Hot Tub Draining Pump Kit | SPP2 Puddle Pump
Built for the job
Hot tub emptying pump kit for hot tubs, spas and swim spas
Drains a 5-6 person hot tub in about 25 minutes and takes the water down to almost nothing.
This FPS Engineered™ kit pairs the Stream SPP2-4 puddle pump with 6 m of 25 mm reinforced hose and the fittings to connect it. Sit the pump on the floor of the tub, run the hose over the side to a drain and switch on.
Most hot tubs have drains that don't function well. The built-in gate valve dribbles for an hour and then leaves several centimetres of water sitting in the footwell. This pump clears a 1,500 litre tub in around 25 minutes and takes it down to approximately 2 mm, so there is very little left to sponge out before you wipe the shell down.
Part of our wider puddle pump range.
Let the water cool first
Maximum water temperature is 40°C. Most hot tubs run at 37°C to 40°C.
That puts a tub at operating temperature right at the top of the pump's limit. Switch the heater off, take the cover off and let the water cool before you pump. Warm is fine, hot is not.
The pump is also manual, with no float switch, so it will not stop on its own. Stay with it and switch off at the plug as soon as the tub is empty. Running dry will damage it.
At a glance
- Around 25 minutes for a typical tub: 70 litres per minute at the modest lift a tub wall presents.
- Drains to approximately 2 mm: Leaves the footwell nearly dry rather than ankle deep.
- Fits in the footwell: 135 mm wide and 3 kg, so it sits flat on the shell and lifts out one-handed.
- 6 m of reinforced hose: Enough to reach a gully or drain and stiff enough to hold its shape over the tub side.
- Handles treated water: Suitable for chlorinated and brominated water, provided you flush it through afterwards.
What's included
- 1 × Stream SPP2-4 submersible puddle pump, with 10 m power cable and plug fitted
- 1 × 6 m length of 25 mm reinforced suction and delivery hose
- 1 × 20 to 32 mm stainless-steel hose clip
The pump is supplied with its own set of three straight hose tails, in 12 mm, 19 mm and 25 mm. The 25 mm tail is the one this kit uses.
How the kit connects
The SPP2-4 has a 25 mm outlet on top of the pump, and the 25 mm straight hose tail supplied with the pump screws into it. Push the hose fully onto the ribbed tail and tighten the supplied stainless-steel clip.
The hose then runs straight up from the pump and over the side of the tub. Drop the far end to your discharge point.
How long will it take?
Estimated with 6 m of hose discharging freely. Lift is measured from the water surface up to the top of the tub side, so most domestic tubs sit between 0.5 m and 1 m.
| Tub volume | Lift over the side | Estimated flow | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 litres | 0.5 m | Approx. 59 L/min | Approx. 17 minutes |
| 1,500 litres | 0.5 m | Approx. 59 L/min | Approx. 25 minutes |
| 1,500 litres | 1 m | Approx. 57 L/min | Approx. 26 minutes |
| 2,000 litres | 1 m | Approx. 57 L/min | Approx. 35 minutes |
Estimated using the published SPP2-4 curve and Hazen-Williams friction, with the hose discharging freely. Flow tails off over the last few centimetres as the water level drops towards the pump. Actual times depend on tub volume, lift and how the hose is routed. A typical four to six seater domestic tub holds roughly 1,200 to 1,800 litres; check your manufacturer's figure.
Technical specification
| Specification | Stream SPP2-4 |
|---|---|
| Operation | Manual only, no float switch |
| Pump type | Submersible puddle pump, clean and slightly dirty water |
| Minimum water level | Approximately 2 mm |
| Outlet | 25 mm |
| Motor power | 0.1 kW |
| Voltage | 230 V single phase |
| Maximum flow | 70 litres per minute |
| Maximum head | 6 metres |
| Free passage | 3 mm |
| Water temperature | 5°C to 40°C |
| Maximum submersion depth | 5 metres, can be partially submerged |
| Power cable | 10 metres with plug |
| Dimensions | 135 × 155 × 250 mm |
| Weight | 3 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years, manufacturer |
How to empty your hot tub
- Switch off the heater and the tub's power at the isolator, take the cover off, and let the water cool to below 40°C.
- Stop dosing chemicals a few days beforehand if you plan to discharge onto a lawn or border, so the chlorine or bromine level has fallen.
- Sit the pump flat in the deepest part of the footwell, away from the suction fittings and skimmer.
- Run the hose up and over the side to your discharge point.
- Plug into a socket well clear of the water. Keep the plug and any connection dry and off the ground.
- Switch on and stay with it. Move the pump to the lowest point as the level drops to clear the last of the water.
- Switch off at the plug the moment the water is gone, then flush the pump and hose through with clean water before storing them dry.
Where to discharge the water
Treated hot tub water is not the same as rainwater.
Chlorine and bromine will scorch grass and can harm plants, and neither should reach a pond, stream or ditch, where it is toxic to fish and invertebrates. The usual advice is to stop dosing a few days before you drain, then test that the level has dropped before discharging anywhere near planting.
A foul drain or the household sewer is the safest destination. Do not discharge to a surface water drain, which in most cases runs directly to a watercourse. If your tub uses a saltwater or bromine system, or you are unsure which drain is which, check with your water company first.
Water quality limits
Clean and slightly dirty water only. The SPP2-4 handles normally treated hot tub water, but it is not a chemical-resistant pump. Flush it through with clean water after every use so treatment chemicals are not left standing inside it. It is not for salt water, sewage or heavily soiled water, and grit will wear it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to empty a hot tub?
Around 25 minutes for a typical 1,500 litre tub, and about 35 minutes for a larger 2,000 litre one.
Will it get all the water out?
It clears down to approximately 2 mm, so you are left with a damp shell rather than a footwell full of water. Moving the pump to the lowest point as the level drops helps it pick up the last of it.
Can I pump the water while it is still hot?
No. The limit is 40°C and most tubs run at 37°C to 40°C, which leaves no margin. Switch the heater off and let it cool first.
Is it safe with chlorinated or brominated water?
Yes for normal bathing concentrations, provided you flush the pump and hose through with clean water afterwards. It is not a chemical-resistant pump, so do not use it to move concentrated chemicals or shock-dosed water. For repeated duty in chemically treated water, a chemical-resistant pump is the better choice.
Does the pump switch off on its own?
No. It is manual, with no float switch, so it runs until you switch it off at the plug. Do not leave it unattended, because running dry will damage it.
Which hose tail does it use?
The 25 mm straight tail supplied with the pump, which lets the hose run vertically up and out of the tub. The 12 mm and 19 mm tails are also in the box if you ever want to run a narrower hose, though flow will drop.
Can I use the same kit for a swim spa or a paddling pool?
Yes for both, though a swim spa holds several times more water than a hot tub, so allow proportionally longer. For emptying a full swimming pool, our swimming pool range has a higher-flow option better suited to the volume.
Can I use it to clear a flood as well?
Yes, it is the same pump we supply in our flood kits. This kit has a 6 m hose sized for a garden discharge point, so if flood clearance is the main job, the 10 m option in the flood kit gives you more reach.
Full spec sheet
| Model | SPP2 |
| Manual/ Auto | M |
| Outlet/ mm | 25 |
| Kw | 0.1 |
| Volt | 230 |
| Flow ltr/min | 70 |
| Head /m | 6 |
| On Level/ mm | NA |
| Off Level/ mm | NA |
| Free Passage | 3 |
| W x L x H /mm | 135 x 155 x 250 |
| Weight /Kg | 3 |
