It may not be the first thing on your mind when you take a relaxing dip, but if you own a hot tub, you’ll eventually have to drain it to clean the liner and replace the water. When this time comes, don’t worry—draining your hot tub is fairly simple and takes just a bit of your afternoon. Here’s how to drain your hot tub and prepare it for a good clean.
Preparing to Drain a Hot Tub
If you plan on draining your hot tub, it’s important that you take precautions before beginning. Never drain your hot tub if it’s still in use. Before starting, make sure that any nearby plants and structures are far enough away from your hot tub so they won’t get splashed or soaked.
You’ll also want to pick where the water from your hot tub will go. You should be sure to direct any hoses away from your foundation and never drain it into a storm drain. Some cities have rules and regulations about where you can drain water from hot tubs and pools so always be sure to check those out before getting started. In some areas, you may need to drain it directly into a sewer drain, while others may want you to drain it onto your lawn.
Also, you may want to lay down some drop cloths in an area adjacent to where you will be draining your hot tub so that water doesn’t accidentally seep into other parts of your home or flood your yard while you work.
Once you’re good to go, turn off the power to the spa by shutting off the breakers so you can get started.
6 Steps to Drain (and Refill) a Hot Tub
If all you want to do is a quick drain and refill, you may only need to complete steps one and two below. However, if you want to fully clean out the hot tub and give it a good scrub-down, complete all the steps.
Disconnect the Water Supply
Photo: The Toidi / Adobe Stock
Before draining your hot tub, disconnect it from its water supply. A diverter valve (which typically looks like a cap that you can turn on and off) will typically control which tubes get water and which do not. Turn off all but one of them.
Unscrew any other hoses connected to your hot tub's filtering system by loosening any fittings on connectors by hand with pliers. Be careful when handling these pieces—if you accidentally bend or break them, they'll be expensive to replace.
Remove any filters from their housings and unplug your pump.
Drain the Tub
Use a pair of pliers to remove the drain cap and pull out the drain, which should be located on one of the hot tub’s exterior sides towards the bottom. Hook up a spare garden hose to the drain cap, and direct the hose to where you would like the water to drain. Push the cap halfway in, which will cause the tub to start draining water.
You can also drain the tub using a submersible pump. You attach a garden hose to the pump and then gently lower the pump into the spa. This method will drain the spa much more quickly.
Turn Off Valves and Remove Hoses
Now, it’s time to make sure you’ve drained every last drop from the tub. The next step is to turn off your hot tub’s main water valve, which should be in the general area where the plumbing is hooked up to your hot tub. Then, turn off the auto-shutoff valve that prevents your pipes from freezing during the winter months—this step will ensure that all of your hot tub water drains out.
Remove any hoses connected to drain plugs—this may seem unnecessary at first, but removing hoses from spigots is an important step in draining a hot tub because they can get clogged with mineral deposits over time. If left undisturbed, those minerals can build up and cause clogs, which will prevent all of your hot tub water from draining out.
Drain the Water From Jets
After you’ve closed all of your valves and removed the hoses, it’s time to drain each jet. Turn on both taps connected to that jet at one end of the tub. The water should start flowing out immediately. If it doesn’t, it means there is still water stuck in that line; try spraying that area with vinegar and then draining again.
Repeat until all of your jets are clear and empty. If necessary, call a local hot tub pro for assistance in getting rid of any blockages caused by leaves and other debris lodged inside hard-to-reach areas or pipes.
Drain the Remaining Water
Now that you’ve cleared any excess water after the initial draining, you can also remove the water from the jets. You may need a wet-dry vacuum to get rid of the rest of the water if you want to do a full cleaning of your hot tub.
Refill the Hot Tub (Optional)
Photo: The Hidden Touch / Adobe Stock
After cleaning your hot tub, you can begin to refill it. Leave the power off and check any filters to see if you need to clean or replace them. Place a garden hose directly into the filter and fill the tub with water from there. Stop when it reaches the fill line (usually around 30 minutes). From there, you can proceed with all the maintenance tasks you need to get it ready for you to take a dip again.
DIY Hot Tub Draining vs. Hiring a Pro
Draining a hot tub is a good DIY project because you don’t need special expertise, and it’s not too time-consuming. It should take you only an hour or two, but if you’re not particularly handy, it may take longer.
If you're not confident in what you're doing, or your efforts to drain the tub and disconnect the various components aren't quite working, it may be time to contact a hot tub pro or even a local handyperson. They can help you troubleshoot the issue or take it off of your hands to enjoy a few more hours of free time.
Additional Questions
What is the fastest way to empty a hot tub?
You can drain a hot tub very quickly by using a submersible pump rather than the hose-sized drain at the bottom exterior of the tub. A pump can move up to 30 gallons per minute, draining your hot tub in no time. Using the regular drain can take up to two hours.
Can I drain my hot tub into the grass?
Yes, but only if it is a freshwater tub (not saltwater) and if you make sure the chlorine and bromine levels are below 1 ppm.
How often should you drain a hot tub?
You should drain a hot tub about once every three to four months. Essentially, it's a good idea to schedule a draining and a cleaning at the beginning of each season.
