, I am not real thrilled about letting the craigslist element into my home or even hang around my backyard for a lengthy period. Too many windows for curious eyes. Maybe I am a bit paranoid though.

Chopping it up I should be able to cram most of it into my pickup bed and $20 at the local dump would get rid of it. I do hate to dispose of something that might have been of use to someone.

Maybe I will ask around the neighbors and see if anyone wants a project.

[mrpaseo]

When my parents decided to part with theirs they offered it up for free and someone hauled it away. The bottom line is, they got their use out of it and they got it removed for free.

They actually had a plumber at the house to do some work and offered it to him. If you go in the way of craigs list, just do not let them in your home. The truth is, anyone walking down the street can see what you have outside and our name/address/phone numbers are pretty much public access. Just draw your curtains and do not let them inside.

Best.

[greenskeeper]

a chainsaw works well for hot tub disposal....speaking from experience.

11 years old there isn't anything worth trying to sell.

[KTP]

a chainsaw works well for hot tub disposal....speaking from experience.

11 years old there isn't anything worth trying to sell.

Yep. I took off all of the side panels and after running from the yellowjackets for a few minutes, I realized this is an opportunity to have some fun with a chainsaw.

I might keep the 5hp water pumps for a little while. Although I really don't have a use for them....should recycle them at least.

For entertainment, hottubs have got to be one of the worst investments. I think we paid $7000 for this hottub 11 years ago, and at the same time we bought Twilight Zone and The Addams Family pinball machines for $1500 each. Guests have used both the hottub and the pinball machines during parties, but the hottub now has negative value and the pinball machines are worth $3000+ each (according to completed auctions on ebay).

[EEinNJ]

It may end up costing you more than $1k to get rid of it! Depending on where you live, you may need a demolition or other permit. If you don't, or don't do a perfect job of "disposing of the body", it will trip you up when you go to sell the house. You could list it "as is". Either way, a good home inspection will catch the problem and you'll have to deal with it then.

Unless it's not worth fixing, you might be better off spending the money to repair it, & then it's a "feature" instead of a liability.

[KTP]

It may end up costing you more than $1k to get rid of it! Depending on where you live, you may need a demolition or other permit. If you don't, or don't do a perfect job of "disposing of the body", it will trip you up when you go to sell the house. You could list it "as is". Either way, a good home inspection will catch the problem and you'll have to deal with it then.

Unless it's not worth fixing, you might be better off spending the money to repair it, & then it's a "feature" instead of a liability.

What part of Richard Branson's island do you live on???? $1K?

It is already broken up into small pieces that fit in my pickup truck.

2 trips to the dump @ $20 per load = done.

[ua_guy]

LOL @ running from yellowjackets. I bug-bomb the inside of the hot tub case every year for exactly this reason. Bees and yellowjackets love to build nests in there.

Have fun with the chainsaw.

[EEinNJ]

What part of Richard Branson's island do you live on???? $1K?

It is already broken up into small pieces that fit in my pickup truck.

2 trips to the dump @ $20 per load = done.

Yeah, that's exactly what I did with mine (Though I did it in one load).

Then I had to have a carpenter replace the deck where it was. He put in another joist, with pressure treated support posts in case we wanted to put in a new hot tub (on top instead of built in). Then I had to stain the deck (more than once) for the wood to match.

Fast forward a few years, I sell the house, and in the inspection, it's noted the posts were showing some rot. Nothing serious, and they didn't need to be there anyway, but it showed up on a punch list of things to fix, and then the buyer bailed.

Where I live, you need permits for things like filling in a pool or demolition of a hot tub, and when you sell you sign off that this was done. You can be liable for fines, insurance risk, being sued, etc.

So, I hope your trip to the dump was then end of the matter!