Best way to quickly drain hot tub?

[SpaNE]

It takes about 5 hours to drain my 350 gal tub.  Even after all this time there is still a few inches of water remaining on the seats and floor.  I'm sure there is an easier way.

What do you guys recommend - a submersible pump - quick drain?  If you have a link to a specific product that would be great.

Thanks for your help.

[Bonibelle]

I use a pool vac hose. Just get the syphon started using a jet and the large hose will drain the tub real fast. I use a shower squeege to clear off the seats and then a shop vac to get anything left in the footwell. The shop vac will also suck the water out of the jets too. The last drain that I did, I used two pool hoses and the tub was empty in a flash!

[Timdelta]

If you have a slope or on a deck the fastest is a 2 or 3 inch hose and siphon. I have used the wet dry vac hose and it is lighting fast. Then use the vac to suck the remaining. Only hassel is the last bit have to hold hose. I now use a pump and it is very easy and when I spray it out with fresh water it is still pumping out, just not as fast.

[tony]

My spa has a two inch gravity drain with a flat hose and it drains quick.  If I use a submersible with a garden hose, it takes forever.  A submersible with a larger hose...at least a one inch...would be fairly fast.  If your spa's gravity drain is only garden hose size, go for the submersible with as large a hose as it allows.

[Zep]

LITTLE GIANT SUBMERSIBLE UTILITY SUMP PUMP 5-MSP 5MSP



http://cgi.ebay.com/LITTLE-GIANT-SUBMERSIBLE-UTILITY-SUMP-PUMP-5-MSP-5MSP_W0QQitemZ190189755522QQihZ009QQcategoryZ20507QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(ps: This will greatly speed up the process, but you will still have an inch of water in bottom & maybe a seat....
draining tubs has not been perfected by the industry yet...and it is a bit of a pain in the A$$....I also have a larger pump with a huge hose on it and can drain mine in about 10 miniutes)

[Bonibelle]

My method is the least expensive, especially since I recycled my old pool vac hose

[Chad]

 I just tilt one end up and let it pour out....











....but sometimes(when I'm not Clemensing) I use the exact same pump that Zep does.  

[In Canada eh]

Same pump as Zep also, takes about 25 minutes to drain our tub.  I just use a sponge and bucket to get the last 1/2 inch out

[tony]

Same pump as Zep also, takes about 25 minutes to drain our tub.  I just use a sponge and bucket to get the last 1/2 inch out

I wouldn't even worry about the last half inch unless you plan on using spa gloss on the shell.  It won't contaminate your new water.

[Pathfinder]

Contractor grade submersible with 1 1/2" discharge. 5 mins, I dont like to wait

[H823Putt]

5 hours for 350 gallons??? Are you using one of those thin plastic hoses for a fish tank?

My spa is also 350 gallons and it only takes about 1 1/2 hous max to empty with a garden hose connected to the drain valve.

[SpaNE]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  

I am going to order the Little Giant submersible pump that Zep suggested.

[SpaNE]

5 hours for 350 gallons??? Are you using one of those thin plastic hoses for a fish tank?

.

Regular garden hose.  Yes, it takes forever.

[Brewman]

WOW.  I use a 3/4" contractor grade garden hose, and my 485 gallon Optima takes about 30 or 40 minutes to drain.  My yard drops several feet between the spa and the end of the hose, so that maybe that pulls the water faster.  The larger diameter hose may help, too.

The built in spa drain does leave maybe 10 gallons of water in the footwell, but it's easy enough to get rid if it if I feel the need.  I usually just leave it.

I'd be getting some type of powered pump if my spa took 6 hours to drain.  

[BauerN]

Same pump as Zep also, takes about 25 minutes to drain our tub.  I just use a sponge and bucket to get the last 1/2 inch out

No Power Drain?