Draining Your Home And Garden Spa: A Step-By-Step Guide

Draining your home and garden spa is a simple process, but it does require a series of steps. First, you'll need to gather the right equipment, such as a garden hose long enough to reach from your spa to a drain, and possibly a submersible pump. Then, you'll need to turn off the power to your spa at the circuit breaker to prevent the pumps or jets from running while there is no water in the spa. Next, you'll need to locate the drainage spigot and attach the hose, being careful not to cross-thread the plastic threads. Finally, you can open the ball valve on the spigot and let the water drain. Depending on the size of your spa and the method you choose, the draining process should take between 10 minutes and a few hours.

Turn off the power at the circuit breaker

Turning off the power at the circuit breaker is an essential first step when draining your hot tub or spa. This ensures that the pumps or jets do not turn on while there is no water in the tub, which could cause damage to the system.

Before you begin the process of draining your hot tub, you should shut off the power at the circuit breaker. This is a crucial safety measure to prevent any potential issues or damage to your hot tub's pumps or jets. It is important to note that you should not turn the power back on until the hot tub has been refilled with water.

The process of turning off the power at the circuit breaker is straightforward. Locate your circuit breaker box and look for the switch or breaker that controls the power to your hot tub. Once you have found it, simply flip the switch or breaker to the "off" position. This will cut off the power supply to your hot tub, ensuring that the pumps and jets do not activate during the draining process.

It is important to remember to keep the power off until you have refilled the hot tub with water. After draining, cleaning, and refilling your hot tub, you can then turn the power back on at the circuit breaker. This will restore power to the hot tub, allowing you to enjoy your freshly cleaned and maintained spa.

Use a garden hose or a submersible pump

Using a garden hose or a submersible pump is a great way to drain your home and garden spa quickly and efficiently. Here's a detailed guide to help you get started:

Gather the Right Equipment

Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need. For this method, you'll require a garden hose that is long enough to reach from your spa to a suitable drain. If your spa is located far away from a drain, consider investing in a submersible pump, which can speed up the draining process. Additionally, you'll need clean rags and a spa shell cleaner to wipe down the spa after it's drained.

Prepare the Spa for Draining

Turn off the power to the spa at the circuit breaker. This is important because you don't want the pumps or jets to turn on while the spa is empty. Locate the drainage spigot on your spa. Some models may have two spigots: a primary and an auxiliary spigot. If your spa has two spigots, you'll use the primary spigot to drain most of the water and then open the secondary spigot to drain the internal bleed lines.

Attach the Garden Hose

Carefully attach the garden hose to the spigot, being cautious not to cross-thread the plastic threads. Run the other end of the hose downhill or on level ground towards the drain. If you try to run the hose uphill, you may not be able to drain all the water. Make sure to transport the water to an existing drain to avoid damaging your lawn or patio.

Drain the Spa

Once the hose is securely attached, open the ball valve on the spigot to start draining the water. Depending on the size of your spa, this process should take around an hour. Keep an eye on the water level and make sure all the water is drained before moving on to the next step.

Use a Submersible Pump for Faster Draining

If you're using a submersible pump, turn off the power to the spa at the circuit breaker first. Then, place the pump inside the spa, preferably in the deepest part. If the outflow hose of the pump isn't long enough to reach a drain, you can connect it to a garden hose. Turn on the pump and let the spa drain. Depending on the size of your spa, this process should take about 10 minutes. Make sure to monitor the water level and turn off the pump before it runs dry to prevent any damage to the motor.

Post-Draining Steps

Once your spa is empty, turn off and remove the pump, then detach the hose and return it to storage. Use a soft, damp rag to wipe down the interior of the spa, paying attention to all surfaces. Many household cleaners can be harmful to the spa shell, so refer to your owner's manual for recommended cleaning products. Finally, rinse the shell with clean water, leaving it to dry before refilling.

Drain the water into a sewer cleanout port or utility sink

Once you've gathered the necessary equipment and are ready to drain your hot tub, it's important to consider where the water will go. A sewer cleanout port or utility sink is a good option to safely dispose of the water. Here's a detailed guide on how to drain your home and garden spa into one of these locations:

Locate the Drainage Spigot

Before you begin, locate the drainage spigot on your spa. It's usually near the base of your tub so that water can drain from the lowest point. Your spa model may have two spigots: a primary and an auxiliary spigot. The primary spigot is used to drain most of the water, while the auxiliary spigot is for bleeding the internal lines.

Attach the Hose and Drain the Water

Turn off the power to the spa at the circuit breaker to ensure the pumps or jets don't run while the tub is empty. Attach a garden hose to the spigot, being careful not to cross-thread the plastic threads. Run the other end of the hose to the sewer cleanout port or utility sink. Open the ball valve on the spigot to start draining the water. This process should take about an hour, depending on the size of your spa.

Clean and Refill the Spa

Once the spa is empty, you can clean the interior and shell. Use a soft, damp rag and a mild spa shell cleaner to wipe down the surfaces. Avoid using harsh household cleaners that may damage the shell. Rinse the shell with clean water and leave it to dry. You can now refill your spa by placing the hose in the filter pipe to eliminate air blocks and refilling it with fresh water.

Important Considerations

Before draining your spa, check your city's ordinances and regulations regarding the disposal of spa water. Many cities require draining into the sewer system, and you should avoid storm drains as they can harm wildlife. If you're unable to access a sewer cleanout port, you can also drain the water into a utility sink or use it to water your lawn or garden, provided you allow chemical levels to dissipate first. Remember to always practise safety and follow the user manual when performing any maintenance on your spa.

Clean the hot tub shell and filters

To clean the hot tub shell, you'll first need to drain the tub. You can do this by turning off the power and using the drainage nozzle or an external pump.

Once drained, you can begin cleaning the shell. Specially formulated hot tub cleaners can be used to cut through grime, or you can mix equal parts of white vinegar and warm water for a DIY solution. Spray the interior of the tub with a hose to moisten it, then scrub the inside of the tub with your chosen cleaner and a rag or sponge.

For more thorough cleaning, mix a batch of chlorine solution that is 50 parts per million (ppm). You can do this by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of di-chlor into 5 gallons of water.

After cleaning, thoroughly rinse and wipe down the shell with an old towel. Leaving cleaner residue can affect the chemical balance of the water, which may encourage mold or bacteria growth.

For problem areas, such as white streaks or mineral deposits, you can use specific cleaning agents. Baking soda can help bust gunk and organic goo, and a mixture of white vinegar and water can dissolve streaks or deposits. Simply apply the mixture to the affected area and scrub or wipe it clean.

Now, to clean the filters. First, remove the filters and scrub the filter cabinet. The filters are often accessible through an access panel or cabinet located around the pump. Some filters may require you to unscrew or unfasten catches. Take a picture of the filter assembly before taking it apart so you know how to put it back together.

Scrub the inside of the filter cabinet with tub cleaner or a 50 ppm di-chlor/water solution to kill any bacteria.

Next, rinse the filters and place them in a chemical soak. Spray the filters with a garden hose to remove most of the residue, then soak the filters in a large container with an oil-cutting filter cleaning solution for at least an hour. After the soak, soak the filters in a 50 ppm chlorine solution for 2-3 hours to finish disinfecting, then rinse them again with a garden hose.

Finally, reinstall the filters. This may be as simple as sliding the filters into a coupling and pressing the covering panel back in place, but you may need to refer to the picture you took of the filter assembly for more complicated designs. Ensure that all necessary parts and fasteners are in place and secure.

Refill the hot tub and add chemicals

Once your hot tub is drained, cleaned, and dried, it's time to refill it and add the necessary chemicals.

Refilling your hot tub is a simple process. You can refill your hot tub by putting the hose in the filter compartment and turning on the spigot. Filling through the filter well forces any trapped air out of your circulation system, preventing hot tub airlock. Depending on the size of your spa and the size of your refill hose, it should take about as long to refill it as it took to drain it.

Be sure to keep an eye on the tub as it refills—don't leave it unattended, as flooding can cause issues with your hot tub heater. Once the hot tub is full, add your clean filter cartridge, then turn your spa breaker back on.

Now it's time to add your start-up chemicals. Keep your hot tub running with your jets on low. Turn off air valves if you have them so they don't disrupt chemical distribution. Let the chemicals circulate for at least 20 minutes before adding the next round, and be sure to test the water in between. If you need help with the right order to add chemicals, check out a Hot Tub Start-Up Guide.

Cover your hot tub for 24 hours to allow the chemicals to circulate completely and the water to heat up to at least 80°F (27°C), but no higher than 104°F (40°C).

Frequently asked questions