My Hot Tub Has a Leak! What Do I Do Now?

If you own a hot tub, you may be confronted at some point with a leak. It is not ideal, but there are things that you can do to mitigate the damage, which will save you money down the road! 

Scenario: You see water coming out from under the tub.  

Assess: 1) Is this runoff from removing the cover or condensation that might be dripping from the edge of the cover if it is not sealed properly? 2) Is it truly a leak?  

•  Do you need to add water to your tub? If so, how often and how much do you need to add? 
• When did you first notice the leak? Even if it is just a small leak, a delay in fixing it will only cost more overall. Dripping water can lead to rotting boards which can eventually lead to structural issues with your tub. 
• Can you see where the leak is coming from? 

1. Remove the service panel and look for visible leaks. If you see it, take pictures, especially if you do not know what you are looking at. It will be easy to show your service provider where you see the leak coming from. 
2. If you are technically inclined, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Quite often it may be a gasket or O-ring that needs to be replaced. Doing this yourself will save the money you might spend on a tech. A service call may cost more than $100 per hour and any time you can save on the professionals being called the more money you may be ahead.  

A word of caution: Thinking you can just do it yourself could lead to further expenses if it turns out you do NOT know what you are doing. You could end up ordering wrong parts that may not be able to be returned or you could break something else while attempting to fix your original issue. Delays in repairs could be costly especially if the leak occurs in the wintertime when your tub is at risk of freezing, not to mention the amount of your precious time that has now been wasted.

• If you cannot see where the leak is coming from, it may be something underneath that is leaking, such as a jet. In this case, you will need a tech to come investigate. The tech may be able to find the source and fix it on site, or he may tell you that the tub needs to come into the shop so it can be worked on safely. 
• If the tub needs to come into the shop, that would be the time to do any other maintenance or updating you might need. While this may seem counterintuitive to spending less, you will save eventually from having to have future things done. Doing it all at one time may yield a “package deal,” saving you a bit as opposed to piecing away at it. 

If the tub must be tipped up to get to a leak, this is the perfect chance to check its structure. Are there boards that need to be replaced? If so, make sure you use something like pressure treated lumber, which will prevent future rot.  

According to an ancient proverb, it is easier to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has already happened. So, take good care of your tub and it will take good care of you for a long, long time. AND with less expense while doing it!