A Guide To Changing The Water In Your Inflatable Hot Tub

The perfect hot tubs don’t exi—Yes, they do. And while they may be smaller than regular tubs, inflatable hot tubs are cheaper, incredibly easy to maintain, and can be used indoors and outdoors. However, one thing you must be cautious of with these tubs is how to change their water.

Empty your inflatable hot tub every 3 to 4 months. Switch off the electricity supply first and unplug all cables. Connect the draining valve with a garden hose. Place the end of the hose in a safe area away from vegetation and remove the drainage valve inside the tub to empty the water.

While the process is easy and quick, you should know one or two things about the water in your tub. We take you through a guide to changing the water in your inflatable hot tub. Hopefully, by the end, we will have answered your questions.

How Do You Empty Your Inflatable Hot Tub?

Changing the water in your inflatable tub is a no-brainer. The exact procedure may vary depending on your model, so cross-check with your owner’s manual. However, these are the basic steps to follow:

  1. The first step is to switch off the electricity supply. Unplug all cables leading to the hot tub.
  1. Next, connect the draining valve with a garden hose. You may use a hose adapter if need be.
  1. Place the end of the hose (where the old water will drain) in a safe area away from grass, plants, and chemicals. You don’t want chemicals from the tub water harming your vegetation. When choosing an area to empty the water, remember that you are draining around 200-300 gallons of water, depending on your model.
  1. Remove the drainage valve inside the tub to empty the water.
  1. Once you have drained all the water, give your tub a good clean before refilling it.

How Often Should You Change the Water in an Inflatable Hot Tub?

Filling an inflatable indoor hot tub inside a residential garage

Empty your inflatable hot tub after every three to four months, which is equally frequent as a regular hot tub.

Changing the water in your tub makes it clean and clear. When you do so less frequently, all sorts of dirt start developing, and they may strain your equipment and filter.

You also don’t want to change the water too frequently to avoid wasting water and prevent the bills from shooting up. So, three months is a good period to hold onto the water before changing it.

Sometimes, it is okay to surpass the 3-month period before changing the water, while other times, you may need to do so sooner.

Here are a few signs to look out for to know when it’s time to change the water in your inflatable hot tub.

Dirty and Smelly Water

You may notice the water stinking when you take the cover off your hot tub. Dirty and smelly water indicates that you need to change it ASAP.

Sure, you may consider shocking your hot tub, but if that doesn’t work, then it’s time to drain it and replace it with clean, fresh water.

Foam

Foam is common in hot tubs. You should easily clear it using a hot tub defoamer; the SpaGuard Spa Anti Foam (on Amazon) is an excellent choice.

But if the foam builds up again immediately after clearing it, empty the water immediately.

Pee

Peeing in your hot tub is dangerous. This is because pee mixes with the sanitizer in your tub to create a compound known as chloramine.

Chloramine is known to create health hazards such as asthma, sore throats, breathing difficulties, and skin conditions.

If you suspect pee in your inflatable hot tub, shock it immediately. If the smell persists, replace it with clean water.

Time

Lastly, keep track of the last time you changed your water. Even if you surpass the three months and the water in your tub is still clean, you should change it. Unforeseen bacteria build-up in the water will create a breeding place for diseases.

How Frequently Do Your Filters Need to Be Cleaned?

The water in your tub becomes contaminated with debris, dead skin, oils, sweat, and other dirt over time, even if you shower prior to getting in. Your tub’s filter helps catch most of these; as expected, it will also get dirty with time.

Clean your hot tub filter at least once every three days. After around 2-3 weeks, give it a deep clean. Then consider replacing them every 1 or 2 months.

Remember, your inflatable hot tub is cheap, and its filters are not as durable as the regular ones.

For regular hot tubs, the filters can last up to 2 years. But inflatable tub filters become hard and discolored fairly quickly. This is a good way to tell when they need to be changed.

Failing to clean and replace your filters will make them soil and lead to clogging. In addition, they will constrict the water flow and transfer the strain to the water pump. The result is a potential mechanical breakdown.

A poorly maintained filter is the most common cause of pump failure and related problems. So, give your filter a good clean to avoid all this. Also, your water will be filthy, which is harmful, as discussed next.

What Happens if You Don’t Change the Water Frequently?

Changing the water in your inflatable hot tub frequently is vital for preventing damage and keeping the water clean. When you fail to do so, the water becomes dirty and contaminated. Who wants to soak in dirty water?

Moreover, the water becomes improperly balanced and may begin to erode the hot tub. If you are using your tub outdoors, your water will evaporate and leave behind bather wastes contributing to water saturation.

After draining the old water and before replacing it with fresh, remember to give your tub and filter a thorough cleaning. Clean water means that your soak will be more comfortable, and you’ll not be exposing yourself to unwanted bacteria.

How Often Does Hot Tub Water Need to Be Treated?

Your inflatable hot tub requires additives to maintain its water fresh and clean—all hot tubs do. There must be a system to destroy and remove microorganisms and contaminants; otherwise, the water would become potentially harmful.

You need to treat your hot tub water every time you replace it. That means you will be treating it every three months. You can treat it on the fourth month if you are not a regular user.

Water treatment systems work differently depending on the technology that your inflatable hot tub employs. Some tubs may require more effort to support the sanitation process than others. 

While we are at it, here are the hot tub chemicals that you will require:

  • Something to adjust the water pH. A pH indicates how acidic or alkaline your hot tub water is. The goal is to have it neutral, so it is safe to soak in. High pH levels can cause skin and eye irritation, while lower pH levels can damage the tab.
  • Depending on your water’s pH levels, you may require a pH increaser or decreaser.
  • A sequestering agent to help remove heavy metals, specifically calcium, from the water. Metals make your water dirty.
  • A shocking agent to release oxygen into the water and increase the chlorine level. This helps sanitize the water and remove bacteria.
  • A defoamer to reduce the foam in your water. Foam easily appears on water and will come from lotions, body oils, and other cosmetic products.
  • Lastly is the line flush cleaner. This comes in handy after every four months when your spa has accumulated dirt, grime, and mineral deposits. It helps to flush all these in the drain.

This may sound obvious, but remember to safely store your hot tub chemicals in a cool and dry area away from the kids.

Should the Water Be Changed More Often in an Inflatable Tub Compared to a Normal Hot Tub?

Private Jacuzzi

Not really. If anything, you should change the water in your inflatable more often, especially if you are a heavy user.

The filters in an inflatable hot tub are smaller and more delicate. You don’t want to put much strain on them.

But ideally, changing the water in normal and inflatable hot tubs should be at the same frequency. When you regularly maintain your tub, check its pH and alkalinity and balance the water as it should; the water will last you accordingly.

A Hot Afternoon in a Tub

What better way to spend your hot afternoon than in your inflatable hot tub? The feeling is magical. And it will continue being so only if you maintain your tub, including periodically changing the water.

Luckily, it’s not a difficult task and won’t consume much of your time. So take care of your inflatable tub, and it will take care of you!

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