How often should a hot tub be drained?
How Often Should a Hot Tub Be Drained and Refilled? Hot tubs should be drained and refilled every three to six months depending on usage, water chemistry, temperature and filter maintenance factors such as showering before using your hot tub can reduce bacteria introduction into its waters, and showering beforehand can help reduce any extraneous bacteria being introduced, cloudy waters or skin irritation are signs that it’s time for draining and filling to occur immediately.
A hot tub can be an amazing asset to any home. It provides a relaxing retreat where you can soak away stress while spending quality time with loved ones.
However, with great pleasure comes great responsibility: To keep your hot tub functioning at its optimal performance and enjoy maximum enjoyment from it, regular maintenance must be performed. One essential aspect of hot tub maintenance is draining.
Factors That Determine When Should a Hot Tub be Drained
Usage Frequency
How often you drain and refill your hot tub depends heavily on how often you use it. As usage increases, so will your frequency of draining. For daily users, drain and refill every three months is typically recommended; with less frequent users this could extend out as far as four or even six months.
Number of People
The number of people using your hot tub is also an influential factor when it comes to draining it regularly. As more people use it, the water becomes polluted and you will need to drain more frequently. If your hot tub can accommodate six people but only two use it at any given time, you could stretch out the time between draining and refilling sessions, but with six regularly using it regularly draining will need to happen more often.
Chemical Use
Your choice and amount of hot tub chemicals can have an effect on how often it needs draining and refilling. Chlorine and bromine are commonly used sanitisers; when used correctly they can help preserve water quality for extended periods. Too much use might require you to drain and refill more often.
Water Quality
Your local water quality can also play a factor in how frequently you must drain and refill your hot tub. If you reside in an area with hard water, such as hard calcium/magnesium levels in hard water can contribute to scaling and mineral build-up in your hot tub, increasing its frequency for draining and refilling.
Signs Your Hot Tub Needs Draining
In addition to the factors discussed above, there are some telltale signs that indicate it is time for your hot tub to be drained – these indicators include:
- Cloudy or discoloured water;
- strong or unpleasant odour;
- itchy skin irritation or skin rashes;
- foam on the surface of the water;
- high levels of calcium buildup
- difficulty maintaining proper water chemistry
If any of these signs apply to your hot tub, then it’s advisable to drain and refill it with fresh water immediately.
Tips to Maintain a Clean and Healthy Hot Tub
In order to maintain the health and beauty of your hot tub, follow these suggestions:
Test the Water Chemistry Regularly
You should regularly conduct water chemistry checks in your hot tub to ensure its pH and chlorine levels remain in balance, using either test strips or digital testers to measure these chemical levels.
Use High-Quality Chemicals
In order to maintain the cleanliness of your hot tub, using top-grade chemicals is absolutely essential. Use a sanitiser like chlorine or bromine to rid yourself of bacteria and contaminants found in the water, while shock treatment should also be applied regularly in order to oxidize any organic matter in the water and stop the formation of chloramines.
Cleaning Your Filter Regularly
Maintaining the efficacy of your hot tub requires regular filter maintenance. Rinsing with water from a garden hose every two to four weeks and deep cleaning it every three or four months should help ensure the optimal performance of its filter system.
Shower Before Entering the Hot Tub
A pre-shower shower can help to minimize oils, dirt and other contaminants from entering the water of a hot tub. Furthermore, you should forego using lotions, oils and other skin care products prior to entering it.
As was noted earlier, draining your hot tub regularly is essential to its cleanliness. Aim to drain it at least every three to six months depending on its usage frequency and other relevant factors.
FAQs
Should I drain my hot tub myself, or is professional help necessary?
In general, you can drain your hot tub yourself by following the manufacturer’s instructions, though if this process seems daunting to you, professional services are available to take on the task for you.
How long does it take to drain a hot tub?
The time required to drain a hot tub depends on its size and how you choose to do it; on average it usually takes 30-45 minutes.
After draining my hot tub, what should be my next steps?
After draining and emptying your hot tub, be sure to thoroughly clean the shell and filters, and inspect for damage or leaks before refilling with fresh water and filling your hot tub back up with new.
How often should I replace the water in my hot tub?
Your hot tub should be drained and filled every three to six months depending on usage and other considerations outlined herein.
Conclusion
How often you drain your hot tub depends on several factors, including usage, water chemistry, temperature and filter maintenance. Testing water chemistry regularly with high-quality chemicals like those from Spa-Tech or Purex; cleaning out and replacing the filter as recommended; showering before entering the hot tub; showering prior to using it again and draining regularly are all essential to maintaining a healthy hot tub environment. If any signs arise such as cloudy or murky water conditions; strong odours; skin irritation or cloudy surfaces arise that indicate draining should occur immediately and refill with fresh water as soon as possible so as to maintain a safe and enjoyable hot tub experience!
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