How to Drain and Winterize a Hot Tub Spa - Complete Water Drain Guide!

[@NanYatesNews]

This is one of the ONLY videos that shows how to drain the pumps. And that tool you made is awesome!!! I have a Jacuzzi brand spa. I did manage to drain the one pump -but the other is, like yours, in a very tough location. I actually broke off part of the tab of the drain plug. I did that one time before and tried to drill into it and it pushed it inside the pump. I didn’t have to replace the whole pump just the outer ring (volute). I wish I had thought to make your tool that’s awesome. I might do something like that for the future. Most of the posts I have found are like drain out all the water & you’re done. there is one additional place for water in a Jacuzzi and that’s under the heater. I’m not sure how I’ll get to that but I’ve got help coming tomorrow. I may videotape some of mine thanks again.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I’m glad it was helpful!

[@JamAudiox]

Really great step-by-step tutorial! Thank you!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johngueli6293]

Appreciate the simplicity of this video thank you

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@adrienl.6581]

Thank you very much, that's the best video i saw on the subject so far. Very good !

[@adrienl.6581]

By the way, do you need to remove the pump and keep them inside for the winter ?

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Really glad it helped! I personally never remove the pumps. I do not think that is a typical procedure. Just drain them so there’s no water in them so water does not freeze and expand and break anything internal. I suspect pump removal is only required to replace a faulty part. Not as an annual procedure.

[@rogerjeangilles4425]

Thanks that was very helpful ❤

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Awesome!

[@MichaelTaylor-ei7es]

Excellent! Hot tub service people are charging up to £400. Think we’ll follow your instructions. Thank you!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad you saved some money!

[@SimonJohnMills]

well done, very helpful Thankyou

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad it was helpful!

[@VictorChicago-n5l]

Great demo video. Thanks my man! What do you have to do to prime the pipes when you refill it so the pumps don't start dry?

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I have not done that. I just filled it up.

[@remberthgmedranda284]

Excelente vídeo

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@pastapaul150]

Do you have to disconnect the pump unions??

[@evlx14]

Thank you sir

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

No problem! Glad it helped!

[@onyxbear4961]

Can I attach my air compressor to the part where it drains and blow out the lines this way instead of using a vacuum? Just curious.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I personally don’t see an issue with it. That’s how underground sprinkler systems are cleared. I would try it. Keep the psi low so it doesn’t damage anything sensitive.

[@onyxbear4961]

That’s exactly how I do my sprinklers, thinking to blow @ 50 psi max just to save time with the vacuum 😅. I live in Alberta, Canada where it gets really cold over the winter. You think it’s necessary to fill the lines with antifreeze? I just don’t want to go over the hustle of cleaning it up when I restart the hot tub, I believe if I get it rid of all the water inside the tub is good enough no?. Thanks again for the reply mate.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

@@onyxbear4961 There is antifreeze specifically for winterizing hot tubs. I personally have not used it. I just drain the system and have not had any issues.

[@PsyduckAddict]

Is it important to use the water Hoover thing on the jets? I only have a bucket so can't do that step! 🙈

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

If you have no other options, you will probably be ok by removing the drain plug at the pump. Water will flow down to the lowest point in the system, which should be the drain plug. It may not drain everything, but I think it should be OK. Be prepared for a lot of water to come out of the pump drain plug! Several gallons! It is definitely worth sucking or blowing out the Jets if you can get your hands on a shop vac. Any piping that is below the drain plug level will be full of water.

[@freemindedproductions]

I borrowed one and I have taken out 3 more buckets! So yeah I would do it

[@robertfortney7184]

If I add the antifreeze, should I pour it into the opening where usually I fill the hot tub? ....and does pouring the antifreeze there get to the pumps and to the manifold of water lines?

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Be sure to use pool / spa antifreeze. Do not use automotive antifreeze because it is toxic. Pretty much pour some into all of the jets and filter area to introduce it anywhere water inters the system. Examples: amzn.to/3S9QubC amzn.to/3ERkGp0

[@lak12765]

Are you aware you have a drain at the towards the bottom of the shop vac? So you don’t have to lift the bucket to pour water out

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Good point. I suppose it could be possible to run a hose from the shop vac drain to a water dump point far away. However, this would require always keeping the drain elevated above the hot tub. I set my shop vac down in the hot tub in order to reach all of the necessary areas, so it would not work for me. But good tip for others with a longer shop vac hose and an elevated table to set the shop vac on. Or maybe you are joking and you want all of the water I vac up to drain right back into the hot tub. Not sure…

[@lak12765]

Oh ok. Yeah with my hose plus attachments. Made it easy to reach the jets to blow water out of the plumbing

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

@@lak12765 Nice!

[@Banditt42]

Doing both breakers is important because someone else may flick the one on the inside during the winter.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Great point! Thanks for sharing!

[@jessgillespie4120]

Bro! You’re supposed to take your filter out of your ShopVac when you use it to suck up water!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Very good point! I. Agree that a shop vac filter should be removed when vacuuming water! In this case, I am not running the paper filter. I’m running a CleanStream filter. The material is plastic, and it can be used wet and dry. To clean it, you use running water. I’ve had this filter for about 15 years. So far, it looks like it will last forever. Highly recommended.

[@79firebirdman]

Great idea with the tool made from a spare socket. And, anyone considering using anti-freeze, use RV antifreeze, DO NOT use automotive antifreeze in a hot tub, ever. Residual traces of automotive antifreeze left in the system after the next startup could poison someone. Even though residual amounts of automotive antifreeze would likely be down to a few parts per million when the spa is refilled and restarted, exposure to it would be cumulative since our systems cannot eliminate this toxic chemical and it kills by destroying kidneys as our bodies try to eliminate it. Very dangerous for both people and animals. That said, this is a very good informative, short and to the point video, as nobody wants to spend 45 minutes listening to the life history of a random stranger on KZbin.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! I had already I added notes about using the correct antifreeze in the video description and pinned a comment to the top of the comments. I just blurred out the antifreeze bottle in the video, so automotive antifreeze is not visible.

[@PB2536]

You have left all the bacteria and biofilm in your pipes for winter. Always use a chemical purge pipe clean before draining your hot tub.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Great point! Thanks for sharing!

[@79firebirdman]

It doesn't seem to me that that would be a problem with a properly maintained system that has regularly had the water drained and refilled, and has had proper maintenance with filter service/cleaning, adding shock treatment at least weekly, and regular water testing and adjustment as needed of calcium hardness, Ph, and sanitizer. A system not properly maintained is likely gonna have bigger issues than biofilm and contamination by bacteria and other pathogens. Yeah, the learning curve is steep, ask me how i know!

[@larryseeger6550]

The filter you removed from the tub should be thrown away as it looks past its useful life. Also wrong to show that type of antifreeze. Never coolant antifreeze, use RV/ Swimming pool antifreeze.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing. Very helpful. I appreciate it!

[@cargeek4777]

Damn I forgot my pumps hope they havent frozen :)

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I think you’ll be OK. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

[@robertalee3528]

Use antifreeze designed for HT not car antifreeze if using

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing. I added that information to the video description and a comment pinned to the top.

[@kathyledesma6773]

AAAAHHHHH

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Be sure to use pool / spa antifreeze. Do not use automotive antifreeze because it is toxic. Examples: amzn.to/3S9QubC amzn.to/3ERkGp0