Spring is in the air and as we roll into a new season, you might be wondering when – and how often – you should drain your hot tub. Draining and cleaning your hot tub regularly is important for proper maintenance, which can increase the longevity of your tub.
In this post, we’ll share how to drain and clean a hot tub along with how often to do these things to keep your tub in the best possible condition.
How to drain a hot tub
Draining a hot tub sounds like a big task, but it’s something you can quickly accomplish with minimal effort. There are two main ways to drain a hot tub: using a spigot and using a submersible pump. Each method comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Draining with a spigot
You can drain your hot tub using the spigot on the outside of the tub. If the spigot is located over a drain, you can open the valve and easily begin draining it that way. If it’s further away from a drain, simply attach your garden hose and pull it to the drain.
The hot tub should fully drain within a couple of hours, but you can always leave the tub to drain and go work on other tasks before coming back to it. When you’re using this method, make sure you’re actually emptying the hot tub into a drain or sewer so as not to flood your yard.
Use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up any remaining water stuck in the contours of the tub.
Draining with a submersible pump
This is the faster way to drain a hot tub, with the pump forcing the water out. You’ll attach an outflow hose to the pump and position it on the hot tub floor. Then run the other end of the hose to a nearby drain or sewer. The pump will do the rest of the work for you.
This method allows you to drain your hot tub in minutes rather than hours. If you’re trying to keep this process moving, it might make sense to purchase a submersible pump.
Again, use a vacuum to suck up any remaining water in the tub.
How often should you drain your hot tub?
It’s best to drain your hot tub at least twice a year to ensure you’re relaxing in sanitary, safe water. You want your hot tub to have fresh water for you to enjoy regularly, and draining the water twice a year makes sure of that.
When you drain your hot tub, make sure to clean it out to really make the most out of it being empty.
How to clean a hot tub
Taking care of your hot tub requires proper cleaning, but the process shouldn’t take long.
Here are a few basic cleaning steps to get your hot tub sparkling again:
Clean the hot tub interior
Using a hot tub surface cleaner, wipe down the interior surfaces of the hot tub shell. Make sure to get into any nooks and crannies, like around jets and filters.
Clean the filter
Cleaning out the filter will go a long way toward keeping your hot tub clean for a longer period of time. You should clear out any debris in the filter every few weeks and clean it with a filter cleaning product every few months. This involves removing the filter and soaking it in the product overnight.
While your hot tub doesn’t need to be drained for you to do this, it makes sense to add this to your cleaning list when you do drain the tub for a completely fresh start.
Clean the cover
Give the hot tub cover a good scrub, too. You’ll want to pay special attention to the underside of the cover because it’s more prone to grow mold due to water vapor exposure.
Cleaning hot tub plumbing and jets
At least once per year, you should deep clean your hot tub by cleaning out the jets and other plumbing pieces. This is important for combatting any bacterial growth that might occur. You should do this before draining the hot tub because you’ll need to run the jets.
Apply a plumbing cleaner and then run the jets for 30-60 minutes, letting the cleaner circulate in the hot tub. Any brown foam that appears on top of the water can be removed with a vacuum. When the foam turns white, go ahead and drain and clean the rest of the tub.
Again, you only need to complete this process once a year, but it’s really helpful in maintaining your hot tub’s condition.
Refill and treat the water
Once you’ve fully cleaned out the tub, fill it back up with water. You’ll need to treat the water with chemicals to make sure it’s sanitary for use. Cal Spas offers a variety of cleaning and shock products that hot tub owners can use to sanitize their tubs.
Invest in a quality hot tub
Purchasing a hot tub that’s built to last is a smart investment. Quality hot tubs hold up longer, and with proper maintenance and care, can last a very long time.
Keep your hot tub as good as new with these cleaning tips, and if you’re ready to buy a hot tub built to last, visit your nearest Cal Spas location or reach out to learn more.