When is the Best Time of Year to Drain and Fill a Spa for Spa Maintenance?

You’ve bought a new hot tub for your Vail vacation home and now you have spa maintenance questions. You understand the importance of keeping the water circulating, balanced, and clean. But exactly when is the best time of year to drain and fill a spa? 

The short answer for appropriate hot tub maintenance is whenever it needs it. Generally, this is around every 3-4 months. 

However, avoid draining and filling a spa during winter. Water that is left behind in the pipes could freeze and damage your spa. Instead, drain and fill in late fall and early spring.

Spa Maintenance: Why do I Need to Drain and Fill a Spa?

Every time you soak in your spa you leave behind residue in the water. Perfumes, shampoos, and sweat all build up in the water. Over time the water becomes saturated with a variety of body oils. And you know what they say about oil and water – they don’t mix.

Using sanitizer as directed will not completely keep build-up from occurring. If you do not drain and refill your spa with fresh water, your spa becomes gritty, cloudy, foamy, smelly, and just plain gross. Your spa becomes more akin to a nasty swamp than a refreshing and soothing place to relax and unwind.

Draining and refilling your spa with fresh water provides an opportunity for a thorough deep cleaning of the shell, plumbing, filter, and the outer cabinet walls to remove the oily buildup.

Spa Maintenance: How to Drain and Fill a Spa

Now that you know why you should do it, here’s a brief explanation of how to drain and fill a spa.

1. Clean plumbing with a specially formulated product.
2. Turn everything off including the hot tub breaker.
3. Drain the spa using a garden hose or sump pump.
4. Remove and clean the filter. Soak it for 24 hours.
5. Spread out the hot tub cover and deep clean both sides.
6. Clean the tub.
7. Clean the outer cabinet.
8. Make sure the hot tub breaker is off! And close the spa drains.
9. Now refill the tub with fresh water from the garden hose. 
10. Monitor the tub as it refills. Do not let it overflow and possibly ruin the spa’s heater.
11. Replace the cover.
12. Allow 24 hours for your spa to heat back up.
13. Enjoy a soak. You’ve earned it.

Spa Maintenance Route Service: Maximum Comfort Pool and Spas

If all of the above sounds like too much of a hassle, call us at Maximum Comfort Pool & Spas. We offer a variety of route service options to meet your needs. 

We will come out to service your new spa seasonally, once a month, twice a week – whatever and whenever your need, we will meet it.

Our maintenance personnel are certified professionals who take pride in their work. Some of the services we offer include:

• Drain and clean
• Seal and oil treatments for wood exteriors
• Vinyl cover treatments
• Replacing filters and chemicals as needed

At Maximum Comfort Pool & Spas we provide the premium service you expect. We will make sure your Colorado vacation home and spa are ready to welcome you home with a relaxing soak in a high-quality clean tub. Contact us today!