Over time, your hot tub can collect sand from people using it. Failure to remove the sand can affect the aesthetics of your hot tub and lead to damage.
There are many ways to clean your hot tub from the accumulated sand. These methods include draining and cleaning the hot tub, using a pool vacuum, using a garden hose, water blaster, and others.
Before you explore these methods, let me first discuss how the sand gets into the hot tub. I will also talk about the imminent damage the sand can cause to your hot tub if you do not remove it. Jump right in!
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How Did Sand Get in Your Hot Tub?
The most common carrier of sand in your hot tub is the users. Careless hot tub bathers who picked up sand on their feet can get into the water leaving the sand at the bottom of your hot tub.
This scenario usually happens if your hot tub is outdoors or in your yard. Even if the bathers wear slippers or sandals before tubbing, sand can still stick on their feet and come off in the water.
It is always a best practice to wash your feet before getting into your hot tub. Doing this will prevent the entry of sand that you will later have trouble cleaning.
Another possible cause of the sand getting into your hot tub is the wind. This issue is common if your hot tub is in your yard and you live in a sandy area. The sand can easily get into your hot tub when it gets windy.
Covering your hot tub during the idle time would help to avoid this scenario. You can check some options on Amazon for the best hot tub cover.
Can Sand Damage Your Hot Tub?
Letting the sand stay in your hot tub can make it look unpleasant. It will tell you that you lack proper maintenance. Aside from that, the sand can cause possible damage and lead to unnecessary maintenance costs.
Although the damage it will cause may not be immediate, it will damage some of its components over time. The components that sand will usually damage are the jet inserts, pumps, and heater elements.
The impact of the sand can cause your hot tub’s jet to stop working. In a worst-case scenario, this component may snap off.
The presence of sand in your hot tub can also decrease the pump’s efficiency in providing proper water flow. Eventually, the sand may cause the pump to malfunction.
Similarly, the sand in your hot tub can damage the heater element. The constant impact of the sand can speed up the wear and tear of the elements. The coatings can be the first thing to be affected.
The sand may not easily get into your hot tub’s filter and damage the component. However, over time, small sand particles can sneak into the filters and cause them to clog up.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Sand in the Hot Tub
Hot tub maintenance, particularly getting the sand out, can be not that difficult. It doesn’t even require special skills. In short, you do not need to contact a professional to do the job for you.
What you need are the proper tools, time, and diligence. There are various tools or methods you can use to do the job. These include a pool vacuum, siphon using a garden hose, water blaster, silly putty, and grit gritter.
You can drain and clean the water if your hot tub is due for a thorough cleaning. Doing this will help you check your hot tub’s overall condition and perform necessary maintenance.
1. Using a Pool/Hot Tub Vacuum
Cleaning the sand in your hot tub can be easy with a pool or hot tub vacuum. You can buy a specialized hot tub vacuum like the Intex 28620EP Handheld Rechargeable Spa Pool Vacuum. It may cost you $100 or more, depending on your preference.
If you prefer using the regular pool vacuum, you can check the steps below:
Step 1: Connect the pool hose to the vacuum port.
Step 2: Set the valve to “waste” to prevent the sand from floating.
Step 3: Dip the other end of the hose in the tub and turn on the pump.
Step 4: Move the hose around the bottom of the tub to suck up the sand.
It is important to work fast using this method because the vacuum can quickly suck up your hot tub’s water. After clearing the tub of sand, top up the water level and use the hot tub again.
2. Siphon Using a Garden Hose
Another simple and economical way to get the sand out of your hot tub is by siphoning it. This process is simple; you only need your garden hose and a bucket.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: Prepare a puncture-free garden hose.
Step 2: Connect a small metal or a stone at the end of the hose to prevent it from floating.
Step 3: Put the end of the hose into the hot tub water.
Step 4: Prepare a bucket to hold the water you draw from the tub. You might not need a bucket if you can easily drain the water in your garden or a sewage system.
Step 5: Suck on the other end of the hose to draw the water up and initiate the siphon.
Step 6: Move the end of the hose to the area where the sand has settled.
This method can also suck up much of your hot tub’s water like a pool vacuum. It would be best if you worked fast.
3. Water Blaster
Water blasters can also help you remove the sand from your hot tub. If you have kids, you would likely have one in some corners of your house.
This method is very straightforward. You only need to put the end of the water blaster at the bottom and pull up the handle. As a result, the sand will get sucked together with water.
Then, squirt the water and the sand out. You may have to repeat the process until the tub is completely sand-free.
4. Silly Putty
Another helpful method to remove sand from the bottom of your hot tub is using a Silly Putty. Again, this could be easy to find if you have kids.
The process of removing the sand using clay is simple. Take a look at the steps below.
Step 1: Unpack the Silly Putty and flatten it using your hand.
Step 2: Place the flattened putty above the settled sand.
Step 3: Gently press the molded clay against the settled sand for them to stick on its sticky surface.
Step 4: Pull the Silly Putty up slowly to prevent dropping the sand grains back into the water.
Step 5: Remove the sand from the Silly Putty and repeat the process until you remove the last grain from your hot tub.
5. Grit Gitter
Grit Gitter is another useful alternative to get the sand out of your hot tub. Pool and hot tub owners are getting this handy tool to help them do a spot cleaning. The tool sucks the sand out of the tub without disturbing the water.
Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Press the bulbous head of the Grit Gitter to create a vacuum.
Step 2: Release the bulbous head to suck the settled sand at the bottom of your hot tub.
Step 3: Discard the collected sand grains.
Step 4: Repeat the procedure until all sand grains are removed.
If you need ideas on which Grit Gitter to get, check the Pool Blaster Grit-Gitter or look for similar products on Amazon.
6. Drain and Clean
Drain and clean is the last on my list of methods to clean your hot tub from the sand. It is because this takes more time and effort. For this reason, I will not provide the step-by-step process to drain and clean your hot tub here.
I suggest that you do perform this if your hot tub is already due for a water change. Ideally, you should change your hot tub water every 3 to 4 months. I recommend this method if you haven’t drained your hot tub in a while.
It is more convenient to clean the tub from sand and all the other dirt when it is empty. Plus, you can perform the rest of your maintenance checklist to ensure the optimal condition of your hot tub.
Conclusion
Getting sand out of a hot tub is not very difficult. There are many tools or methods available that you can take advantage of. Pool vacuum, siphon using a garden hose, water blaster, Silly Putty, and Grit Gitter are practical ways to consider.
You need to work fast using a pool vacuum or siphon using a garden hose. If you are slow, these methods will suck a lot of water, so your tub will lose so much water. However, you can always top up your hot tub water to get it back to the right level.
