Hot Tub Draining And Filling 101

Many hot tub and spa owners try to avoid draining their hot tub as much as possible, as this is the biggest maintenance item that you will need to do over and above the chemical maintenance of the water. This is especially true during the winter months, when the draining process is the most inconvenient.

Change Your Spa Water Often

It is recommended that you change the water in your spa every 3 months or so however many consumers prefer to drain only once or twice per year. While this is not recommended for a number of different reasons the reality is that many hot tub owners will go this route.

In order to minimize the amount of work and time that you need to put into your hot tub you should consider draining every 4 months. This will minimize your maintenance workload but also limit the amount of chemicals that you are being exposed to. Keeping your water longer than this, regardless of how clear the water looks, and regardless of what the specialty products that you add to your water say, exposes you to unhealthy and unnecessary amounts of harmful chemicals.

Sanitizing Chemicals Can Build Up In Your Spa

Of the most harmful of the chemicals you are exposed to are the used sanitizers in your water. Whenever your chlorine or bromine contacts a piece of bacteria or organic debris in the water it changes into a stable form of sanitizer that is no longer able to kill bacteria. These used “pieces” of sanitizer are called chloramines or bromamines and are often the source of chemical smell from your water.

Chlorine and bromine are not good for your health so anything that you can do to lower your exposure is a great idea – starting with draining your water often.

Flush Out The Pipes To Remove Biofilm

Before you begin the process of draining the water from the spa you absolutely must run a line flush product through the tub. Over 99% of the bacteria in your hot tub does not live suspended in the water or stuck to the shell. The vast majority of bacteria lives inside the plumbing lines under a layer of sticky tar like substance called biofilm. This biofilm is both a food source as well as a layer of mechanical protection that prevents the chemical sanitizers in your system from reaching the bacteria.

If you simply drain and fill the tub then you will transfer almost all of the old bacteria directly into the new water. This persistent biofilm can cause bacterial blooms that can leave you red and itchy, or with follicular dermatitis in more sever cases, even in fresh water simply because the biofilms are leeching bacteria.

Removing Biofilms With Chemicals

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In order to remove biofilms you must use a line flush product in the old water before you begin the draining process. The first thing that you would do on most hot tubs would be to remove the filter since you are not looking to filter the water but instead suspend the biofilms in the water and then drain them away. You would then add a line flush product to your water as per the manufacturer directions for the product that you are using.

Essentially this cleaner will be added to the old water and you will circulate the water for anywhere from 20 minutes up to 4 hours depending on the type of product that you are working with. You would then drain the spa as per normal either using the built in drain or a sump pump to remove the water.

When you circulate a pipe flush in a hot tub that has not been maintained properly, or one that has a biofilm buildup, the results are almost shocking. It is not uncommon to develop a 4″ thick layer of brown/black foam covering the surface of the water as the long established bacteria pull away from the plumbing lines. If you remember to flush the lines on your spa every time that you drain it then you can avoid this biofilm buildup.

Wipe Down Your Hot Tub

Once the water is removed from the hot tub you can wipe the interior surface with 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar to clean the surfaces. You would then refill the spa using clean source water and running the hose down through the skimmer where the filter usually goes to prevent getting an air lock in your system. If you perform this maintenance task on your spa right before the weather turns cold and again early in the spring then you will minimize your workload while protecting your health at the same time.