Draining your Arctic Spa is a straightforward process that ensures the longevity and hygiene of your hot tub. It involves utilizing the spa's integrated drain system to efficiently remove water for cleaning, maintenance, or winterization.
Why Drain Your Arctic Spa?
Regular draining is a crucial part of hot tub ownership. Here are the primary reasons:
- Water Quality Maintenance: Over time, sanitizers and chemicals accumulate in the water, leading to a build-up of total dissolved solids (TDS), which can make your water harder to keep clean and balanced.
- Deep Cleaning: Draining allows you to thoroughly clean the spa shell, jets, and perform necessary maintenance that isn't possible with water in the tub.
- Preventive Maintenance: It's an ideal time to inspect the spa's components, plumbing, and seals for any issues.
- Winterization: If you're closing your spa for an extended period in cold climates, draining is essential to prevent freezing damage.
- Relocation: When moving your spa, it must be completely empty.
Preparatory Steps Before Draining
Before you begin the draining process, a few steps will ensure safety and efficiency:
Safety First
- Turn Off Power: Crucially, always turn off the power to your hot tub at the main breaker before performing any maintenance, including draining. This prevents accidental activation of pumps or heaters.
Water Treatment
- Neutralize Chemicals: If you have high levels of chlorine or bromine, consider adding a neutralizer product to the water a few hours before draining. This helps protect your lawn or garden from chemical exposure.
- Add Line Cleaner (Optional but Recommended): About 15-30 minutes before draining, add a hot tub plumbing cleaner to the water and let the pumps run for a short period (with jets off to avoid foaming). This will flush out unseen buildup in the internal plumbing, which can then be drained with the old water.
Gathering Supplies
- Garden Hose: Essential for directing the water away from your spa's foundation and into a suitable drainage area.
- Drain Adapter: This is typically provided with your Arctic Spa and connects the drain to your garden hose.
- Submersible Pump (Optional): For faster draining, especially if you have a larger spa or limited time.
Step-by-Step Draining Process
Arctic Spas are designed with a convenient drain system. Follow these steps for effective draining:
- Locate the Drain Valve: The main drain valve for your Arctic Spa is typically found at the base of the spa cabinet, often behind a small access panel or directly visible.
- Remove the Drain Plug: Carefully unscrew and remove the drain plug from the valve.
- Connect the Adapter: Take your drain adapter (often a fitting that connects to a standard garden hose) and thread it into the drain opening where you removed the plug.
- Initiate Draining: As you thread the adapter all the way in, the internal mechanism of the drain will automatically open, and water will begin to flow out through the connected adapter and garden hose.
- Direct the Water: Position the end of your garden hose to safely discharge the water.
- Suitable Areas: A lawn (if the water is de-chlorinated), a storm drain (check local regulations), or a designated utility sink.
- Avoid: Septic systems, areas near electrical components, or directly onto your spa's equipment.
- Monitor Until Empty: Allow the spa to drain completely. This can take several hours depending on the spa's size and the draining method used.
Faster Draining Methods (Optional)
For those looking to speed up the process, especially for larger spas:
- Submersible Pump: A small, electric submersible pump can dramatically reduce draining time.
- Place the pump directly into the deepest part of the spa.
- Attach a garden hose to the pump's outlet.
- Plug in the pump (ensure it's rated for wet environments and connected to a GFCI outlet).
- Direct the hose to your desired drainage area.
- Always ensure the pump is fully submerged before turning it on to prevent damage. You can then use the spa's integrated drain to remove any remaining water that the pump can't reach.
Post-Draining Tasks
Once your Arctic Spa is empty:
- Clean the Shell: Use a non-abrasive hot tub cleaner and a soft cloth to wipe down the spa's interior shell, paying attention to the waterline and any stains.
- Clean Filters: Remove your filter cartridges and clean them thoroughly with a specialized filter cleaner or replace them if necessary.
- Inspect and Clean Jets: Wipe around the jets and ensure they are free of debris.
- Refill Your Spa: Refer to your Arctic Spa owner's manual for specific refilling instructions, which usually involve filling through the filter compartment to prevent airlocks.
- For detailed instructions on refilling and initial start-up, you can often find resources on the Arctic Spas' official website.
Draining Frequency
How often you should drain your Arctic Spa depends on several factors:
| Factor | Impact on Draining Frequency |
|---|---|
| Usage | Heavily used spas require more frequent draining (e.g., every 1-2 months). |
| Bather Load | More people using the spa means faster chemical and TDS buildup. |
| Water Chemistry | Difficulty maintaining balanced water is a sign to drain. |
| Filter Maintenance | Well-maintained filters extend water life, but don't eliminate the need. |
| Environmental Factors | Contaminants like lotions, oils, or leaves accelerate water degradation. |
As a general guideline, most Arctic Spa owners drain and refill their hot tubs every 3-4 months, or sooner if water quality issues arise.
Environmental Considerations
When draining your spa, be mindful of where the water goes. Spa water contains dissolved chemicals that can harm plants or aquatic life.
- De-chlorinate: Allow chlorine or bromine levels to drop to near zero before draining (ideally below 0.5 ppm).
- Local Regulations: Check with your local municipality for specific guidelines on wastewater disposal, especially concerning storm drains.
Draining your Arctic Spa properly is a fundamental part of responsible hot tub ownership, ensuring a clean, safe, and enjoyable experience for years to come.
