Hot tubs are great for relaxing after a long day, but keeping them clean and healthy means draining them regularly. According to What Spa Magazine, you should drain a hot tub roughly every three months to prevent the build-up of bacteria and contaminants. Using a puddle water pump is the most efficient and straightforward way to do it, and we stock plenty of options for the job.
What you will need
- A puddle water pump: a small submersible pump designed to remove water from shallow areas. Learn more in what is a puddle pump.
- Hose and hose clip: to direct the water to a suitable drain. Watch our video on what type of hose to use, and see our layflat hose range.
- A suitable place to discharge the water: check your local authority's guidance on what can go down your drains.
- Cloth or mop: for drying up any residual water.
- Screwdriver: to tighten the hose clip.
Step-by-step: draining a hot tub with a puddle pump
1. Prepare the hot tub
Turn the hot tub off at the mains to avoid any electrical accidents. Make sure no one is in the tub and the water has cooled down, as most puddle pumps are rated for water up to around 35 degrees.
2. Prepare the pump
Get your pump and hose ready. We used the Stream SPP2-4, which is affordable, lightweight and portable. The video at the foot of this guide shows how to set it up.
3. Position the pump
Set the pump at the deepest point of the hot tub. Puddle pumps are designed to work in very shallow water and clear down to around 2mm, which makes them ideal for this task. Connect the pump to a suitable electrical outlet and make sure there are no kinks in the layflat hose.
4. Monitor the drainage
Switch the pump on and keep an eye on the flow to make sure it is draining correctly. Adjust the hose if needed to keep a steady flow. Once the pump can no longer reach the water, use a mop or cloth to dry up the last of it.
5. Clean the hot tub
With the tub empty, give it a clean following your hot tub manufacturer's guidance.
6. Refill and balance
Refill with fresh water to the level specified in your hot tub's manual, then balance the water chemistry by adding the necessary chemicals. Test the water to make sure it is safe and comfortable before use.
Happy relaxing. For the full puddle pump range, see our puddle pumps, or use the Pump Finder if you are not sure which model suits you.
