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Owner guide · Everyday care

Draining &
Refilling Your Hot Tub

Omaha Hot Tubs recommends draining and refilling your spa about every four months, or sooner when heavy use or changing water conditions call for it.

Prepare Your Supplies Explore Owner Guides
Plan for about every four months.

Heavy use, difficult-to-balance water, or changing water conditions may mean a fresh fill is needed sooner. Follow your spa manual and every product label when their directions are more specific.

Before you start

Gather the Right
Supplies First

Having everything nearby keeps the spa from sitting empty longer than necessary. Product amounts and treatment times vary, so use each current label rather than a universal dose.

The complete process

Eight Steps to
A Clean Restart

Complete the steps in order. The power-off and refill-level instructions are safety-critical.

01
Before draining

Clean the plumbing

Add FROG Hot Tub Pipe & Jet Cleanser to the existing water and follow the current package directions. This helps clean buildup from the plumbing and jets before the old water is removed.

No universal dose or circulation time is used here.
02
Safety-critical

Turn power off at the breaker

Turn power off at the breaker before draining the spa. Leave power off until the spa has been completely refilled to the proper water level.

Do not open or work inside the control box, electrical panel, equipment wiring, or internal electrical components.
03
Remove the old water

Drain the spa

Use a submersible pump when available; it is generally faster than the spa's built-in drain. The built-in drain may also be used where appropriate. Direct the water only where local rules and site conditions allow.

No exact drain time is assumed.
04
While the water drains

Remove and clean the filters

Remove and inspect the filters. Rinse or deep-clean the appropriate components with Amerse Filter Cleaner or SpaPure Filter Cleaner, following the cleaner label. Reinstall clean filters before power is restored after refill.

View Filter Care
05
Use a spa-safe cleaner

Clean the spa interior

Use SpaPure Spa Cleaner as directed. Wipe the shell, waterline and inside edges, under removable headrests, the filter compartment, and any visible scum or buildup. Avoid household cleaners unless your spa manufacturer specifically approves them.

Do not let loose debris remain in the filter compartment.
06
OHTC refill practice

Refill through the filter compartment

Place the garden hose in the filter compartment while refilling the spa. Filling there helps move water into the plumbing as the spa fills, reducing the chance of trapped air, air locks, and flow-related startup problems.

Keep the breaker off throughout the refill.
07
Only after every check passes

Restore power and restart

When the spa is fully refilled, the hose is removed, clean filters are installed, and nothing is floating loose in the filter compartment, restore power at the breaker. Allow the spa to begin its normal startup, circulation, and heating.

Do not assume a universal startup or heating time.
08
Return to normal water care

Test, balance, and sanitize

Test the water. Adjust total alkalinity first, pH next, and hardness when needed, then confirm sanitizer. Omaha Hot Tubs recommends SpaPure balance products for corrections when the test result calls for them.

View Water Care Basics

Before restoring power

Stop & Check
The Water Level

Do not restore power until every item is confirmed:
  • The spa is completely refilled.
  • Water is above every jet.
  • Water is approximately halfway up the skimmer opening.
  • The garden hose has been removed.
  • Clean filters are installed correctly.
  • Nothing is floating loose in the filter compartment.

Source-water preparation

If You Have
Well Water

Well water may contain iron or other metals that need attention during startup. The exact treatment depends on the source water and current product instructions.

  1. 01Attach a Great Barrier pre-filter to the garden hose.
  2. 02Refill through the filter compartment.
  3. 03Use Metal Gon as part of the fill/startup process.
  4. 04Follow the current Metal Gon label for amount, timing, and handling.
  5. 05Proceed with normal testing, balancing, and sanitizing.
No universal Metal Gon amount is published here. If the label's order differs from general guidance, follow the current product label or call Omaha Hot Tubs.

Current FROG startup sequence

Balance First.
Then Start the System.

The older OHTC handout used a fixed temperature threshold. Current Sundance-specific FROG @ease guidance does not give an 80°F or 85°F trigger for Jump Start, so this guide does not use one.

View Current FROG Instructions
  1. 01
    Restore normal circulationOnly after the refill and safety checks are complete.
  2. 02
    Test and balance the waterAlkalinity first, then pH and hardness as needed.
  3. 03
    Add FROG Jump StartFollow the current package instructions to establish the initial sanitizer residual.
  4. 04
    Allow the water to heatUse the temperature recommended by Sundance for your model—not a fixed Jump Start trigger.
  5. 05
    Install the Sundance-specific FROG @ease cartridgesUse the current instructions for cartridge setup; this page does not publish universal settings or service-life claims.

A smoother restart

Avoid These
Common Mistakes

Most refill problems are easier to prevent than troubleshoot. Slow down at the power-off, filter, hose, and final water-level checks.

If a message appears after refill

A Flow Error
After Startup?

Trapped air, an incorrect water level, or a restricted filter may contribute to a startup flow problem. Use the existing troubleshooting guide for safe first checks rather than repeating the process here.

View Flow Error Troubleshooting

Continue with confidence

Related Owner
Resources

Available NowFilter Care Clean the correct components while the spa drains.Available NowWater Care Basics Test, balance, and restart your sanitizer routine.Available NowMaintenance Basics Return to the broader ownership rhythm.Owner libraryAll Owner Guides Browse every available care and support resource.

Local owner support

Questions Before
You Pull the Plug?

Call or text Omaha Hot Tubs before you begin if you are unsure about the filter system, well-water preparation, or restart sequence for your spa.

Call 402-656-6695 Text Us