How to Drain and Fill Your Hot Tub

Published on 12 May 2020

Category : Wellness

Whether you prefer an early-morning spa session to mentally prepare for a busy day, or a late-night soak in the warm, soothing waters to help you sleep better, there’s one thing we can all agree on: No matter the time of day, when you step into your hot tub, the water needs to be sparkling clean in order to truly enjoy the experience.

Although chemicals will help you keep the water healthy and balanced, you’ll also need to drain and refill your hot tub to keep it fresh. In fact, manufacturers suggest draining a hot tub every two to four months.

Which water changing schedule is right for you? That depends on a few factors, such as how large it is and how often you use it. Here are some signs to watch for that indicate you should drain and clean your hot tub before the next regularly scheduled time.

  • The water is cloudy: If the water in your spa is cloudy and you can’t clear it up with chemicals, it’s time to drain it. 
  • There water is foamy: Foam in the water indicates a buildup in the pipes, and if you can’t get rid of it using a foam remover, it’s time to drain it. 
  • The water has an odor: Finally, if there is an unpleasant odor to the water, you should eliminate it by draining and refilling the hot tub. 

How to Drain, Clean, and Refill Your Hot Tub 

Draining and refilling the hot tub isn’t difficult; in fact, there are only four basic steps you need to follow: 

Step 1: Flush the lines 

Before you pull the plug, it’s a good idea to clean your hot tub’s plumbing to eliminate a biofilm; a substance that can form in your pipes. Biofilm -- which is a naturally occurring bacteria -- can form even if your sanitizer levels are perfect.

You can get rid of biofilm (and help prevent it from returning) with a specially formulated line flush product. Apply the flush per the manufacturer’s instructions and then let it sit for 20 minutes to a few hours, depending on whether you’ve ever flushed the lines before. And don’t worry if you see foam rising in your spa water—that’s just the product getting rid of the biofilm buildup. 

Step 2: Drain it 

The easiest way to get the water out of your spa is to hook up a garden hose to the spa drain and let it run out (Important: Be sure to turn off the breaker to the hot tub before draining it!)

The garden hose is cheap and relatively easy -- but it can take several hours. If you’re looking for a quicker option, you can use a sump pump instead. This will drain the spa water in minutes rather than hours. Keep in mind that most sump pumps won’t drain the water completely; there may be a few inches left. To get rid of the remaining water, simply hook up your garden hose and drain it. 

Step 3: Start cleaning! 

Now that your hot tub is empty, it’s time for a thorough cleaning: First, remove and clean the filter. Let it soak overnight in a specially formulated cleaner (keep in mind, though, that even when you clean your filter regularly, you should plan to replace it once a year). Next, spread out your hot tub cover and give it a good cleaning on both sides. Be sure to check your manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning your spa cover. And, of course, clean your hot tub with whatever product is recommended in your owner’s manual. 

Step 4: Refill it 

Now that your hot tub is squeaky clean, you’re probably ready to jump in. But before you can enjoy your pristine hot tub, you need to refill it with clean water.

Your first step is to ensure that the hot tub breaker is still off. Next, close the spa drains and pull out the garden hose again. As you’re refilling your hot tub, it’s important to keep an eye on the water level. If you get it too high, water could flow into the heater and damage it. Next, replace your spa cover and let the fresh water sit under it for 24 hours to warm it up.

All of this effort will make your next soak even more enjoyable! 

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