How to Drain a Hot Tub?

Cleaning and draining hot tubs is an essential task in daily life. For many people, this may be a relatively simple task, but for some beginners, it may require some guidance and skills.

3 Best Ways to Drain a Hot Tub:

Way 1: Use a drain valve to drain hot tub.

Way 2: Use a submersible pump to drain hot tub.

Way 3: Use the siphon principle to drain hot tub.

There are various ways for draining hot tubs. Here I will introduce the 3 best ways to drain a hot tub to help you accomplish this task easily. Among them, the first two drainage ways are relatively simple, while the third way has certain skills. You can choose according to your actual situation.

How to Drain a Hot Tub Using a Drain Valve?

Best Way to Drain a Hot Tub:

Draining a hot tub using a drain valve is the best way because no additional tools are required. You just need to turn the drain valve counterclockwise or pull it outward to open the valve. The water in the hot tub will start to flow out. Wait about 15 minutes for all the water in the tub to drain out. Usually, wastewater is directly connected to the sewer and discharged, but if you want to save water resources, you can also consider collecting the discharged water and reusing it. For example, wastewater can be used for watering plants, flushing toilets, or other cleaning purposes.

Once the water is completely drained, turn the drain valve clockwise or push it back in to close the valve. Make sure the drain valve is fully closed to prevent later refill water from flowing out of the hot tub.

How to Drain a Hot Tub Using a Submersible Pump?

Get Your Submersible Pump Ready:

Place the submersible pump into the hot tub (being careful not to knock it against the walls), making sure its water inlet is at the bottom of the hot tub and completely submerged in the water. If the submersible pump does not have a direct discharge pipe, you need to connect a pipe to the water outlet of the pump to ensure that the drain pipe can drain the water to the designated place, such as a toilet, sewer, or garden lawn.

Start the Submersible Pump:

Connect the power supply to the submersible pump and turn on the switch. The submersible pump starts working, and the water in the hot tub is drawn into the pump and out through the pipes. Just wait for a while for the tub to drain completely. When the hot tub is empty, turn off the submersible pump's power switch and disconnect the power plug. After draining the water, remove the submersible pump from the bathtub, clean it, and store it in a dry and ventilated place for next use.

Remember to pay attention to electrical safety at all times and ensure that the power cord of the submersible pump does not come into contact with water to avoid electric shock accidents. Also, operate the submersible pump according to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper use and safety.

How to Drain a Hot Tub Using the Siphon Principle?

Compared with the previous two methods, using the siphon principle to drain water requires mastering certain skills. The siphon principle is a physical principle that uses the liquid's own gravity and air pressure difference to realize liquid transportation. In the context of draining water, the siphon principle is used to move water from one location (such as a hot tub) to another (such as a sewer).

Prepare a Hose:

Have a hose long enough to direct water from the hot tub to a designated drainage location, such as a toilet, sewer, or exterior drain system.

Be Prepared for Water Level Differences:

The siphon principle requires a sufficient water level difference to create suction. If the height difference between the drain location and the water surface of the hot tub is not large enough, the siphoning effect may not be ideal. Therefore, you need to make sure that the drain location is low enough relative to the water surface of the bathtub to ensure that the water can drain smoothly.

Create a Siphon Effect:

Place the hose port on that end of the hot tub in the water, making sure it's completely submerged. Then suck the other end of the hose with your hand or mouth to start creating a siphon effect (this step is more laborious, you need to fill the hose completely with water). Once the siphon effect begins, water will flow rapidly along the hose until the hot tub is completely empty.

When performing siphon drainage, make sure to pay attention to safety and try not to suck water directly with your mouth if possible to avoid inhaling waste water or impurities. It's best to use your hands or another device to create the siphon effect.

How Often Drain Hot Tub?

It is recommended to drain your hot tub and clean the inside of your tub once a month to prevent the growth of bacteria and dirt. If you use chemical cleaners (such as chlorine and bromine), you can extend the frequency of drainage to once every 3 months. Because these chemical cleaners destroy bacteria and other contaminants.

Draining your hot tub frequently will maintain hygiene and water quality. Exactly how often you drain depends on how often you use it, as well as the quality of your water and the type of detergent you use. At the same time, you need to be careful about the residue of chemical cleansers to avoid irritating the skin. Additionally, regularly changing your hot tub filter is one of the important steps in keeping your water clean.

How Do You Fill Up a Hot Tub?

You can use tap water or another water source to fill your hot tub. Make sure the water is of good quality and free of harmful substances.

First, turn on the hot and cold taps to mix hot and cold water to achieve the right water temperature. Adjust the ratio of hot and cold water according to personal preference until you are satisfied with the temperature. Place a regulated stream of water into the hot tub, making sure it flows smoothly and doesn't overflow the tub. The water flow and temperature can be adjusted appropriately when filling your hot tub to ensure comfort and safety.

If you plan to use chlorine, bromine, or other chemicals to maintain water quality, add the appropriate amount of chemicals to the water as directed. Make sure to add the correct dosage as directed on the product label. Use your hands or a stirring tool to gently stir the chemicals in the water to ensure they are evenly dispersed.

Once the hot tub is filled with the required amount of water, turn off the hot and cold water faucets to stop the flow of water.

Before using your hot tub, use a water testing tool to check the water's pH and bromine or chlorine levels to make sure they are within safe limits.