How Long You Can Safely Let a Hot Tub Sit Empty

When you first get your hot tub, you might think you’ll never leave it empty for any reason.

However, there are some reasons why you could want to drain the hot tub for some time, and it could leave you wondering if it’s safe to leave your hot tub sitting empty. While the bottom line may be simple, it’s usually a more complex process than some people think.

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How Long Can a Hot Tub Stay Empty

Yes, it’s possible for a hot tub to sit empty for several months without incurring any damage or issues. However, you have to take some precautions before you leave it alone to sit until you’re ready to fill it again.

We’ll outline when you would leave it to sit empty, how to winterize and get it ready for summer, how to empty it, and other routine care tips that can extend your hot tub’s life below.

Reasons to Leave Your Hot Tub Empty

There are a few reasons why you’d choose to leave your hot tub empty and unused, and the most popular reasons are:

You want to winterize it
The hot tub needs repairs
You want to get the hot tub ready for summer
You’re going on vacation or leaving for an extended period

The two most common reasons people leave their hot tubs empty are they’re getting it ready for summer or wintertime.

It’s important to note that you can use a hot tub all year round in any weather without damaging it, but some people prefer to empty it during certain seasons.

Maybe you’re a snowbird who goes away for several months each year when the winter weather hits, or your family goes away to camps during the summer months, and you won’t need it ready and waiting for you.

How to Completely Drain the Hot Tub

You must know how to drain your hot tub to get all the water out before cleaning it or preparing it for the winter, so bacteria don’t grow.

The following steps will walk you through the process to ensure no stray water is left over when you finish.

Hot Tubs with Submersible Pumps

Switch your power off
Place your submersible pump inside your hot tub
If the pump’s hose is too short to reach, connect the water hose
Turn on the pump and drain the water
Once the water drains, switch off the pump before removing the hose

Hot Tubs with Spigots

Turn your power off
Find your spigot drainage on your hot tub’s body. It could have two, and you want to use the primary one before the auxiliary one
Attach your garden hose to the spigot with the house going downhill to allow the water to drain out
Place the other end of the hose in an appropriate drainage area
Open the ball valve and let the water drain out through the spigot

If you’ve followed these steps for whichever type of hot tub, you should now have an empty shell left. However, you’re still not ready to toss a cover and call it a day. Instead, you have to:

Remove the filters from the hot tub and clean them thoroughly using a chemical soak product
Get a gentle cleanser and a cloth and wash the inside of the hot tub’s walls, seats, and floors
Close the spigot if you have one
Pop the cover on until you’re ready to refill it

How to Winterize the Hot Tub

If you live in an area below freezing temperatures during the winter and leaves water in your hot tub without running, it can freeze and cause cracking.

This is why you want it completely dry when you drain it to store it. You should follow the steps outlined above, depending on which type of hot tub you have to get all the water out.

No matter your method, you want to ensure you pull the drain plug out of your hot tub when you finish the task.

When most of the water is gone, you can go over it with a wet and dry shop vac to ensure you suck up every last drop of water left so it doesn’t freeze.

If there is an air blower in your hot tub, you want to check and ensure that there isn’t any residual water sitting there. You can check this by turning off the hot tub’s heater and turning the electricity back on to run the blower.

Only have it on for about 30 seconds to get any water out, and you can shut the water off again when you finish with the blower.

For the filters, you want to remove them and allow them to soak with a 24-hour chemical soak before you allow them to dry and store them for the winter months.

Once they come out of the soak, allow them to air dry before going over them with a shop vac to get the water out.

Next, go into your hot tub’s cabinet and find the pumps before removing the piping and drain plugs. Get your shop vac and use it to blow out any water that is still inside the piping.

Finally, clean the hot tub’s shell before securing the cover. You need a lockable cover that won’t blow away if you get storms or high winds sweeping through.

How to Get a Hot Tub Ready for Summer

If you want to let your hot tub sit empty all summer long, this isn’t a huge issue as long as you secure it with a lockable cover.

Since sunlight can quickly and easily damage an acrylic hot tub, you can void the warranty on your product if you don’t leave a secure cover when there is no water in it.

You will go through the steps outlined above to drain the hot tub first before cleaning the shell thoroughly, including cleaning the filters.

Before you refill the hot tub to use it again, you should remove the cover and give it another quick clean to remove any potential debris or bugs.

Running chlorine through your hot tub’s pipes will also help remove any dirt, insects, or debris before you fill it.

Dealing with a Power Outage

If the power goes out on your hot tub, you have at least seven days before it’s in danger of something breaking and freezing, depending on the temperature.

You should leave the cabin door shut and the cover securely fastened if the power goes out during the winter months to help trap the heat inside, and you could put a space heater close to the cabinet to buy yourself a few more days.

Luckily, most hot tubs won’t just shut down for good if the power goes out. You’ll have to wait for power and flip the breaker switch to bring it back on. However, if something fails in the hot tub, you may need to drain it so you can have it repaired.

Bottom Line

It’s possible to leave your hot tub empty during winter or summer for a few months if you take steps to drain it properly and take care of all the components.

We’ve outlined how to drain it properly, how to clean the different parts, and how long you can leave it to sit if the power fails. Following these steps can extend your hot tub’s life and ensure you enjoy it longer.