Draining the Spa
Properly draining and cleaning your hot tub is part of being a responsible hot tub owner. Here’s what you need to know before draining your spa.
With proper draining and cleaning, you can remove organic contaminants from the water, such as:
- Body oils
- Hair products
- Lotions
- Makeup
- Sweat
- Urine
- Feces
All those substances and residues can pass from the body to the water, then eventually get through the filters and into the plumbing. This can all lead to a biofilm layer, which is pretty nasty as you might imagine.
Those bits of bacteria and fungi will start to stick to the insides of your plumbing system. They know how to prevent chlorine from penetrating them, so don’t think that will work on its own without regular cleaning.
You don’t want all those contaminants to build up, so draining and cleaning your spa regularly is your only recourse.
When to Drain the Tub
If you notice:
- Your hot tub has a foul odor
- The water doesn’t clear up despite your best efforts
- Your spa has been getting more frequent use than normal
- More guests other than your family have been using your hot tub
- Your hot tub has gone unused for a long period of time
In general, you should drain and clean your hot tub on a quarterly basis.
Flush the Lines
That goo buildup in your plumbing won’t come loose with normal circulation, filtration or even shock. To avoid the likes of E.coli and Legionella, you need to pick up a special plumbing cleaner, AKA a line flush product designed to break down biofilm. Let that circulate for 20 minutes, or for a few hours if it’s been a while. You may notice foam come to the surface but this is a sign the cleaner is working because it’s grabbing all the contaminants out of the water.
Draining the Spa
Connect a hose to the drain so gravity can take over and make your job much easier. This option will take the longest, though.
If you don’t have a lot of time, use a sump pump for faster results. Keep an eye on the water level, because if the pump keeps going after clearing all the water, it can burn up the motor. Turn it off when you see an inch or two of water left.
You should drain your hot tub water into the sewer system, but never a storm drain, which often leads to a natural body of water and wildlife can be harmed. If you can’t get sewer access, run a hose into your home’s utility sink.
Cleaning the Hot Tub
Now that you have drained the spa, it’s time to get it cleaned before refilling it again.
- Clean or Replace the Filter: Use a filter cleaning spray to clean your filters.
- Clean the Spa Shell: Spray with a hot tub cleaner, white vinegar and diluted bleach and gently scrub with a cloth, then rinse.
Refilling the Tub
Close up the drains and add fresh water with a hose, with the breaker off. Put the hose into the filter compartment, switching on the spigot. Don’t overfill. Next, turn the breaker back on and start up the tub. Add recommended sanitizer and chemicals. Don’t forget to add a metal sequestrant if you have well water.
Test the water, then cover for 24 hours. Retest the water.
While you wait for that, clean the cover and apply a protectant to avoid damage from the sun. Next, clean the cabinet with a wood cleaner and soft cloth if you have a wood cabinet, then add a UV protectant.
Need some help draining your spa? We can help here at Central Jersey Pools!