Should you Repair or Replace your Spa Pack?

Every hot tub owner Will eventually face the decision to replace or repair their hot tub heater. It is not a matter of if the heater will fail but rather when will it fail. You will be forced to decide whether to replace your heater or have it repaired. Here are some tips to help you decide.

The first thing that has to be considered is the age of your existing spa pack and spa controller. If your hot tub heater is older than 5 years, I would suggest you look at replacing it with a new heater. As a heater ages, the internal parts become worn and also if your tub heater is past 5 years of age, chances are you will continue to experience multiple failures in the coming years.

The technology of your heater is also important. If your hot tub heater fails, you may benefit from buying a new heater with more modern technology. Digital spa packs are much more accurate than analog spa packs. They give you an accurate temperature reading right at the LED display and you can adjust the spa temperature without leaving the hot tub. A digital spa heater is made from solid state construction which means there are no moving parts that can wear down.

Is your spa heater element blown? If this is the case then you may find you can quickly fix your spa heater with a minimal investment. Changing a spa heater element is something that most spa owners can do themselves. This means no added costs for a service technician.

A digital spa pack normally has built in programming options. These options give owners flexibility on temperature control and pump circulation options. If a customer is away for a week they can select an economy setting which would turn down the temperature and cycle water less frequently. These programming option help to reduce operating costs.

Are you a handy man? Can you troubleshoot electronics? If not then you are looking at hiring a spa repair shop to fix your heater. This can quickly escalate the repair costs. On site visits can run $70-$100/hour. If they have to take your spa pack back to the shop then you are looking at most expenses. In the end you may pay more than a new spa pack to replace a $20 part.

The bottom line is looking at which is more cost effective. A new spa pack with full manufacturers warranty and all new parts will start around $500. However, even a simple spa repair can cost over $400. What if something goes wrong the next week. You may wish you had bought that new spa pack instead of repairing the old one.

Spa packs are universal. Most dealers will not tell you this, as they want you to replace your spa pack with the same one you had. This is the same as a GM telling you, you need to use only their brakes? Shop around and don't be scared, spa packs all do the same thing. When looking for a replacement pack always consider quality and the warranty.

I wish you the best of luck on your replacement spa heater project.