How to Get Rid of a Hot Tub in Denver (The Practical Guide)

Getting rid of a hot tub in Denver is a bigger job than most people expect. A standard acrylic spa weighs 500-900 pounds empty, does not fit through a gate without disassembly, and the landfill does not want it in one piece. Our crews cut apart and haul hot tubs regularly across the Denver metro — here is how the process works, what it costs, and when to skip the sawzall and call a crew.

Why hot tub removal is not a weekend DIY project

A hot tub is not furniture. It is a fiberglass or acrylic shell bonded to a foam core, wrapped in a wooden cabinet, sitting on a concrete pad, connected to electrical and sometimes plumbing. Removing one involves:

• Disconnecting the electrical (this should be done by a licensed electrician — 220V circuits are not forgiving)
• Draining hundreds of gallons of chemically treated water (Denver Water has rules about where that goes)
• Cutting the shell into manageable sections with a reciprocating saw
• Hauling the sections, motor, pump, and cabinet wood to a truck
• Getting the debris to an appropriate disposal facility

Most people get through step one, realize the drain takes two hours and the cutting takes longer, and call us on a Saturday afternoon. Save yourself the trouble — know what you are getting into before you start.

How much does hot tub removal cost in Denver?

Hot tub removal falls under our junk removal pricing — we charge by truck volume, not by the hour. A typical hot tub removal uses a quarter to half truck depending on the size of the spa and how much surrounding deck, cover, and accessories come with it. That puts most removals in the $250-$450 range, with labor, cutting, loading, hauling, and disposal included.

Factors that move the price: - Size: A two-person portable spa is a different job than an eight-person built-in with a gazebo - Access: Ground level on a patio in Centennial is easier than a rooftop deck in LoDo - Condition: A rotting tub with mold and a collapsed cover takes more handling - Extras: If we are also hauling the concrete pad, old decking, or a broken cover, that adds volume

We quote on site after confirming scope — photos help us give a tight range before we arrive.

The removal process

Before we arrive

Disconnect the electrical. Seriously — hire an electrician if you are not comfortable with a 220V disconnect. Turn off the breaker, verify it is dead, and cap the wires. If the tub is hard-plumbed, shut off the water supply and drain what you can.

Drain the tub. Most have a bottom drain with a garden hose adapter. Point the hose toward a storm-friendly drain or soak area in your yard — not directly into the storm sewer. Denver metro jurisdictions have varying rules about discharging spa water; if the water has been treated recently with chlorine or bromine, let it sit uncovered for a few days to off-gas before draining into landscaping.

Clear a path from the tub to where the truck can access. Move patio furniture, planters, and anything fragile. If the tub is on a deck, make sure the stair path can handle crew traffic with heavy sections.

What our crew does

We show up with reciprocating saws, pry bars, and the experience to take a tub apart efficiently. The shell gets cut into sections that fit through gates and onto the truck. The motor, pump, and heater come out separately. Cabinet wood, insulation foam, and the cover get loaded. We sweep the pad and leave you with a flat surface ready for whatever comes next — new patio, garden bed, or just empty space.

The whole process takes one to three hours depending on size and access. You do not need to help, but if you want to point out where the electrical disconnect is and where the gate sticks, that speeds things up.

Denver-specific considerations

Altitude and weather: Hot tubs in the foothills — Evergreen, Conifer, Golden — are often on decks with limited access, steep driveways, and elevation changes that make hauling sections harder. If your tub is above 7,000 feet with a narrow mountain driveway, mention that when you book.

HOA rules: Communities in Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, and Parker may have rules about work noise and debris visibility. If your HOA requires advance notice for contractor work, handle that before our truck arrives.

Disposal: We take the cut sections to appropriate facilities. Some components can be recycled (metal pumps, certain plastics); we sort when practical.

Concrete pads: The pad underneath is a separate conversation. If you want it gone too, we can sometimes break and haul a small pad the same day, or recommend a concrete removal service for larger slabs. A pad in good condition is often worth keeping — it is a ready-made base for a fire pit, outdoor table, or storage shed.

When to DIY vs. call a crew

DIY makes sense if: You own a reciprocating saw, have a truck or trailer, know how to handle 220V disconnects, have a full day with a helper, and have somewhere to take the debris.

Call us if: You value your Saturday, do not own the tools, cannot lift 100-pound shell sections, have limited truck access, or just want it gone without thinking about it. Most of our hot tub removal customers fall in this camp — they spent three years looking at a dead tub and want it gone in three hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can you remove a hot tub from a deck? Yes. We cut it smaller to navigate deck stairs and railings. If the deck itself is rotting and needs to come down too, we can often handle both.

Do you remove the electrical? No — electrical disconnect should be done by a licensed electrician before we arrive. We handle everything from the tub itself.

What about the cover? We take it. Old covers are heavy, waterlogged, and rarely recyclable. It goes with the rest.

Can you do it the same week? Usually. Our schedule fills faster in summer when everyone decides the dead tub has to go before the Fourth of July party. Spring bookings typically have more flexibility.

Ready to reclaim that patio space? Call The Junk Trunk at (303) 815-0467 or request a quote online. Send us a photo of the tub, the access path, and any tricky details — we will give you a price range and get it on the schedule fast.