Last Updated on October 19, 2021
As you may already know, draining a hot tub must be done every 3 to 4 months, depending on your usage rate, water quality, and other factors. Not everyone has the time or patience to wait for hours to completely drain a tub using its drain plug or garden hose.
The good news is there are a couple of ways to drain a hot tub that can be used in addition to the drain plug or be combined with other hot tub draining methods for maximum efficiency.
For this reason, we’ve come up with the best pumps for hot tub draining that you can use to speed things up.
Our Top Picks At A Glance
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Quick Tips Before Draining Your Hot Tub
Since you’re already planning to drain all your tub’s water, you might as well use a plumbing cleaner or a line flush product so that you can have a much more efficient and cleaner system when you refill it later.
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This special hot tub cleaner is formulated to break down biofilm and it’s known to cause gross-looking foam to resurface on your tub water. This is not a big deal, since it only means that the product is doing well cleaning out the pipes. Make sure that you let it circulate for at least 20 minutes before you start draining your tub.
Turn Off The Hot Tub
You need to turn off all hot tub functions and switch it off on your circuit breaker; you don’t want the hot tub’s heater or pump to work while the water level is low. Remove and clean the filter, and gather all the supplies, then you can start draining your hot tub.
A sump pump will drain your hot tub faster than any equipment, but you need to be there when you’re using it to keep an eye on the water level. If your pump continues to run once the tub is empty, the pump’s motor may burn, so you must turn off the pump as soon as the water has been drained.
There are pumps that will get the water down to just a fraction of an inch, while others require a few inches of water to function. Don’t worry, your hot tub’s drain should do the rest and will remove the remaining water out of your tub.
5 Best Pumps For Hot Tub Draining
Best Overall: Aquapro Water Removal Pump
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Our top pick for the best pumps for draining hot tub is the Aquapro Water Removal Pump. This pump is completely submersible and has a 1/3 HP pump that can remove up to 30 gallons of water per minute.
If you have an Intex PureSpa that has a capacity of 210 gallons, then you just need to wait for 7 minutes to completely drain your tub.
The AquaPro is also equipped with a sensor to automatically turn the pump off when the spa has been emptied. Since you don’t have to check on the pump while it’s on, you can use this time to clean your tub’s filter or get started on scrubbing the hot tub cover.
Superior Pump 91025 Submersible Utility Pump
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For those looking for a durable and affordable pump, then the Superior Pump 91025 Submersible Utility Pump is the perfect choice.
It comes with a 1/2 HP motor that can drain up to 26 gallons of water per minute. You can use a standard garden hose with this pump since it comes with a 3/4″ adapter.
With its current price, it’s one of the best value submersible pumps today since it’s made from quality materials with an efficient solid copper motor.
Wayne WaterBug Submersible Pump
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The Wayne WaterBug Submersible Pump is a powerful submersible pump equipped with Multi-Flo technology which makes it one of the best pumps for draining hot tubs or simply for removing water for your pool or basement.
It removes about 21 gallons of water per minute and should do quick work in removing all the water in your tub. To make it more useful, the pump has been fitted with a multi-ring suction strainer that helps filter debris.
Professional EZ Travel Collection Submersible Drain Pump
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This versatile pump is made from thermoplastic to make it corrosion-resistant. The Professional EZ Travel Collection Submersible Drain Pump has a 400-watt motor that can pump up to 33 gallons per minute.
It comes with a 1-½-inch drain hose that is 25 feet long and a hose clamp that makes it easy to attach and detach. It also has a handle incorporated into its design that makes it easy to carry or hang in your storage room.
Green Expert 203618 1/4HP Submersible Utility Pump
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The Green Expert Submersible Utility Pump has a 1/4 HP motor that has thermal overload protection and is designed to last for years.
It has the ability to remove 26.5 gallons of water per minute and comes with a long 25-foot power cord which is best for those hot tub owners who set up their tubs in their backyard. You can use a ¾-inch garden hose on this pump. For a 600-gallon hot tub, it should only take about 22 minutes to drain using this highly-efficient submersible pump.
Best Alternative: Using A Shop Vac Siphon
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Even though it is not that fast compared to using submersible pumps when it comes to draining your tub, using a wet/dry shop vacuum is still a better option compared to draining with just a garden hose.
Put one end of your vacuum hose into the tub, and connect the other end to your vacuum. Turn its power on for a few seconds until the flow starts moving. You can turn off the vacuum and disconnect the hose from it so that the water can continue flowing out of the tub. While waiting for the water to drain, you can start cleaning the floor and seats of your tub with your vacuum’s wand.
With its larger hose diameter, it’s more efficient in getting water out of your tub than your regular garden hose. Once the tub’s water level is low enough that the siphon isn’t getting any water out, you must hook the vacuum hose back up to your wet/dry vacuum to remove the last remaining water from your hot tub.