Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Brookenstein on February 01, 2006, 11:13:47 am
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It was a crisp Southern California morning. I got the kid of to school bright and early. Between the mans 'wake up call' and making his latte I decided to drain the tub for the first time. WTH was I thinking? I read the little blurb on page 46. Attached the hose, turned the knob... the hose started to feel warm... went to the other end of the hose, nothing. I started to unscrew the hose, steam, then water, screwed it back on... made sure the knob was unscrewed even more, nothing. What am I doing wrong? Am I too stupid to live?
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Which drain valve were you using? There are 2. One primary, one for longterm storage. The one on the left side as you're facing the controls is the correct one to use. Also, be sure and push the toggle lever to the open position.
Terminator
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I was using the left one I assume I was going to the open direction since the hose got warm and when I started to unscrew it water started coming out of it. At this point I don't remember which direction I was turning it though.
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When the toggle lever is in the vertical position, it is closed. When it is pushed to the horizontal position, water should flow. Also, make sure the hose is running downhill as this will help. I step on the hose a couple of times to create a siphon. It will drain.
Terminator
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I got it draining, but 30+ minutes later it is only about 4 inches down or so. There is a constant, good stream of water coming out of the hose... I'm just surprised the water line is moving so slowly. Oh well, by the time it is empty I will have hosed off, cleaned, then ran the filters through the dishwasher and be ready to refill.
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That drain rate is slow.
You can get a relatively inexpensive electric pump for future draining if you want to speed things up.
Takes our Optima about 45 minutes to drain, using a 3/4" garden hose.
They also offer a rapid drain kit, which I didn't purchase.
Anything like that available for your spa?
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Sounds like the spa may need a 'wake up call' of it's own.
:o :o ;D :o :o
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Sounds like the spa may need a 'wake up call' of it's own.
:o :o ;D :o :o
And how would one do that to a hot tub? Nevermind, don't want to know. :D
Anyway, we are now at the words Moto Massage. At this rate it won't be empty till after I get back from picking the kids up from kindergarten. Good thing I started at 8 am.
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Got another hose? Get a syphon going and it should cut the time in half for this time, until you get a pump...
Steve
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Brooke, I know this won't help now but my tech told me that when I empty, I should use one of the jets to get a flow started in a hose, that way I could also use the hose to suck out anything that may be in the footwell. Packrat that I am, I have hose from my pool vacuum and I will see if that works, I think the large diameter hose should empty the tub in a flash. But I haven't tried this yet ,so I am just assuming that it will work.
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Thanks Steve!!! You ROCK!!! Wish someone woulda suggested that 2 hours ago.
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Brooke, I know this won't help now but my tech told me that when I empty, I should use one of the jets to get a flow started in a hose, that way I could also use the hose to suck out anything that may be in the footwell. Packrat that I am, I have hose from my pool vacuum and I will see if that works, I think the large diameter hose should empty the tub in a flash. But I haven't tried this yet ,so I am just assuming that it will work.
I use sump pump hose from Home Depot (~$10). Same as pool hose if you have some of that handy. Use a jet to prime it, weight it down and drain. Be aware that you will have water in the seat wells left, which I shop vac out.
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Thanks Steve!!! You ROCK!!! Wish someone woulda suggested that 2 hours ago.
"Get another hose"
"Get a syphon going"
"Sounds like the spa may need a 'wake up call' of it's own."
Is this not what I suggested?
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Sounds like the spa may need a 'wake up call' of it's own.
:o :o ;D :o :o
Maybe I'm missing something?? ???
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Maybe I'm missing something?? ???
Little inside joke of how my husband gets woke up in the morning. Its not an alarm clock. :o
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Is it warm in here, or is it just me?
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;D
Well 3 hours later, the tub is still not empty. No wonder I didn't do this sooner for no reason. I'm beginning to wonder why I did it today. My water wasn't even bad. At least I got out of doing dishes since my dishwasher is being used for my filters. :)
Which... may be a problem too, they look so sudsy. I cleaned them with filter cleaner first and rinsed them. I thought they were thoroughly rinsed before I put them in the dishwasher. Boy was I wrong. The dishwasher water is so sudsy. If I f'up my new tub water I'm gonna be p'od.
Hopefully it will be empty when I get home from school and the filters will be thoroughly rinsed.
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Do you have rinse aid in your dishwasher? Just wondering what that might do to your filters?
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Do you have rinse aid in your dishwasher? Just wondering what that might do to your filters?
At the very least it will keep them from showing that unsightly spotting.
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I love those built-in drains in HS products. They work well - just not very fast.
If I'm in a hurry, I use a swimming pool vac hose and simply siphon the thing out. It will empty a large tub in 15 minute or so. Now, you have to be ready to have 500 gallons of water flowing out in that short a time ...
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Tub is drained and cleaned. I rerinsed the filters with hose and they are back in the dishwasher again. The water in the dishwasher looks suds free this time. When its done the refill begins. Hopefully it will be full before we leave for little league practice. I want it warm by tonight.
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Hope your water goes in faster than it came out.
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I had it filled by 2... it was 65. Now at 5:30 its 80. It looks doubtfull that I will be tubbing tonight. :'(
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Wow, you offer a wake up service and a latte at your home? Sounds like a nice hotel. What am I doing wrong?
Between the mans 'wake up call' and making his latte I decided to drain the tub for the first time.
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I went through the same hassle of an all day drain and fill, until my dealer sold me something called a "Quickdrain." Its just a siphon that you start by plunging into your tub a 6-7 times until it starts flowing; but the hose is about twice the size of a garden hose and it drained a Beachcomber 730 in 30 minutes flat. I also bought a 25' hose extension so I don't flood the backyard. Considering the climate up here, I consider it money well-spent to do a refill that fast. Try www.backyardinnovations.com. -thats what is on the label - if you're interested.
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Man... its 10pm and it is only 97. 32 degress in 8 hours, this sucks. I thought when I started this at 8 am I would have no problem being in hot water tonight. I hurt... guess I'll have to take a shower.
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Sounds about right- 4 degrees or so per hour.
At 97 degrees, I'd hop in.
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How's the new water Brook? Nothing like fresh crystal clear water............ :)
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Sounds about right- 4 degrees or so per hour.
At 97 degrees, I'd hop in.
4 degrees in an hour in southern california? That can't be right. If our tubs only heated 4 degrees an hour we wouldn't be able to do winter installs in North Dakota.
There must be a jumper setting that needs to be moved for colder climates. Does this spa heat through the circ. pump or the jet pump?
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My Optima heats water at the rate of 4 to 5 degrees per hour. As far as I know, that's not too unusual.
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I get 1 degree every 10 mins