5 Steps to Drain, Clean & Refill your Hot Tub

5 Steps to Drain, Clean & Refill your Hot Tub

It is recommended that you drain and replace the water in your hot tub three or four times a year, as part of your maintenance routine.

Maintaining a clean and hygienic hot tub is crucial to ensure its longevity and optimal performance. However, even with regular cleaning, dirt and grime can accumulate in the pipes over time. Draining your hot tub and flushing the lines is a simple four-step process that can help keep it clean and bacteria-free.

Step 1: Flush the Lines

Before draining the hot tub, it’s important to flush the lines to remove any sludge, bacteria, or biofilm that may have built up in the plumbing. Turn up the jets to the maximum and add the recommended amount of hot tub flush or any other pipe cleaner into the water. This will clear out all the accumulated dirt and grime from the pipes. Allow the jets to run for 15-30 minutes to ensure that the lines are thoroughly cleaned.

This process will not only keep your hot tub clean but also make it easier to balance the chemistry of the water.

Step 2: Turn Off the Hot Tub

It is essential to turn off the hot tub before draining it to avoid any damage to the pumps. Running the pumps without water can cause them to burn out and result in costly repairs. Ensure that your hot tub is turned off at the mains before proceeding with the draining process.

Step 3 Drain your Tub

Using a Hose
Emptying your hot tub using a garden hose is a simple and straightforward task that requires minimal equipment. These steps will guide you through the process:

Connect an appropriate garden hose to the drainage valve or ‘drain spigot’ of your hot tub. Make sure that the hose size is correct and is long enough to reach the nearest drain.

Make sure that any valves or taps on the primary spigot are open before turning the pump back on at low speed. This will help to prevent any damage to the pump and ensure that the water flows smoothly through the hose.

Locate and open the access panel in your spa’s cabinet. The pump and heater unions should then be loosened to allow the water to drain from the plumbing lines.

Finally, open the drainage valve and wait until the spa drains completely. Depending on the size of your hot tub this could take a few hours.

Using a submersible pump (much faster)
Draining a hot tub with a submersible pump is a convenient way to quickly and efficiently remove the water from your tub. Draining your hot tub can be done quickly and easily using a submersible pump. Here’s how:

Firstly, locate the nearest power supply and plug your submersible pump into it. Next, connect the drainage hose to the pump and run it towards the drain. Make sure to position the pump in the deepest part of your hot tub, and keep all power cords away from any sources of moisture.

After that, open the pump and heater unions in the hot tub’s access panel to drain the water from its plumbing lines. Once everything is set up, switch on the submersible pump and it should take around half an hour to drain your spa completely.

Keep in mind that there might still be some remaining water in the deepest part of your hot tub even after draining it. To get rid of this, you can use a wet and dry vacuum to suck up any leftover water. Once done, switch the vacuum to ‘blow’ mode to force every last drop of water out of the jets and pipes.

Now that your hot tub is fully drained, it’s time to clean it.

Once your Tub is fully drained you can now clean and refill.

Step 4 Cleaning

Once you have drained your hot tub, it’s crucial to ensure that the inner shell is free of any dirt or residue before refilling it. To achieve this, a little tender loving care is required in the form of a good scrub.

To clean the internal surfaces of your hot tub, you can use a standard cleaning solution. One option is to dilute mild dish soap in water, which works well. Using a damp soft cloth or sponge, carefully wipe down all the seating areas, the cover, the sides of the spa, and any added features such as bubblers or fountains.

By doing this, you can guarantee that no dirty water residue or built-up dirt is left behind on the inner shell before you refill your hot tub. However, it’s also essential to check the equipment, including the pump basket, filter compartment, and plumbing connections, regularly throughout the process to ensure everything is working correctly.

Maintaining the cleanliness of your hot tub filters and filter housing is effortless when you follow these simple steps.

Begin by removing the cover of the filter compartment and carefully removing any floating objects from it.

Afterwards, use the handle to unlock and take out both the filter cartridge and retainer, and soak the filter in a spa filter degreaser or cleaner for approximately 15 minutes.

Lastly, use a hose spray to rinse off any debris from various angles, and return the filter back to its original slot, making sure not to over-tighten it.

Don’t forget to keep up with regular filter maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your hot tub.

Step 5 Guide to Refilling Your Hot Tub

Refilling your hot tub is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few simple steps. By following these steps, you can ensure that your hot tub is filled and ready for use in no time.

Firstly, ensure that your hot tub is turned off before beginning the refilling process. This will help to avoid any potential safety hazards while the tub is being refilled.

Next, check to make sure that any valves you opened to drain the hot tub are closed. This will prevent water from escaping the tub as it is being refilled.

To avoid an air lock forming in the pipes, run your hose pipe through the top of your spa’s filters. This will help to ensure that the water flows smoothly through the pipes and into the tub.

Once the hose is in place, turn it on and fill your hot tub up to the fill line. This will ensure that your tub is filled to the appropriate level for optimal performance.

After your hot tub is full, it’s important to balance the water chemistry. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and add either chlorine or bromine granules or tablets to the water. Aim for a Free Chlorine level of 2-5mg/l or a Total Bromine level of 3-6mg/l to maintain a healthy hot tub.

If you want to get your hot tub back in action as quickly as possible, consider using a hot tub shock treatment.

After adding sanitizers, use a hot tub test strip to check and adjust the pH levels to 7.2-7.6 and Total Alkalinity (TA) to 125-150mg/l. This will ensure that the water is properly balanced and safe for use.