How Do I Know a Used Hot Tub Works Before I Buy It?
Most buyers are not hot tub experts. Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather on what an expert inspection checks, and why you should not pay in full until it is running.
Listen to the episode: Episode 213 with guest Ari Kimmelfeld from Commonplace, Flock and Gather with Allan Share, aired April 27, 2026. Listen on Podbean.
Short answer: Have an expert inspect it before it moves, and do not pay in full until it is running. On Commonplace an inspector checks the jets, looks for leaks in the jets and plumbing, and confirms listing details like voltage. You see the videos and report before pickup and pay the rest after delivery and setup.
Allan Share called this the single most fearful thing about buying online: "Is what I ordered going to show up?" Ari Kimmelfeld answered on episode 213 of Flock and Gather.
What Ari said
I think a lot of buyers, when they want something, they're not experts in that... Most people, they're only buying six, maybe seven cars in their lifetimes. Maybe you're only buying two or three hot tubs in your life. You don't know exactly what to ask for.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather 213, at 12:02
We send out an inspector to look at the hot tub, take videos... make sure there are no leaks from the jets, from any of the plumbing, confirm all the details, like the voltage for the hot tub, are correct, that the seller indicated on their listing. We make sure to ask a bunch of different questions from the seller when they make their listing, so that every relevant detail is available.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather 213, at 10:46
What to check on a used hot tub
- Jets: every jet should run.
- Leaks: check the jets and all of the plumbing.
- Seats and headrests: look for wear and damage.
- Listing details: confirm the voltage and model match what the seller listed.
- Video: see it running before anyone moves it.
Do not pay in full until it is running
You basically won't be charged the full amount until the hot tub is delivered in your backyard and it's fully set up and running. And if there's anything wrong, you don't get charged. You can cancel your order for a full refund.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather 213, at 10:30
Typically we don't do electrical or plumbing. So we'll coordinate with the buyer to have somebody there to hook it up. But for a hot tub, it's pretty straightforward.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather 213, at 11:26
Shop used hot tubs, or list yours on the hot tub sell page. For the full conversation, read How to Buy Used Hot Tubs: Ari Kimmelfeld on Flock and Gather.
Commonplace is the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp alternative for big items. Listing is free, and Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, secure payments, and a two-month parts and labor warranty. See how it works.
Related questions
How do I know a used hot tub works before I buy it?
Have an expert inspect it before it moves, and do not pay in full until it is running. On Commonplace an inspector checks the jets, looks for leaks in the jets and plumbing, and confirms listing details like voltage. You see the videos and report before pickup and pay the rest after delivery and setup.
What if the inspection finds a problem with the hot tub?
Ari said Commonplace will tell you it is not in great condition, explain the fixes it can do if you still want it, or help you find another hot tub, free of charge.
Does Commonplace hook up the electrical and plumbing for a hot tub?
Typically not. The crew delivers and sets the hot tub up, and Commonplace coordinates with the buyer to have someone there for the electrical and plumbing hookup.
Thank you to Allan Share for having Ari on Flock and Gather. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on Podbean.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.