Calling in the Hot Tub Cavalry

As much as most of us men pride ourselves on our ability to fix and maintain just about anything around the house, there are some things we draw the line at. At least if we're smart. Deep indoor plumbing is one type of nightmare that has scarred several Do It Yourself handymen for life - at least until the next beer.

Now, for those lucky, rich, and/or ingenious enough to have hot tubs installed in their houses, the plumbing nightmare multiplies threefold as a screw-up with a hot tub's piping can often lead to flooded basements and large bruises from the wife. To avoid these harsh penalties, smart men know their limits, and know when to call in the experts. Here is a brief guide to finding a good, reliable professional to handle your hot tub repair problems.

The Easiest Step

The first and easiest option (and also the safest) is if your hot tub was sold to you with either a warranty and/or a service clause. In either of these cases, the people who sold you the hot tub will have specialists on their staff who HAVE to fix the tub or replace it if it's faulty, depending on your coverage.

In the event that you just bought a kit and installed it yourself, or if the warranty has expired, you should move on to the next step. Don't settle for just calling the people you bought it from if the warranty has bit the dust; their staff might not be competent, or they might charge you an arm and a leg. Start shopping around for a cheap yet reliable repair man.

Okay, so What's Busted?

While calling a specialist is all well and good, first you have to know what's broken. If the water isn't coming in properly, this may be a result of clogged pipes or a problem with the water pump. If the damage is directly to the shell of the hot tub, this is fairly easy to spot. Leaks, on the other hand, aren't restricted to shell damage.

Check the places where the pipes connect to the tub to see if the problem lies there instead. If one type of water (hot or cold) isn't coming in properly, it's often a pipe problem, BUT may also be damage to your water heater itself or to the electric wiring of the heater or tub. Try to find the source of the problem before you ask someone to make a house call.

Who yah Gonna Call?

Once you find the problem, (or think you have!) there are four general hot tub specialists who can help you with your various problems. The most common one that most people call on is the plumber. If the problem is with your pipes, you definitely want a plumber to do the work for you.

On the other hand, another type of specialist to call is someone who remodels hot tub shells. Call this type of specialist if the damage is due to a leak in the actual shell of the tub. Repairing a ceramic tub shell is beyond either the skills or the equipment of most DIY handy men. If you've determined the damage is to the water pump or heater, the first instinct of most people is to call a plumber.

However, mechanics specializing in small motors and household appliances are better in this case. Not every plumber is trained to deal with a mechanical problem - their specialty is in pipe related problems.

Lastly, if the problem is electrical in nature like a busted power outlet that runs your water pump, call an electrician. While replacing wiring may seem simple, remember that you're also working with water here - the last thing you want to do is strip a cable and leave little parts exposed to all that wonderful water you're bathing in...

How can you be sure you're not getting ripped off?

You can't. it's a sad but true fact that when you call in a specialist they have control over the situation - they can easily claim any number of damages that need "fixing" and charge you for each separate repair job.

The only real way to keep yourself protected in this case is to rely on your own experiences as a Do It Yourself handyman. Keep close to the repair man as he goes over the problem, and ask frequent questions and clarifications as to the nature of the problem and how he's going to fix it.

If he starts giving you lip about needing to work "in peace", just assert the fact that YOU'RE the one paying his bill, so if you want to ask questions it's your right to do so. More importantly, if you show that you're on the ball and keeping an eye on him, he'll be less inclined to fabricate problems (assuming you get a dishonest one). Still, one of the best ways to make sure you get a decent repair man is to ask for recommendations from your friends and family; if several people can attest that a certain person's services are competent and prices are fair, go with it.