How to Drain, Clean and Refill Your Hot Tub Using Spa Life Chemicals

May 20, 2026

Every hot tub needs a full drain, clean, and refill a few times a year. It doesn't matter how well you maintain your water chemistry day to day — over time, dissolved solids, body oils, lotions, and chemical byproducts build up in the water in ways that topping up and treating simply can't fix. A fresh fill is the reset your spa needs to stay clean, clear, and genuinely enjoyable.

The good news is that with the right products and a bit of preparation, the whole process takes a weekend afternoon. Here's how to do it properly — or if you'd rather leave it to us, book a service call and we'll handle the whole thing for you.

Why You Should Drain and Refill Regularly

Hot tub water gets tired. Even water that looks clear can carry a high total dissolved solids (TDS) load — a buildup of everything that's ever been added to or introduced into the water. High TDS makes it harder for your sanitizer to work effectively, throws off your pH balance, and can cause foaming, cloudiness, and skin irritation.

As a general rule, most hot tubs should be fully drained and refilled every three to four months, depending on how frequently they're used. If you're using your spa daily or with multiple bathers, you may need to drain more often. Quarterly is a good starting point for most BC families.

What You'll Need

Spa Life Whirlpool & Tub Rinse for your pipe purge — or Ahh-Some for tougher biofilm buildup
Spa Life Spa Clean for the shell
Spa Life pH Up and pH Down
Spa Life Total Alkalinity Increaser
Spa Life Calcium Hardness Increaser
Spa Life Chlorine or Bromine sanitizer
Spa Life Shock
A submersible pump or QuickDrain gravity drain for emptying the spa
A soft cloth or sponge for cleaning the shell
A garden hose for refilling
Fresh test strips or a water testing kit

Not sure which sanitizer is right for your spa? Our team at Crystalview can help you choose between chlorine and bromine based on your usage habits and sensitivity. Stop in or give us a call at 604-985-0057.

Step 1: Purge Your Pipes Before You Drain

The most important step most people skip. Before you drain your hot tub, add a pipe purge product to the water while the jets are running.

Your plumbing lines harbour biofilm — a thin layer of bacteria, oils, and organic matter that clings to the inside of the pipes and jets. A regular water change doesn't flush this out. Spa Life Whirlpool & Tub Rinse is our standard recommendation — add it to the spa water, run the jets on high for 30 minutes, and let it work before you drain. For spas that haven't been purged in a while or show signs of heavier buildup, Ahh-Some is a more powerful option that's extremely effective at clearing stubborn biofilm. You may see foaming or discolouration — that's the biofilm being flushed out, which is exactly what you want.

Step 2: Drain the Spa Completely

Once the pipe purge is complete, turn off your spa and drain it fully. Most hot tubs have a drain valve at the base. You can use a QuickDrain gravity drain for a simple, no-pump option, or a submersible pump if you want to speed things up. Either way, direct the water away from your foundation and landscaping.

While the spa is draining, remove and inspect your filter cartridges. Give them a thorough rinse with a garden hose, or soak them in a filter cleaning solution if they're due for a deep clean. If your filters are more than 12 months old or showing signs of wear, this is a good time to replace them — clean water starts with a clean filter.

Step 3: Clean the Shell

With the water out, you'll often see a waterline ring of oils and residue around the shell. This is normal and easy to remove while the spa is empty.

Use Spa Life Spa Clean applied with a soft cloth or sponge. Work around the full interior, paying attention to the waterline, seat areas, and around the jets. Avoid household cleaners like bleach or dish soap, which can leave residues that foam badly when you refill.

Rinse the shell thoroughly with clean water before refilling.

Step 4: Refill Through the Filter Standpipe

Fill your spa through the filter standpipe (the opening where your filter sits) rather than just dropping a hose into the footwell. Filling through the standpipe helps displace air from the plumbing lines, which prevents airlock in your circulation pump — a common cause of startup headaches after a refill.

Fill to your normal operating level and reinstall your clean filter cartridges.

Step 5: Start Up With the Right Guide for Your Spa

Before you start adding chemicals, grab the startup sheet for your specific spa brand. The correct parameters and dosing sequence can vary between Jacuzzi, Sundance Spas, and Platinum Spas — and starting with the right guide means you won't be chasing your chemistry later.

Download the Hot Tub Start Up Sheet for your spa here. We have guides for every brand we carry, with the exact steps and target ranges for a fresh fill.

Once you have your sheet in hand, here's what you'll be working through and why each step matters:

Total Alkalinity (Target: 80–120 ppm)

Total alkalinity is your water's buffer — it stabilizes pH and prevents wild swings. Always bring alkalinity into range first, before adjusting anything else. Low alkalinity is the most common cause of pH instability in freshly filled spas.

pH (Target: 7.2–7.8)

Once alkalinity is stable, adjust your pH using Spa Life pH Up or pH Down as needed. The sweet spot is 7.4–7.6. Low pH is corrosive to your equipment and irritating to eyes and skin. High pH reduces sanitizer effectiveness and can cause scale.

Calcium Hardness (Target: 150–250 ppm)

BC tap water is typically soft — low in calcium. Soft water is aggressive in a hot tub: it will leach calcium from your shell and equipment to satisfy itself. Use Spa Life Calcium Hardness Increaser to bring levels up into range. Add it slowly and allow the spa to circulate between additions.

Sanitizer and Shock

With your water balanced, establish your sanitizer — Spa Life Chlorine or Bromine — following the dosing instructions for a fresh fill. The initial dose is higher than your regular weekly maintenance dose, as you're building a residual from scratch. Follow with a dose of Spa Life Shock to oxidize any organic material introduced during filling and to activate your sanitizer fully. Run the jets for 20–30 minutes after adding chemicals to ensure even distribution.

Target sanitizer levels: Chlorine 3–5 ppm, Bromine 4–6 ppm.

Step 6: Test, Adjust, and Wait

Test your water again after the chemicals have circulated — typically 30 minutes to an hour. Make any final adjustments, then let the spa run for a few hours before your first soak. The water will continue to stabilize over the first 24 hours.

And once your water is balanced — consider adding a hot tub aromatherapy product to make that first soak even better.

Ongoing Maintenance After Your Refill

A fresh fill is the best time to establish good habits. A few minutes of attention each week will keep your water in great shape until your next drain cycle:

Test your water 2–3 times per week — sanitizer and pH can shift quickly with use
Add sanitizer as needed to maintain your target residual
Shock weekly or after heavy use to oxidize organic load
Rinse your filter every 2–4 weeks and deep clean monthly
Bring a water sample in to us every month or two for a full analysis — it's free and takes two minutes

Everything You Need, In One Place

You can find all the water treatment products for your spa in our online store:

Our team at our North Vancouver showroom is always happy to walk you through any water chemistry questions in person. Whether you've just done your first refill or something isn't quite right with your water, stop in and we'll sort it out.

Download your Hot Tub Start Up Sheet here — it's the fastest way to get your freshly filled spa dialled in correctly from the start.

Prefer to have it done for you? Book a service call and our team will take care of the full drain, clean, and refill from start to finish.

Crystalview Pool, Spa & Patio · 104 Philip Ave, North Vancouver · 604-985-0057 · ideas@crystalview.ca

Back to blog