How to Clean Hot Tub Plumbing?

A hot tub is your investment in comfort and relaxation. However, if you want to enjoy the benefits of the hot tub, you have to clean it properly. If you regularly clean the hot tub, add the essential chemicals and sanitisers in it and drain and refill it after every three months, you may think you are doing enough to keep it clean. Well, you are not doing enough for the hygiene of your hot tub. Apart from cleaning and maintaining the water, you have to clean the plumbing of the hot tub.

It is vital to flush and clean the hot tub plumbing after some time if you want to immerse in the crystal clear water. However, cleaning and flushing the hot tub plumbing is not easy, and you have to follow a proper procedure to keep the plumbing clean. You might be thinking, how can you clean the hot tub plumbing? The China Royal Spa has prepared a complete guide cleaning the hot tub plumbing. Keep on reading, and you will get to know a step by step process of cleaning and flushing out the hot tub plumbing.

How to Clean the Hot Tub Plumbing?

Before going into the details of cleaning and flushing out the hot tub plumbing, you must know when you should clean the hot tub plumbing and why you need to clean the plumbing quite often. How often you should clean the plumbing and what products do you need to clean the hot tub and plumbing. So, let the China Royal Spa team answered these questions.

When You Should Clean the Hot Tub Plumbing?

When you use the hot tub quite often, the spa water gets contaminated. Though you add chemicals and sanitizers to keep the water clean, but even then it is vital to drain the spa and clean the plumbing. The China Royal Spa suggests to clean and flush out the plumbing if you notice any of the following symptoms in your spa.

Unable to Balance pH

To keep the spa water fresh and hygienic, you have to maintain the water pH and water chemistry. However, if the plumbing is not clean and dust and dirt clogged it in, you cannot balance the pH despite adding the chemicals and sanitisers. Therefore, if you experience an imbalance in water pH despite doing everything, then it’s the time to clean the hot tub plumbing.

Using A Lot of Chemicals to Keep the Water Clean

To clean the hot tub water, you have to add a specific amount of chemicals and sanitisers in it. However, if the spa plumbing is clogged with dirt and organic material, you have to add a lot of chemicals. Therefore, if you add a lot of chemicals to keep the spa water clean, then get ready to initiate the process of plumbing cleaning.

Smelly or Tinted Water

The spa water must be clean and without any odour or smell. However, if the water is smelly or tinted, it is an indication for you to clean the hot tub plumbing.

Cloudy or Greenish Water

Apart from the smell, if the water looks cloudy or greenish, then it’s the sign of dirty and clogged plumbing. If you notice any of these signs, flush out and clean the hot tub plumbing at the earliest.

Scale Buildup on the Hot Tub

If you notice a scale on the hot tub surface, it indicates that your hot tub needs proper cleaning and maintenance. Apart from cleaning the hot tub, don’t forget to clean the hot tub plumbing.

Why Should You Clean the Hot Tub Plumbing?

Cleaning and maintaining the hot tub is essential to have the best user experience. You will get the following benefits if you keep the hot tub and plumbing clean and hygienic.

Keep the Spa Water Clean

You don’t want to sit and immerse in the dirt and clogged water. Therefore, you must clean the hot tub quite often to keep the water clean and hygienic for immersing. Moreover, the spa water passes through the plumbing to reach the interior. Therefore you must clean the plumbing to keep the water clean.

Enjoy Hydrotherapy

You will not enjoy the hydrotherapy and massage if the water is smelly, tinted and have organic matters in it. However, keeping the hot tub and plumbing clean will allow you to enjoy the hydrotherapy and massage in clean and fresh water.

The Life Span of the Hot Tub

Plumbing is vital for the smooth functioning and long life of the hot tub. If you keep on using the spa without cleaning the plumbing, dirt and other organic matters will get stuck in the plumbing and ultimately affect its functions. Therefore, you must clean and flush the plumbing to enjoy a lifetime spa experience.

Reduce the Maintenance Cost

If you leave the hot tub unattended for a longer time, you have to spend a lot of budget on the maintenance of the spa. The dust and dirt in the plumbing escalate various other issues and ultimately increase the maintenance cost of the spa. However, a scheduled cleaning and maintenance of the spa and the plumbing reduce the maintenance cost of the hot tub.

How Often You Should Clean and Flush Out the Hot Tub Plumbing?

You know how much important it is to clean the hot tub and hot tub plumbing. However, after knowing the benefits, you might intend to clean the plumbing, but a question may strike your mind: how often you should clean and flush out the hot tub plumbing.

The China Royal Spa suggests cleaning and flushing the hot tub plumbing whenever you drain the hot tub. Moreover, you must drain and refill the hot tub after every three months. However, if you use the spa quite regularly, you must drain and fill the spa earlier than three months. However, if you occasionally use the spa and don’t share it with your friends, it will be good to drain and refill after three months.

The Process of Cleaning the Hot Tub Plumbing

If you are a seasoned user, you often clean and drain the hot tub. However, if you are going to clean and flush out the hot tub plumbing, you have to give extra care to the plumbing. The China Royal Spa has provided you a complete guide to clean the hot tub plumbing.

To initiate the process of cleaning and flushing out the hot tub plumbing, follow the following process. Make sure to follow the process step by step to get the best results.

Clean the Filter or Replace It

As a first step to clean the hot tub plumbing, remove the hot tub filter and clean it. Various cleaning products are available in the market and you can get the one that you prefer the most. However, you can use the household products such as vinegar to clean the filter. Moreover, if you want to thoroughly clean the filter to get the best results, China Royal Spa suggests to soak it overnight.

However, if the hot tub filter is damaged and there is a lot of dirt and dust in it that cannot be cleaned, replace the filter. The China Royal Spa suggests to always replace the filter with a high-quality one otherwise you have to replace it quite so often.

Shock the Hot Tub

After cleaning the hot tub filter, shock the hot tub water. Shocking the hot tub water is the second step in cleaning the hot tub plumbing. The China Royal Spa suggests to add the shocking material in the hot tub water. Add shock and let it mix in the water to kill the bacteria and germs. Moreover, circulate the water at the high speed during the shocking process and allow the running of the water for at least 30 minutes to kill the germs and then initiate the next process.

Flush and Clean the Plumbing System of the Hot Tub

To flush out and clean the plumbing of the hot tub. Follow these small and easy steps.

Add the Flushing Product

Multiple flushing products are available in the market; get the one that is easily available and most suitable for you. Then, add that flushing product in the plumbing system of the hot tub. It will clean the biofilm from the pipes of the hot tub.

Turn on the Jets

After adding the flushing product in the plumbing and pipes of the hot tub, turn on the jets of the hot tub. Let them run for at least 20 to 30 minutes. It will break the sludge and dirt stuck in the hot tub pipes and trap into the hot tub filters.

Turn Off the Hot Tub

After running the hot tub jets for at least 30 minutes, turn off the hot tub and let the spa rest for at least 5 to 6 hours. Moreover, to get the best results, start the process in the evening and let the hot tub sit throughout the night. It will thoroughly clean the plumbing and the hot tub.

Many hot tub users think that they can use the household products such as vinegar to flush out the plumbing, however, China Royal Spa does not suggest it. The household product could not clean the plumbing as much as the flushing products could do. Therefore, always use the high-quality flushing products to clean the plumbing.

Drain the Hot Tub

After 5 to 6 hours, you have to drain the flushing products from the hot tub. There is no other way to drain the flushing products than draining the hot tub water. Therefore, drain the hot tub water completely.

Clean the Hot Tub

After draining the hot tub, China Royal Spa suggests to thoroughly clean the hot tub. The hot tub is completely empty and it is the best time to clean the interior of the spa. Therefore, you must take the advantage of it.

Get the hot tub cleaning products from the market. Use a soft cloth to rub the cleaning product over the interior of the hot tub and then remove it. It will help you in removing the dust, dirt and other organic materials from the interior of the hot tub surface.

Refill the Hot Tub

Once you have thoroughly cleaned the hot tub and plumbing of the spa, it is ready for the use. Put the filter of the spa back into its position and refill the hot tub with fresh water. Make sure to fill it with clean water and to the accurate level.

Test the Hot Tub Water

After refilling the hot tub with clean and fresh water, test the water quality of the water. Check the pH and water chemistry. Add all the essential chemicals and sanitisers in the spa water. Make sure to add the right amount of sanitizers and chemicals in the water.

Turn on the Hot Tub

After refilling the spa, connect the spa with electricity and turn on the spa water. Set the moderate temperature and wait for a few hours to let it reach to the ideal temperature. Once it reaches to to the ideal temperature, it is all set to give you an amazing immersing and swimming experience.

What Should You Do if the Plumbing is Blocked?

Sometimes if you don’t clean the hot tub plumbing for a long time, the dust and dirt get clogged in the pipes.

Over the time, the dust blocked the pipes in such a way that you cannot flush them out just with the help of flushing products. If such an issue occurs to your hot tub plumbing, don’t panic. Contact the plumber of your area or call the professional and he will remove the blockage from the plumbing.

So, this is the complete process of cleaning and flushing out the spa. We don’t think so, it is complicated or tough. Next time, whenever you decide to drain the spa, keep an eye on the spa plumbing, thoroughly clean it, and flush it out to remove all sorts of blockage. This will give you crystal clear water and you will enjoy the spa experience.

Some FAQs About the Hot Tub Plumbing

How Do You Clean the Pipes of the Hot Tub?

Cleaning the hot tub pipes is not a complicated process though it may take some time. To clean the spa pipes, you have to do a few small and easy steps. Remove the spa filters. Thoroughly clean them to remove dust and dirt. Add shocking material in the hot tub water. Add the flushing products in the plumbing. Turn on the jets for 30 minutes and then turn off the spa. Let the hot tub, sit for 5 to 6 hours. Drain the spa, clean and refill it with clean water.

Can You Clean the Hot Tub Pipes with Vinegar?

Though there is no harm in cleaning the pipes with vinegar, but it may not give you the desired results. Therefore, the China Royal Spa suggests adding the flushing and cleaning products in the hot tub pipes. They will thoroughly clean the lines and give you the desired results.

How Do You Remove Scale from the Hot Tub Pipes?

Scaling is another issue that your hot tub plumbing face after frequent uses. However, you can easily remove scale from the hot tub pipes. Add acid cleaners in the plumbing of the hot tub. Acid cleaners are budget-friendly and easily available in the market. Get an acid cleaner and use it to remove the scale from the plumbing.

Can You Use Bleach to Clean the Hot Tub Plumbing?

Many users ask this question. It is OK to add bleach to clean the hot tub plumbing. However, never mix bleach into the vinegar as they can create a toxic gas. The mixture could do more harm than the benefit. Moreover, if you want to get the best results of cleaning and flushing out the plumbing, use the flushing products that are easily available in the market.

How Often Should You Drain and Refill the Hot Tub?

Many hot tub tub users ask how often they should drain and refill the hot tub. However, the answer depends upon the user frequency. If you use the spa regularly, China Royal Spa suggests to drain the hot tub after 3 months or less than three months. However, if you don’t use the spa quite regularly, you can drain the spa after 3 to 4 months.

Moreover, if the spa has any of the following signs, it’s an indication for you to drain and refill the spa at the earliest.

• Smelly or tinted water
• Smoky or greenish water
• Scum in the spa water
• Imbalance in the water chemistry
• pH imbalance of the hot tub water
• It needs more than required chemicals to clean the water
• Blockage in the hot tub filter
• Blockage in the hot tub plumbing

How Much Does it Cost to Clean the Hot Tub Plumbing?

The cleaning of plumbing does not cost you a lot of budget. If you are doing it yourself, it will only cost you the budget of flushing and cleaning products. However, if you are going to hire some professional to remove the blockage and to clean the plumbing, it will cost you between $50 to $75. To get the precise information about the cost, contact the local plumber or professional of your area.

How Many Times in a Year Should You Drain the Hot Tub and Clean the Plumbing?

The China Royal Spa suggests you to drain the hot tub and clean the plumbing after every three to four months. Hence, it will be drained and cleaned 3 to 4 times in a year. However, if you use the spa quite frequently and share it with your friends and family, you must drain and clean the plumbing more often.

Should You Remove the Hot Tub Filters While Cleaning the Plumbing?

Many new users, who don’t know the process of cleaning the plumbing ask this question. They think that the process of cleaning the hot tub plumbing is limited to plumbing only. However, you have to remove the spa filters to clean the plumbing. The China Royal Spa suggests you to remove the filters, clean them with the cleaning products and reinstall them. Moreover, it would be best to soak them in the cleaning product overnight to get the best results.

Should You Turn on the Jets During the Process of Plumbing Cleaning?

When you add the flushing products in the hot tub plumbing, the China Royal Spa suggests to run the hot tub jets. However, it would be best to keep the jets running at full for at least 20 to 30 minutes once the products get mixed with the water. Then, turn off the spa jets and let the water sit for 4 to 5 hours. In this way, you can easily clean the hot tub plumbing.

How to Drain the Hot Tub Completely?

If you want to drain the hot tub completely, the China Royal Spa suggests to use a wet and dry vacuum. It will remove every drop of water from the hot tub interior.

You can start the process of draining  the hot tub with the help of draining valve or submersible pump. The process will not completely drain the water and a few drops will be still there in the hot tub. To remove every drop of water, you have to use the wet dry vacuum in the spa.

Should You Add Sanitizers and Chemicals Right After Cleaning the Plumbing?

After cleaning the hot tub and cleaning the plumbing of the hot tub, the next step would be refilling the spa with the fresh water, and you have to add the chemicals and sanitizers in it. However, make sure to add the sanitizers and chemicals in right proportion. Adding too much or too less chemicals or sanitisers will disturb the water chemistry.