Can I Drain My Hot Tub on My grass?
A straightforward response to this question would be “no,” but that is a generic answer that may not stand in all circumstances.There are situations in which you can drain your tub water on the grass.
However, you will need to read the article to the end to put all things in their proper perspective.
As a normal maintenance procedure, you need to drain your hot tub periodically. Without knowing how to do it, it may not only hurt your investment but also turn to be a health hazard.
Regular maintenance is required in hot tubs. This ensures the water is kept clean and safe for bathers.
Whether you are running on chlorine, or you have a salt system, bromine, ozone, you should drain and then have your hot tub re-filled periodically and then flush the pipes for cleanliness.
Read on to know why you must drain your hot tub. You will also know how to re-fill your hot tub. Additionally, you will know how to keep the pipes clean.
Are There Reasons For Me To Empty My Hot Tub?
When a hot tub continues to be used, many solids continue to be dissolved in the water. In normal circumstances, it is not common to test for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
When this is measured, everything that has been used in the water will be known. This will include bromine, PH balancers, chlorine, and many others.
Additionally, the organic matter from bathers is also checked. Therefore, this is the best way to go when you want to test your hot tub water.
With continued use, TDS rises greatly, and the water saturation might make it difficult or impossible to work with.
High TDS will occasion the inability to balance PH., use of excess chemicals, stale water smell, and build-up of scale in the hot tub.
Obviously, there are several ways to manage TDS and prevent it from getting too high. However, there are times it gets too high.Once it is high, you can reduce TDS by draining and re-filling.
How Do I Drain My Hot Tub?
When you want to drain your hot tub for the first time, there are many concerns that you might have. Perhaps you want to establish if the water will hurt your grass.
You may also want to know what options you have concerning re-using the water. Read on to know how best to drain your water, avoiding any damage to your grass and landscape.
As you embark on draining your hot tub, it is essential to understand that there are guidelines in every jurisdiction that dictate the procedures for draining your hot tub.
Therefore, it is essential to check with your jurisdiction and establish if any restrictions are touching on water disposal from hot tubs.
Some municipalities have guidelines and restrictions in place, and you don’t want to violate any of those.
By default, hot tubs should be drained every three months. However, this is for hot tubs with average usage.
If they are used more frequently, the time duration between the draining will shorten. A hot tub can also require to be drained outside the scheduled time if it is foamy and or cloudy.
When draining the hot tub, switch off all power to the hot tub by turning off the circuit breaker. After this, attach a hosepipe to the spigot.
You may direct the hose to your driveway since it may flood your yard. After this, open the spigot and drain the water. This will not drain all the water.
Therefore, use a shop-vac so that you suck any remainder from the base of your hot tub.
How Do I Protect My Grass?
You protect your grass by avoiding using untested hot tub water on it. Hot tub water contains chemicals. These include; biguanides, bromine, calcium, chlorine, enzymes, and filter cleaner.
Additionally, there are other chemicals like muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate (ph decreaser), plumbing cleaner, sanitizer, shock, and sodium carbonate (ph increaser) or sodium bicarbonate (total alkalinity increaser).
These chemicals I have just mentioned can kill or, at best, damage your grass. When you are planning to drain your hot tub, it is recommended that you abstain from adding any chemicals to your hot tub for several days.
Although chlorine is a harsh chemical, it easily dissipates, and two or more days are enough for it to dissipate.
Leave your hot tub open for a few days before draining and testing your water before you drain. When the chlorine level is zero, you are set to drain.
To use the water from a hot tub to water your grass, test the pH due to the sensitivity of grass. As long as the pH level lies between 7.0 – 7.8, it is safe for use on your grass.
However, for the sake of safety and that you are sure, test a small portion first.
After confirming that the water is safe for use in your lawn, ensure that your hose doesn’t overwater a particular part of the lawn.
How Do I Re-Use Hot Tub Water?
There are several ways you may wish to re-use hot tub water. Since a hot tub have many gallons of water, it may seem inappropriate to waste all the water.
However, even if you might not water your grass, you can still use the water in several other ways. Read on to know more.
When it comes to drained water, it is safe to use to clean your car. You will only need to use the hose and direct it on your car as you scrub it with soap.
Again, the water can be used to water your trees and shrubs. As long as the chlorine level is zero, the water is safe for use on trees and shrubs.
But you ask; can’t I use the water on my grass as well? Indeed, you can use your water to water the grass, but you need to make sure that the pH is acceptable on grass.
Another way to re-use water from a hot tub is to water your concrete.
Peradventure, you reside in a dry climate, or it is over summer, and you feel the heat too much, use your hot tub water to water your foundations.
When you do this, you will be preventing the material from cracking and drying simultaneously.
How Can I Safely Recycle Hot Tub Water To Water My Garden?
One practical way to recycle and re-use hot tub water is to water your garden or lawn. This comes as a worthy reward to your garden or lawn.
However, you may not succeed in this venture until proper tests are done on the water. The testing is more needed if your hot tub uses chlorine or saltwater.
For chlorine and saltwater hot tubs, it is essential to ensure that the pH levels are established by the appropriate tests.
Unless the pH levels are at the recommended levels for use on grass or garden, do not risk using the water on your grass or other plants.
If your hot tub water chlorine is below one ppm and the pH level falls between 7-8, your water should be safe to use on your grass and garden.
Hot tub water is safe for use in plants. However, there are specific plant varieties that are vulnerable to damage as they may not tolerate saltwater comfortably.
If you want to use the water on grass, it is safer to lower the pH level below 7.
Adjusting your pH levels
Keep your hot tub water pH level between the ideal range of 7.2 and 7.8.
When you do this, you will be sure that your hot tub water is well sanitized and cannot occasion any danger to your body or garden.
Well sanitized water will not cause any irritation on your skin. Additionally, well-sanitized water is safe from scale formation.
Therefore, it is essential to occasionally test your hot tub water for alkalinity and calcium hardness levels. This way, your hot tub’s life will be prolonged.
Talking of the pH levels, total alkalinity helps control them.
Consequently, pH levels should be maintained at between 80 to 120 ppm. On the other hand, the number of minerals in your water will be measured by the calcium hardness.
When you ensure that these are kept in check, you will be sure that both your filter and sanitizer are in their best shape.
This is a sure way to prolong water usage in your hot tub. Therefore, maintain the calcium hardness at levels between 100-450 ppm.
However, your hot tub’s finish will largely determine the exact calcium hardness required for your hot tub.
Should I Always Shower Before I Hop In My Hot Tub?
Yes. If you want to minimize the frequency with which you have to drain your hot tub, then it is best always to take a bath before you get into your hot tub.
When you bathe, you remove dirt and other oily substances from your skin.
This advisable since if done before you soak in your hot tub, you lower the number of times that you will have to drain your hot tub in a year.
By showering, excess dirt, contaminants and oils are eliminated. If this is not done before entering your hot tub, these will eventually overload your hot tub filter and sanitizer.
Additionally, you may consider keeping your hair out of the water. This is another way to keep the contamination levels low.
Why Must I Keep The Cloudiness Levels Low?
When you keep the cloudiness levels low, your hot tub water will last longer. Consequently, you will not need to drain it frequently and worry about the water.
It is an additional blessing when you take the precaution of adding a second filter. This may either be an inline or an external one.
The addition of these will be a sure way to guarantee better filtration, reducing substance build-up in your hot tub.
On the other hand, consider using a hot tub clarifier and keep your hot tub water from getting cloudy. This will tackle the water waste effectively.
Is Draining My Hot Tub A DIY Activity, Or Can I Engage A Professional?
Draining your hot tub is a DIY activity. It is not a hard task when you have the time and knowledge.
All you need will be a keen knowledge of the required alkalinity and pH levels to ensure you do it safely.
Without this important knowledge, you might incur losses on your garden and lawn. Therefore, ensure getting the proper knowledge so that you do everything safely.
Again, you will need to establish the laws of the municipality you live in. as already mentioned, you may violate a guideline that has been set by your municipality.
This will result in penalties and unnecessary legal battles. All the same, you may feel that draining your hot tub is too much for you.
You may not have the time, or you may not feel capable of doing it. This way, there is no point in doing what you feel is good for you.
In this case, get a professional to drain it for you. The charges might be minimal. Additionally, you will be sure of the safety of your grass when the draining is done by a professional.
Conclusion
Draining your hot tub is a task that will always be with you as long as you own a hot tub. It is best to know the options that you have with the water that is drained.
You might safely use the water on your grass if it is well tested and neutralized.
