Where Should I Drain my Hot Tub Water?

Draining and refilling my hot tub may be a time-consuming task, but it’s one that I need to carry out every few months to make sure the water remains clean and safe to use. With the prospect of tackling this chore on the horizon, I was wondering where I should drain my hot tub water, and whether I could put it to some good use. I decided to do a little research to find out.

So, where should I drain my hot tub water? The answer varies depending on where you live. Some areas require hot tubs to be drained into the sewer. Others allow you to use the water to on your lawn or for other household purposes. You will need to check the rules and restrictions where you live since some municipalities and cities won’t allow so-called “grey water” to be used for purposes such as lawn watering or car washing.

If you own a hot tub, you’ll need to replace the water every three to four months to ensure that it stays hygienic and safe to use. You can find out how to do this here. Over time, the water becomes filled with solids, contaminants and minerals which may initially be invisible but which will eventually overwhelm the sanitiser and spa filter. As a result, the water will become dull, cloudy and unhealthy. It’s therefore important to know how to safely drain your hot tub water to make sure you adhere to any regulations and restrictions. With this in mind, here are some top considerations when it comes to draining your hot tub.

Top Hot Tub Drainage Guidelines

It’s always a good idea whenever possible to recycle and reuse your hot tub water. We should all be doing more to conserve the Earth’s natural resources, and water is a very precious commodity. Finding ways to maximise its use is essential, so it isn’t too surprising that many people wonder whether they can use their hot tub water to irrigate their garden or to clean their car.

The answer to this question is, essentially, yes, this is possible in many areas. While there are some cities and municipalities where hot tub owners are required to directly drain their hot tub water into the sewer drain, many allow householders to use the drained water for various purposes around their home. Remember, however, whatever you do, don’t drain your hot tub water directly into the storm drain as this type of drain will lead directly into a natural body of water which could be harmed by your used water.

There are many different ways in which you can reuse and recycle your used hot tub water. Some of the top options include:

• Watering the lawn, bushes and trees – spa water can be used to irrigate your lawn, trees and bushes as long as the chemical level is low. If there is too much bromine or chlorine in the water, the grass will turn yellow and plants may suffer. If the water is properly balanced, however, with a pH level of under 7.8 (and preferably around 7.0 – 7.2), it can keep your grass flourishing even during dry periods. If you choose to do this, make sure that you don’t over-saturate a single area of lawn.

You can test the PH of the water by simply using test strips – try these ones on Amazon.

• Watering your home’s foundation – if you live in a dry area, the foundations of your home could crack if the ground gets too dry. The same holds true for new concrete walkways and driveways as they may settle when the ground underneath them dries out and shrinks. Used water from the hot tub can be useful for soaking the ground surrounding concrete areas. It will soak into the ground and expand it, helping to support steel and concrete structures.
• Add it to a swimming pool – if you have a swimming pool you may be able to add your used hot tub water to it. Large pools are capable of absorbing used spa water unless it is very dirty.
• Bathing pets – in hot weather, many dogs can overheat. Used hot tub water can be used to bathe pets and keep them cool.
• Washing a boat or car – hot tub water can be used to wash vehicles like cars and boats without any problems.

How Do I Drain My Hot Tub?

Different hot tub models have different methods of drainage. However, there are a few tried and tested methods which most people use:

• Using an attached hose – some hot tubs have their own attached hose and this can be utilised to drain your tub from its bottom. Remember that you’ll need to turn the tub off first- you don’t want the pumps to be active when the water is being drained.

If you need a new hose or maybe a longer one then check this one out on Amazon.

• Using submersible pumps – you can alternatively use a submersible pump to easily and quickly drain the hot tub.
• Using the garden hose – some hot tubs don’t have their own drainage hose attached. You can drain these types of tubs by attaching a regular garden hose. This will be able to drain out the water.

How Do I Make Sure The Chemical Levels Are Safe?

You will probably have used chemicals in your hot tub to keep the water hygienic and safe to use. However, you won’t want to drain water containing high levels of chlorine or bromine onto your lawn. You should therefore avoid adding any chlorine to your tub for a couple of days before you plan to drain the water. Chlorine dissipates rapidly from hot tubs as long as you keep the lid off the tub. Before you drain the water, test it to make sure the chlorine level is at zero. If the level is still high, run the tub’s jets for a couple of hours and keep the lid open. You will soon find the chlorine dissipates. Alternatively, you can use a water-balancing product which only uses natural ingredients. This will allow the water to be drained at any time onto your lawn without having to wait for the harmful chlorine to dissipate.

If you would like to find out more about hot tub water chemistry then head over to my post here.

Can I Do Anything To Prolong The Gap Between Hot Tub Drainages?

Of course, every hot tub owner will need to drain their tub at some point, however, there are a few things you can do to prolong the life of the tub’s water so it can go for longer between drainages. Here are a few top tips:

• Shower before you use your hot tub
• Use a shock treatment after every use
• Install a second or larger spa filter
• Install a mineral purifier or ozonator
• Use spa enzymes or a spa clarifier
• Use a hot tub water pre-filter when you’re filling the tub
• Filter your water for longer every day

If you follow these expert tips, you’ll find that you can go for longer without having to drain and clean your hot tub. Nevertheless, you can’t avoid this task forever, so be prepared and make sure you know where you’re going to drain the water when the time comes.

Related Questions

Why do I need to drain the water from my hot tub regularly? Even though you use sanitiser in your hot tub water and shock it regularly, that doesn’t mean the water doesn’t eventually need to be drained and changed. Each time you get into the hot tub, you are introducing organic contaminants into the tub’s water. Particles of cosmetics, lotions, body oils, hair products, urine and sweat can all end up in the water. They then go through the plumbing and the filter, then through the pipework. They eventually begin to build up over time, creating biofilm. Biofilm is a term used to describe fungi and bacteria which covers the pipework of a hot tub. They develop a barrier which surrounds them and which is impervious to chemicals. If you allow biofilm to remain inside your hot tub’s plumbing, contaminants will also remain in the tub’s water. Eventually, water flow will be impeded and filter efficiency will be impacted. Draining the hot tub’s water is the only way you can get rid of biofilm and restore cleanliness and hygiene.

When Do I Need To Drain My Hot Tub? It can be difficult to know when the time is right to drain out the water from your hot tub however there are a few signs to look out for. If the tub smells bad or the water won’t become clear whatever you do, these are clear signs that drainage is necessary. You should also drain your tub if you’ve been using it more often or have had more guests using it. Also, drainage is a good idea if you haven’t used your hot tub for a long period of time. In any event, draining and cleaning the tub on a quarterly basis is always a good idea, even if it doesn’t appear to need it. Remember that prevention is better than cure, and if you prevent biofilm from setting into the plumbing, your plumbing system and filter will stay protected. You’ll also enjoy a safer and cleaner hot tub environment to relax in.