The national average cost to maintain a hot tub ranges from around $155-$320 per visit, and most people pay around $222, according to Thumbtack data. How often you use your hot tub plus the number of people using it can affect your maintenance costs because you’ll need to maintain balanced, sanitized water to ensure a healthy hot tub experience for guests.
| National average cost range | $155-$320 |
|---|
| Low-end cost | $91 |
| High-end cost | $545 |
A hot tub and spa care specialist can ensure your hot tub stays in peak condition so all you have to do is relax and enjoy. Hot tub maintenance can include cleaning your filter, replacing your filter annually, draining and refilling the hot tub quarterly, cleaning the skimmer basket weekly to ensure proper filter flow, testing chemical levels weekly and adding chemicals as needed, sanitizing the spa, and more.
Monthly service rates
Hot tub and pool service providers offer monthly rates for weekly home visits. Each week a technician comes to your site to provide chemical testing, water balancing, filter cleaning, skimming and more. The more care you want each week, the higher your monthly fee will likely be. Many services offer testing and balancing, and you can buy the chemicals separately. Here are a few examples of monthly rates for weekly service:
Weekly chemical check and water balance: $50 per month from East Mesa Pools in Mesa, Arizona. Chemicals are an additional fee. Weekly pool and spa service starting at $75 per month from Real Deal Pool Guys in Corona, California. Depending on service, chemicals may be extra.
Maintenance visit fees
A maintenance visit provides more comprehensive preventive care for your hot tub than a weekly service. The technician may check your electrical panels, check the filter, look for leaks or faulty parts, and do other troubleshooting to keep your hot tub running well. Residential maintenance calls are typically less expensive than commercial service as the spas are smaller, fewer people are using them, and there is less wear and tear on the equipment. Here are some examples of cost from Quality Pool & Spa in Grapevine, Texas: Residential maintenance visit: $75 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. Includes cleaning, chemical balancing, equipment repairs and more.
Commercial maintenance visit: $150 per hour with a 2-hour minimum.
Tub draining
How often your tub is used and the number of people using it will dictate how often you should have it drained. Pros drain all the water, clean the tub and its parts, clean the filter, and ensure optimal health. A typical homeowner who uses their hot tub occasionally might drain the tub 2-5 times per year, while someone who is having nightly hot tub parties with 10 or more people in the tub might have to get it drained once a month or more. Draining costs depend on the company, the size of the tub and other factors. Here is one example of cost:
Typically provides a filter cleaning at the same time.
Service calls
If you think you have a repair or parts problem on your hand, your best bet is to schedule a service call with a spa technician. The technician will arrive onsite to diagnose and repair and get you back in working order. Many pros provide this service at an hourly rate; some charge for a minimum number of hours to account for business overhead, transportation, and employee cost to arrive on site with all the necessary tools and equipment. Here are some examples of service call costs:
$75 for a service call from Spa Doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada. This covers the first hour of labor; additional time costs $65 per hour.
$85 per hour for service and maintenance work from Steve Rider of Hot Tub Rehab in Austin, Texas.
Has a one-hour minimum; additional time is charged in quarter-hour increments.
This fee accounts for the pro driving to the location and diagnosing the problem. If the client chooses to do the repair, Coy applies that $150 to the total cost of service. The fee is not refunded if the client decides to replace the tub instead of repairing it.
A note about project costs featured in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.