Speed Up Refilling Hot Tub with 6 Simple DIY Hack

Efficient and Quick Refilling Hot Tub Techniques for Instant Relaxation. Learn How to Refill Your Hot Tub with Ease and Enjoy Uninterrupted Soothing Soaks. Explore Expert Tips Now!

Refilling a hot tub is often considered tedious and time-consuming, especially for those who anxiously await the soothing warmth and relaxation it provides. However, what if there were simple hacks that could speed up this process? Say goodbye to long hours of waiting and hello to quicker refills with these six DIY tips.

Whether you’re a busy professional, an impatient soul, or want more time soaking in their hot tub oasis, these ingenious tricks will fill your tub up quickly.

Get ready to dive into the world of accelerated hot tub refills and reclaim precious minutes for ultimate hydrotherapy enjoyment!

Refilling Hot Tub with 6 Easy Steps

Refilling a hot tub involves several steps to ensure that the water is clean and safe for use:

1. Draining the Hot Tub:

• Please turn off the hot tub’s power and disconnect it from electrical sources.
• Locate the drain valve or plug at the bottom of the hot tub.
• Attach a garden hose to the drain outlet and direct the other end to a suitable drainage area. Make sure the hose is secure and won’t come loose during draining.
• Open the drain valve and allow the water to flow out. It may take some time, depending on the size of your hot tub.

2. Cleaning the Hot Tub:

• While the hot tub is draining, take the opportunity to clean the interior surfaces. Use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge to remove dirt, debris, or residue.
• Pay special attention to the waterline, jets, and any filters.

3. Filling the Hot Tub:

• Close the drain valve once the hot tub is empty.
• Remove the garden hose from the drain outlet and attach it to a water source, such as an outdoor faucet.
• Fill the hot tub with water. Be sure to monitor the water level as it fills to prevent overflows.

4. Balancing the Water Chemistry:

• Test the freshly filled water with a water testing kit to determine its pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels.
• Adjust the pH and alkalinity levels as needed using appropriate chemicals.
• Add the recommended amount of hot tub sanitizer (such as chlorine or bromine) to establish proper disinfection.

5. Heating and Circulating:

• Reconnect the hot tub to its power source.
• Turn on the hot tub’s heating and circulation systems.
• Allow the water to heat to your desired temperature. It may take several hours.

6. Final Checks:

• Once the water is heated, test it again for pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels.
• Adjust the water chemistry to ensure it falls within the appropriate range.
• Ensure all jets, lights, and other hot tub features function properly.

Section 1: The Challenge of Hot Tub Maintenance 

Using our hot tub daily is a blissful routine, but over time, the water accumulates various chemicals from treatments like shock, leading to an unwanted chemical odor. 

Regular water changes are necessary, but they come with challenges, primarily the excruciatingly slow process of bringing the freshly refilled tub to the desired temperature.

Section 2: A Eureka Moment: The Perfect Fitting 

I found an ingenious solution after grappling with the time-consuming process of heating my hot tub after water changes. While working on another project, I found a fitting that was the missing piece of the puzzle. This fitting became the game-changer I needed to reduce heating time drastically.

Section 3: The Fitting – A Bridge Between Shower and Hot Tub 

The magical fitting I uncovered had two sides designed for different purposes. It featured a 1/2″ NPT female connection on one end, perfect for attaching to a standard shower pipe. The other side boasted a 3/4″ garden hose thread. 

If you’re not based in the USA, you might need to determine the equivalent sizes for your shower pipe and garden hoses.

Section 4: The Swift Refill Process 

Here’s how I put this fitting to work: I connected the fitting to my shower pipe and cranked on the hot water. Since I have my home water heater set to its highest temperature limit, the water that flowed out was significantly hotter than the typical 104°F/40°C hot tub temperature. I allowed the hot water to fill my tub until it reached roughly halfway.

Section 5: Maximizing Efficiency 

I took advantage of my home water heater’s rapid recovery time to avoid downtime. After the first filling round, I patiently waited for about an hour, allowing my water heater to increase its temperature. Once ready, I repeated the process, effectively filling the tub to the desired level without the tedious hours of waiting.

Section 6: Enjoy Sooner, Relax Longer. 

Thanks to this DIY hack, my hot tub’s water changed, and the heating process transformed. What used to take me a grueling 12 hours or more now takes just a little over an hour. The joy of sinking into a rejuvenating soak in a freshly filled and perfectly heated hot tub is now a reality without the agonizing wait.

Hot Tub Refill Time Reduction: My Top 3 Tips

Draining and refilling your hot tub is a necessary maintenance task. But it can be time consuming and disrupt your relaxation. As a hot tub owner, I’ve discovered 3 simple tricks to reduce the refill time:

1. Use a Submersible Pump

A submersible pump drains the old water much faster than the spigot. Just place it inside the hot tub, connect to a hose, and you can drain in 10 minutes instead of an hour. It’s my go-to for quick draining.

2. Attach a Hose Filter

If you have well water, a hose filter is a must. It removes impurities and balances the pH before refilling. For me, it improves water quality and prevents scaling and staining. Less chemicals and maintenance is a bonus!

3. Consider a Preheater or Booster Pump

While pricier options, a preheater warms up the refill water ahead of time. And a booster pump increases water pressure for faster filling. I’m looking into these to reduce my refill time even more. Though professional installation may be required.

Refilling hot tub chemicals: 

It would be best to balance the water’s pH, alkalinity, and sanitiser levels after refilling your hot tub. You can use test strips or a digital tester to measure these parameters and add the appropriate chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Chemicals after refilling the hot tub:

After refilling your hot tub, you must wait for the water to reach the desired temperature before adding chemicals. It may take several hours, depending on the size of your hot tub and the ambient temperature. Once the water is heated, you must test and adjust the above pH, alkalinity, and sanitiser levels.

Refilling hot tub after winter: 

Suppose you drained your hot tub for winter, refilled and restarted it before using it again. You also need to check for any leaks, cracks, or damage that may have occurred during the winter. You can follow the same steps as filling a hot tub for the first time, but you may also need to flush the plumbing system with a cleaner before refilling it.

For additional information, visit Hot Tub & Patio, or if you’re interested in more reading, see Guides and Reviews.

Final Words: (Refilling Hot Tub)

I’m thrilled to share this innovative solution with the hot tub community, hoping it brings you the same level of convenience and relaxation it has brought me. If you have any ideas or methods that could further enhance this concept, I’m eager to hear them. Let’s continue to make our hot tub experiences even more enjoyable together.

Dealing with Common Inquiries:

Q. How to fill a hot tub for the first time: 

You need to follow these steps to fill a hot tub for the first time:

1. Clean the hot tub shell with a mild cleaner and rinse it well.
2. Close the drain valve and make sure all the jets are open.
3. Place a hose filter over the end of your garden hose and insert it into the filter compartment of your hot tub.
4. Turn on the water and fill the hot tub until the water level is above the highest jet.
5. Turn off the water and remove the hose filter.
6. Turn on the power and set the desired temperature.
7. Test and adjust the water chemistry as needed.

Q. How to drain a hot tub with a pump: 

You can use a submersible pump to drain your hot tub faster and easier than gravity. You need to follow these steps to drain a hot tub with a pump:

1. Turn off the power and disconnect any electrical cords from your hot tub.
2. Open the drain valve and attach a hose to it. Place the other end of the hose where you want the water to go.
3. Place the submersible pump inside your hot tub and plug it into an outlet. Ensure the outlet is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
4. Please turn on the pump and let it drain the water until it reaches below the lowest jet.
5. Please turn off the pump and unplug it. Please remove it from your hot tub and dry it off.
6. Close the drain valve and detach the hose.

Q. Where is the drain plug on a hot tub: 

A hot tub’s drain plug or valve is usually located at the bottom or side of the spa cabinet. It may be hidden behind a panel or door you need to open or remove. You can also check your owner’s manual for more information on locating and accessing your drain plug or valve.

Q. How to drain a hot tub without a pump: 

You can drain your hot tub without a pump by using gravity. You need to follow these steps to drain a hot tub without a pump:

1. Turn off the power and disconnect any electrical cords from your hot tub.
2. Open the drain valve and attach a hose to it. Place the other end of the hose downhill from your hot tub where you want the water to go.
3. Wait for the water to drain out by gravity. Depending on the hot tub size and the hose’s length, it may take several hours.
4. When the water level reaches below the lowest jet, you can use a bucket or siphon to remove any remaining water.
5. Close the drain valve and detach the hose.

Q. How to drain a hot tub with a hose: 

You can use a garden hose as a siphon to drain your hot tub without opening the drain valve. You need to follow these steps to drain a hot tub with a hose:

1. Turn off the power and disconnect any electrical cords from your hot tub.
2. Fill a garden hose with water and attach one end to a faucet. Place the other end inside your hot tub below the water level.
3. Turn on the faucet and let the water run through the hose into your hot tub.
4. Please turn off the faucet and quickly detach the hose from it. Keep both ends of the hose below the water level.
5. Place one end of the hose downhill from your hot tub where you want the water to go.
6. Wait for the water to drain out by siphon. It may take longer than using gravity or a pump, depending on the size of your hot tub and the length of your hose.
7. When the water level reaches below the lowest jet, you can use a bucket or another hose to remove any remaining water.