How to Drain a Hot Tub
A hot tub should be drained on every 2-4 months, depending on how much use it gets. But if you’ve had a weekend hot tub party or if there is a chemical imbalance in your hot tub, you should drain it and fill it up with fresh water.
To make full use of your hot tub, you also need to maintain it and you will need to drain the hot tub from time to time. There are many ways of draining the hot tub and in this article, we are going to take a look at some of these methods and discuss how to drain a hot tub properly with a method that is quick and efficient.
Methods for Properly Draining a Hot Tub
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There are many different ways to drain a hot tub, let’s take a look at some of these methods.
1) Use A Submersible Pump – A submersible pump(1) is the quickest way to drain the hot tub. Simply install the pump and turn it on and your tub will be dry in no time. Once the water is out, make sure you dry the tub using a mop or let it dry out in the open.
2) Garden Hose – Locate the drain spigot on your hot tub. It is usually located behind a panel or at the bottom of the outside surface of the hot tub. You can check on the hot tub manufacturer’s website for location of the spigot. Twist the hose on the spigot and open the spigot. As all the water will drain from your hot tub, make sure the other end of the hose is in a place that can take all the water without flooding.
3) Use A Vacuum – Once the water is drained from your hot tub, there might be some water left in the pipes of the hot tub. You can use a vacuum to blow air through the jets and push out the remaining water that can be wiped up with a mop.
4) Use Siphon Method – In case you don’t have a submersible pump and your spigot is not working, you can use a garden hose and siphon method to drain the hot tub. Fill up the hose with water from a tap so that there are no air pockets in the hose. Drop one end of the hose in the hot tub, and drop the other end at a level lower than the hot tub. The water will start flowing from the other end till the hot tub is empty. You can let the remaining water dry or wipe it up with a mop.
Helpful Video Guide:
Here are some videos that explain different methods of draining a hot tub.
Things To Consider While Draining Your Hot Tub
1) Shut Off The Power – Before attempting any kind of draining, make sure the power to the hot tub is switched off otherwise the pumps will kick in the moment water goes below a certain level. If the power is on, there is also the risk of electrocution. As an added precaution make sure you have switched off the circuit breaker in the hot tub, too.
2) Clean the Area Around the Tub – If you don’t have a ready drain for the water from the hot tub, make sure you pick up and store anything that might get impacted by the water from the hot tub.
3) City Regulations – If your city is experiencing a drought or a water shortage, you might need to check with your city’s water department regarding drainage and refilling of the hot tub.(2) Most cities have their own rules and regulations regarding water disposal such as the pH level of the water, the method of water disposal, and sanitizer level of the water.
4) Refill Your Wooden Hot Tub – If you have a wooden hot tub or spa, then you should not leave it without water for long. The lack of water can warp and twist the wood of the hot tub so make sure once the repairs or the moving is done, you fill the hot tub with water once again.
5) Clean Out Your Acrylic Hot Tub – For hot tubs that are made of acrylic or any material other than wood, you will need to clean out the pipes and internals. The standing water in the pipes, if not removed, can lead to the growth of mold and fungus in the hot tub’s pipes and internals. Remove the plugs and store them in a safe location and keep the pipes open so that they can dry out naturally.
Conclusion
Draining your hot tub can be a necessity at times and when you do it, you should use the best method that is suitable for your hot tub. Make sure you are using the safety measures described in this article and you have a proper place for the disposal of the water.
By draining your hot tub regularly, you will be able to keep a healthy balance of chemicals in the water and ensure everyone soaking in the hot tub is safe from any kind of issues like rashes or skin blemishes.
If you have drained your hot tub in recent past or if you plan to do it in future, please share your thoughts in comments for the benefit of our readers. We hope this article has been helpful in giving you an insight into the best methods of draining a hot tub.
