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How Often Should I Drain My Hot Tub?

Sit back in your relaxing hot tub, safe in the knowledge that a regular cleaning schedule will keep it hygienic for everyone to use all year round.

How often you completely drain your hot tub depends, of course, on how often it is used and how many people use it.

As a rule of thumb, most recommendations are that a hot tub should be drained every three months.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the factors that play into changing your water.

Why You Need to Drain Spa Water

Water that is clean and regularly changed means that your hot tub is safe for everyone who goes into the water. We all know that warm, moist environments are a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

If your hot tub isn’t cleaned regularly with hot tub cleaner, these organisms can move into the inside of various hot tub parts and components, creating problems for the entire system as well as everyone using it. This could lead to skin irritations, rashes, and bacterial infections.

The hot tub pump and filter, along with chemicals and sanitizer, work to keep the water clean, but it still needs to be completely refilled every few months. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend draining and refilling your hot tub once every three to four months.

Keeping the hot tub water clean all adds up to a safe and relaxing time in the water for both you and your family.

Tell-Tale Signs the Water Needs to be Changed

Aside from routine draining and refilling, there are some other instances where the water may need to be changed completely and the tank cleaned from the inside out. If the water looks foamy, cloudy, or has a noticeable smell it might be a signal that it’s time to drain, clean, and refill your hot tub.

If usual chemical treatments aren’t solving the problem, it’s time to drain the water and clean the hot tub parts.

If you know you won’t be using your hot tub for a while, maybe over the winter period, this is a good time to drain the water and clean your hot tub accessories.

How Long Does It Take?

Set aside an afternoon or so once every three to four months to completely drain and flush your hot tub, clean the filters and hot tub parts and keep everything free from bacteria. Once it has been cleaned, you will need to refill it with a garden hose and treat the water with chemicals, which can take a little longer.

Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and maintenance guide to flush the lines, drain the hot tub, clean the surface, remove and clean filters, and refill and chemically treat the hot tub. Most manuals will helpfully show you how to treat problem areas.

When you drain your hot tub, give the plumbing and jets a thorough clean, as a clean plumbing system will result in water that is both fresh and clear, and better circulation, too. Add a flush product to the water before draining and run the pumps at high speed for 20 minutes.

At the same time, why not take the opportunity to clean your hot tub accessories? That includes the cover, lifters and straps as well as pumps and draining equipment. Use your garden hose to completely rinse them down and any cleaning products recommended specifically for the product.

Remember to have a weekly regimen of sanitizing the water and regularly treating with hot tub chemicals. Keep an eye too on the hot tub filters, which should be cleaned monthly.

To find out more about hot tub maintenance, contact our experienced customer service team at Poolside Spa Services or visit one of our showrooms in Whistler and Squamish. We offer a wide range of hot tub service plans that will fit your needs.

Our technicians use TDS (total dissolved solids) meters and test strips to measure your chemical levels.

Knowing your TDS level helps to determine the effectiveness of your sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) and balance your water to ensure your safety and enjoyment.

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