Overnight Drain

[tonyp]

On my 6th drain after almost 2 years of operation, I've decided not to wait even for my pool hose siphon to drain the spa.  I'll use the garden hose and do it overnight.  It'll definitely be empty and ready to clean by morning.  Can anyone think of a downside??

[bosco0633]

make sure the power  is off.  A buddy just did his the other night and left the power on.  OOPS.   I think is heater may be shot now.

Thats the only negative that I can think of, the weather is to hot right now to worry about freezing, unless you are in alaska maybe.

[tonyp]

My drain targets are Aug 1, Dec 1 and Apr 1 to minimize doing this during cold weather (in NW NJ).  The December drain is the only one with a real freeze possibility, although it's certainly not unheard of in April.

Well time to go out and vacuum out the water from the seats etc.

[Brewman]

As long as the power is off, and there is no freeze danger, sounds like your plan should work.

[PotomacG]

I bought a Little Giant submersible pump to help me out with faster drain and fills.  I will be trying it out next month to see how fast I can do it.  This will be a sort of "practice" for my first cold weather drain and fill sometime in December.

Any veterans out there want to offer tips for doing a drain and fill in the freezing weather?   (this will be my first winter as a spa owner)

[The_real_Clown_Shoes]

I recommend getting either vacuum or backwash hose from your spa dealer (if they also deal with pools) and using a shopvac to pump out the water.  Goes incredibly fast.

[Brewman]

I bought a Little Giant submersible pump to help me out with faster drain and fills.  I will be trying it out next month to see how fast I can do it.  This will be a sort of "practice" for my first cold weather drain and fill sometime in December.

Any veterans out there want to offer tips for doing a drain and fill in the freezing weather?   (this will be my first winter as a spa owner)

I try and time my water changes to not have to shut down the spa in freezing weather- I guess I'm paranoid about what would happen if I filled the spa, then couldn't power up for some reason.

I usually change water in very early November, which almost always is above freezing.  I keep an eye on the temperature forecast.  The I ride it out in over the winter till March, when it warms up above freezing again.  
I have not had to so far, but I'd do a partial water change before a total dump out in the dead of winter.

My owners manual has a section on what to do if I need to drain my spa in freezing temperatures because of an emergency.

[Spatech_tuo]

As long as the power is off, and there is no freeze danger, sounds like your plan should work.

... and you keep it covered.

[hamrhed]

I drain mine overnight... (Hot Tub)

Power off, Lid down,,, Works great...

[orlandoguy]

Since we're on the topic of draining, does anyone know of any danger the water can cause to grass or bushes?  I normally let my bromine get really low before doing the drain.  I can't imaging 102 degree water is going to burn anything.

[cooltoy2000]

My dealer told me that it would not hurt the grass. But I have not performed my first drain yet. I'll experiment on my neighbours grass on my first drain (j/k).

[Spatech_tuo]

My dealer told me that it would not hurt the grass. But I have not performed my first drain yet. I'll experiment on my neighbours grass on my first drain (j/k).

AS LONG AS you make sure the sanitizer level is down before draining. I tell the people I talk to (who are on chlorine) that all they need to do is don't add ANY chlorine the last 2 days and just before draining do a safety check of their levels and they'll probably find the chlorine to be lower than that of the water coming out of the tap.

[Brewman]

We've had posts here where bromine users claim that their grass greens up very nice from their old spa water.

[cooltoy2000]

Cool.

[Zep]

If you "drain your tub" overnight while you are sleeping is it ok
if the tub empties and the sump pump keeps running when
there is no water in the tub?