How to Dispose of a Hot Tub (DIY Teardown vs Removal)

To dispose of a hot tub, you have four choices: sell it, give it away, tear it down yourself, or pay for removal. If you do it yourself, the order is always the same: shut off the power, drain the water the legal way, cut the tub into pieces, then haul the pieces to a transfer station. In Phoenix, the draining step is the one people get wrong, because spa water can't go into the street or the storm drain.

Your options: sell, give away, DIY teardown, or removal

Start with the cheapest option that fits your tub's condition.

• Sell it: a working tub with a good cover can sell, but buyers usually expect you to have it drained and disconnected, and they'll need a way to move it.
• Give it away: free listings work for running tubs. Be clear that the taker handles moving, and be ready for no-shows.
• DIY teardown: the cheapest route for a dead tub if you have the tools, a free weekend and a way to haul the pieces.
• Removal: once an electrician has disconnected it, a crew loads it and disposes of it. This is the easiest route for big tubs, tight side yards and anyone short on time.

Here's an honest way to decide. If the tub is small, you're comfortable with a reciprocating saw and you have help, DIY can save money. If the tub is large, set into a deck, or has to go through a narrow gate, hot tub removal is usually worth the price.

Step 1: kill the power (and who should do it)

Most hot tubs are hardwired to a dedicated circuit and a disconnect box near the tub. Turn off the breaker at the main panel and the disconnect at the tub before anything else.

Disconnecting and capping the wiring is a job for a licensed electrician. Once the tub is gone, the circuit is still live back to the panel unless someone terminates it properly. Don't cut wires because the breaker is off. Have the electrician confirm the circuit is dead and leave it safe.

Step 2: drain it the legal way in Phoenix

Phoenix City Code Chapter 32C prohibits discharging pool water to storm drains, according to the city's guidance on draining and backwashing a pool. That page is written about pools. In our reading, the same rules apply to a hot tub's water, so treat them that way and call the city if you're unsure.

What the city's guidance says:

• Drain to the sanitary sewer cleanout. This is the capped pipe, usually near the house, that connects to your sewer line. Running a hose into it is the standard approach.
• Or use the water for irrigation. Spreading it on your own landscaping is allowed. Let chlorine or bromine levels drop first so you don't burn your plants.
• Use a small pump. The city suggests a submersible pump of about 700 gallons per hour, because the cleanout flow limit is 12 gallons per minute.
• The street needs a permit. Discharging to the right-of-way requires a permit, with flow under 50 gallons per minute and chlorine under 1 ppm.

If you have questions, the city's stormwater line is 602-256-3190.

Step 3: cut it up (tools, safety, what's inside)

A hot tub is mostly an acrylic or plastic shell, a wood or composite cabinet, and a frame. Under the shell you'll find foam insulation, PVC plumbing, jets, pumps, a heater and a control pack.

Tools that help:

• Reciprocating saw with long wood and demolition blades
• Pry bar, hammer and drill or impact driver
• Utility knife for the cover and foam
• Safety glasses, a dust mask, heavy gloves and long sleeves

A practical order of work:

1. Remove the cover and bag it separately.
2. Strip the cabinet panels and corner pieces.
3. Pull out the pump, heater and control pack. Some scrap yards take motors and metal parts.
4. Cut the shell into sections small enough for two people to carry.
5. Bag the foam as you go. It crumbles and blows around the yard.

Cutting the shell throws a lot of fiberglass and plastic dust. Work outside, wear a mask and goggles, and keep kids and pets away.

Step 4: haul the pieces (trailer or junk crew)

Once it's in pieces, you need to get it to a disposal site.

With a trailer. A dump trailer rental lets you load at your own pace and tip the load out at the transfer station instead of unloading by hand. Our guide to where to dump trash in Phoenix covers the city transfer stations. The City of Phoenix charges $55 per ton at its transfer stations, and residents with city trash service can drop off one load of up to one ton per month for free with a current city services bill and matching photo ID. Rates and rules change, so confirm on the city's site before you go.

Call the city at 602-262-6251 before you haul, to confirm the transfer station will accept a cut-up spa shell and whether any parts need to be separated. Secure the load with a tarp or straps, since an unsecured load can add a fee.

With a crew. If you'd rather not haul it yourself, a junk removal crew can pick up the pieces, or the whole tub. This also works well if you're clearing out a deck, pavers or other debris at the same time. See our construction debris removal page for that kind of job, and junk removal in Gilbert if you're in the East Valley.

What hot tub disposal costs

DIY costs are mostly your time plus:

• Saw blades and safety gear
• A trailer or truck for the day
• Dump fees by the ton at the transfer station
• An electrician to disconnect the circuit

For professional removal, national price guides vary widely, and we haven't found a reliable Phoenix-specific average. As one reference point, Angi reports that moving a hot tub off site typically runs about $300 to $1,200 (Angi hot tub movers cost). Removal for disposal is a different job from a move, so use that as a ballpark only.

What changes the price most:

• Tub size and whether it's built into a deck or set into the ground
• Access: gate width, steps, slopes and the distance to the driveway
• Whether it's drained and disconnected before the crew arrives
• Extra debris like decking, steps or a pad

For your actual number, get a free hot tub removal quote. Send photos of the tub and the path to the street. If it won't fit through your gate in one piece, ask how we'd handle it when you call.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drain my hot tub into the street in Phoenix?

No, not without a permit. Phoenix prohibits discharging pool water to storm drains. Drain to your sanitary sewer cleanout at no more than 12 gallons per minute, or use the water to irrigate your landscaping once chlorine levels drop.

Who should disconnect a hot tub's electrical?

A licensed electrician. Turn off the breaker yourself, but have an electrician disconnect and cap the circuit so nothing live is left behind when the tub is gone.

Can I take a hot tub to the Phoenix transfer station?

Phoenix transfer stations charge by the ton, and residents with city trash service get one free load of up to one ton per month. Call 602-262-6251 to confirm whether they'll accept a cut-up spa shell before you haul it.

How much does hot tub disposal cost?

DIY costs are mainly tools, a trailer and dump fees. For professional removal, Angi reports that moving a hot tub off site typically runs $300 to $1,200, and your price depends on size, access and prep. Request a free quote for an exact number.