Looking for the best way to drain your hot tub or swim spa? Use the drain valve located at the bottom of your hot tub AND a sump pump. Combining both of these draining methods will empty your hot tub in less than 30 minutes.
Before you drain a hot tub, use a
Here’s a quick guide on how to drain a hot tub to get it ready for deep cleaning and refill it with new, fresh water. Keep reading for the step-by-step walkthrough, or watch the full video tutorial below. 👇
My fool-proof system for keeping any hot tub clean and clear at all times. Our course covers every type of hot tub, including portable spas, inflatable hot tubs, inground hot tubs, swim spas, and more. This is the LAST and ONLY hot tub guide you'll need.
Before you physically drain out the water, plan to flush out your lines. Once the water is removed, make sure you give yourself time to wipe down the surfaces before refilling it.
Adding a hot tub line flush will purge your plumbing lines of any gunk and build-up as you use your hot tub. This gunk is called biofilm, which forms inside your lines. And it can’t be removed by your normal hot tub sanitizer like chlorine or bromine. So before you drain the water, add the
As the cleaner circulates through your spa plumbing, you might notice gross-looking foam on the surface of the water. That means it’s working and pulling out all of that nasty biofilm that’s in your pipes. You can remove the nasty foam with a small surface skimmer.
Don't let your hot tub fill with hard-to-remove gunk. Clear out the gunk and keep your hot tub water fresh. It removes gunk in your pipes caused by lotions, sunscreens, cosmetics, etc.
While the water drains from your hot tub, take a moment to clean your hot tub filter. Remove the cartridge and soak it in a
Soak your hot tub filters in this deep-cleaning solution, rinse with water, and your filters will look brand new in 24 hours!
Important: Anytime you clean your filter with a cleaning product, rinse it thoroughly with clean water before placing it back in your hot tub. Any residual cleaner might cause foaming when you restart your spa, and then you’ll have to repeat this entire process.
Keep a second, clean filter cartridge on hand so you can restart your hot tub while the dirty filter cartridge soaks in solution overnight. And if you ever remove a filter cartridge and it’s extremely dirty or worn out, it’s time to replace it.
I’ll walk you through my exact process for draining (and cleaning) a hot tub really fast. Make sure you read everything before starting so you don’t miss any crucial elements.
Before draining, shut off your hot tub at the circuit breaker. You don’t want your jets or pump to kick on without water. Then, decide how you want to remove the water. There are three options for draining your hot tub: a hose, a sump pump, or both.
Your hot tub has a drain valve near the bottom of your tub. Some models may have two drain spigots. The primary spigot drains the hot tub, while the auxiliary spigot is meant for bleeding the internal lines. There may also be a panel hiding the drain valve.
Whichever method you choose, drain your water into a sewer cleanout port or a utility sink in your home. Do not empty the water into a storm drain. And be careful emptying it into your lawn or garden since the water has chemicals.
There will be a little water left in the center footwell of your spa. The best way to drain the remaining water is to use a wet/dry vacuum (shop vac). You can also use a siphon-powered spa vacuum (spa wand) if you have one.
This simple spa vacuum utilizes a simple siphon action to remove dirt and debris from your spa. No pumping, no batteries, and no water hook-up are required.
Once your hot tub is empty, it’s time for some surface cleaning.
Tip: Between quarterly draining and cleaning, you can clean the portion of the shell that’s above the waterline.
Our hot tub kit makes taking care of your water easy. It includes Hot Tub Weekly Cleanse, Detox, and Filter Cleanse to use every 3-4 months for deep cleaning.
As you refill your hot tub, don’t leave it unattended, as flooding can cause issues with your hot tub heater. Double-check to ensure the breaker is still off.
Tip: When refilling your hot tub, use a hose filter to reduce impurities such as calcium and copper that may affect your water chemistry and overall spa health. You’ll start out with higher-quality water in your spa and reduce the risk of staining and mineral deposit buildup.
Fill your pool or hot tub with this hose filter that'll filter your water so you can have a fresh start with water chemistry.
Now that you know how to drain your hot tub and how to clean it, there’s no excuse to let your spa descend into swamp territory. Keep the water balanced, test it regularly, and keep your filter clean. And you should only have to do a full drain and clean every quarter.
Need more help draining a hot tub? Here are some common questions and answers.
The best way is to use a submersible pump (sump pump) in the deepest part of your hot tub and your drain valve. You can use a shop vac or hot tub siphon vacuum for any water that your pump doesn’t remove.
Drain and clean your hot tub every 3-4 months to prevent biofilm buildup and maintain a cleaner, safer soaking environment. Keep instructions for draining the hot tub nearby and follow all steps properly.
Many cities require draining hot tub water into the sewer system. Those cities typically provide sewer access through a special drain on your property. Do not confuse this with storm drains. They lead to natural bodies of water and can harm fish and other wildlife.
If you don’t have direct sewer access, you can run a hose into the drain in a utility sink in your home or water your lawn or gardens with the old spa water, provided you’ve allowed chemical levels to dissipate. Plants don’t exactly thrive on chlorine or bromine.
Important: Before you drain your hot tub, check your city’s ordinances to ensure you’re adhering to the law and preventing any damage to the environment.
It’s crucial for hot tub owners to regularly drain their tubs to maintain cleanliness and ensure optimal performance. By understanding why and when to drain, as well as employing effective deep cleaning methods, you can keep your hot tub in top shape. So, don’t skip this important hot tub maintenance step and enjoy a sparkling, relaxing soak every time!
Matt is the founder of Swim University. He's been in the pool industry since 1993. His mission is to make pool care easy for everyone. Each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting.
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