Sitting in your hot tub is one of the very best ways to relax and unwind after a stressful day or any time for that matter. However, if you want to make the most of your hot tub, then it’s important that you change the water regularly. But how do you change the water in your hot tub?
This article will go over everything you need to know about draining and refilling your hot tub, from the importance and how often you should do it, to the signs that it’s time to change the water, the benefits, and of course, how to actually do it.
Why it’s Important to Change Your Hot Tub Water
The most obvious reason to change the water in your hot tub is so that you don’t end up soaking in dirty water. Old water can contain dead skin cells, dirt, debris, and other undesirable elements, such as bacteria, and so it’s important to change the water for that reason alone. However, it’s also important to change the water because this helps keep your hot tub functioning properly so that you can enjoy it for many years to come, without the need to spend money on costly repairs.
How Often Should you Change the Water in Your Hot Tub?
How often you should change the water in your hot tub really all depends on how often you use it, but generally speaking, if you use your hot tub regularly, then you should change the water around 3-4 times per year, or once a season. You definitely don’t need to change the water every time you use your hot tub, but if you don’t change the water at least once per season, you can end up clogging the filters, and this can cause problems, possibly even damaging your hot tub.
Signs it’s Time to Change the Water in Your Hot Tub
Even if you routinely change the water in your hot tub once per season, it may still be necessary to change the water at other times as well. Let’s look at some of the signs that now would be a great time to drain and replace the water in your hot tub.
It’s Noticeably Dirty
If the water in your hot tub looks dirty, then it is. Even if you just changed the water a few weeks ago, you should drain it and refill it again the second you notice that the water is no longer clean. There are many reasons for why the water might have become dirty quicker than normal such as using it more often than you usually do, animals getting into it, not treating the water with the proper chemicals, or other reasons, in any event, you shouldn’t take any chances as soaking in dirty water can make you sick.
The Water Smells Funky
Sometimes the water might look fine, but when you sit down to soak in your hot tub, you notice that something stinks. Again, this is a clear sign that you need to change the water. It could be that your chemicals aren’t working, or some animal did their business in the hot tub. It might just be the case that your filters are past their prime and are no longer functioning properly. In any event, if you notice that the water stinks that it’s time to drain your hot tub and replace it with clean, fresh water.
The Filters Are Clogged
Your hot tub’s filters are what make it so that you don’t have to change the water every time. In most cases, hot tub filters should last for up to three months with regular use, but if, for whatever reason, your filters become clogged or otherwise are no longer working properly, then you’ll need to drain your hot tub, replace the filters, and then refill it again before going for a soak. To help prevent this problem from occurring, be sure to cover your hot tub when not in use so that animal particulate, dirt, debris, or other environmental substances, such as leaves, don’t clog up your filters.
The Benefits of Keeping the Water Refreshed on a Regular Basis
The good news is that by changing the water in your hot tub every season, or when necessary, you will enjoy a number of additional benefits. Let’s go over a few of the main upsides to routinely changing the water in your hot tub.
The Water Will Be Clean
First and foremost, as mentioned, when you change the water in your hot tub, you can guarantee that when you go for a soak, you will be soaking in clean water. Clean water that has been treated properly will allow you to relax and unwind without having to worry about getting sick due to contaminated water in your hot tub.
The Water Won’t Smell
If you soak in dirty water, then even if you don’t get sick, there is a great chance that you will smell after you get out of the tub. In some cases, the smell could last for days or weeks, especially if it soaks into your hair. This is an unlikely event, but it happens. When you soak in pure, clean water, you won’t end up smelling bad. In fact, the only smell you should have on you might be the faint smell of chlorine which will easily wash away when you have a shower, which you always should after soaking in a hot tub.
The Filters Will Last Longer
With regular water changes, your filters will last much longer; this is because they won’t have to work as hard to clean all of the dirt that can otherwise accumulate in your hot tub over time. You might not notice the dead skin cells in the water, but if you look at your hot tub’s filters after six months of not refreshing the water, you’ll definitely notice that they are plugged up with gunk, and most of that gunk is, you guessed it – old, dead skin.
You Won’t Need to Pay for Maintenance as Often
Hot tub maintenance can be expensive, to say the least. Fortunately, you can avoid the need to have your hot tub maintained and repaired just by draining and refilling it with clean water when needed. When your filters get clogged up, then the motor can end up having to work much harder than it would otherwise, which can cause the hot tub to become damaged mechanically. Again, this can be avoided if you change the water in your hot tub routinely.
Your Chemicals Will Work Properly
Another benefit of changing the water regularly is that your chlorine and PH chemicals will actually work properly. When you put those chemicals into a hot tub full of dirty water, then the effectiveness of the chemicals can be dramatically reduced, which means that you could be soaking in dirty water and not even realize it. When the water is clean, your chemicals will work, and you can soak with peace of mind knowing that you are safe from harmful bacteria in your hot tub.
How to Change the Water in your Hot Tub
Changing the water in your hot tub is relatively easy. Just follow these steps, and you shouldn’t encounter any problems.
1. Turn the power off
The first thing you need to do when changing the water is to turn off the power, this will prevent the motor from running dry, and it can also prevent you from being electrocuted, so never forget this important step.
2. Remove and change the filters
Next, you need to remove your filters. If the filters are relatively new, then you can wipe them down and continue using them. Otherwise, you will need to swap the old filters out with new ones.
3. Empty the hot tub
You can empty your hot tub through the drain plug, with a sub-pump, or with a wet-dry vac. It really doesn’t matter how you choose to do it; just make sure that all of the old water is gone before proceeding to the next step.
4. Clean out the hot tub
Now that the tub is empty, you should clean it out by wiping all of the surfaces down with a clean cloth or rag so that no dirt or debris remains in the tub. Once the tub is completely clean, you can move on.
5. Replace the filters
Next, you’ll want to replace the filters. If you cleaned out your filters, then you can go ahead and reattach them, or if you are putting in new filters, then now is the time to install them.
6. Refill the hot tub
The best way to refill your hot tub is with normal water from a garden hose. Remember to only fill the tub up to around 2-3 inches above the filter; otherwise, the water could overflow when you get in or turn the jets on.
7. Turn the power back on
Now that the hot tub is clean and the water has been replaced, you can go ahead and turn the power back on.
8. Add in your chemicals
Remember to add in your chlorine and PH chemicals so that your water will remain clean in the days and weeks ahead.
Contact Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs Today
That’s pretty much it. That’s just about all there is to know about draining and refilling your hot tub. By following the advice in this article, you should be able to keep your hot tub looking and running its best while minimizing the need to pay for repairs and maintenance.
For help changing your hot tub water, performing routine maintenance or facilitating repairs, contact our team of hot tub experts at Mountain Leisure Hot Tubs today.
