Will Hot Tub Water Kill My Grass? —  How To Save Grass

Hot tub water can and will kill grass. This is one of the most common concerns regarding hot tub ownership and for good reason. 

The chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in hot tub water are the culprits in hot tub water that work to kill grass and often other plants. However, the good news is that these chemicals  are not always present in every hot tub.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of and regulate what type of water a hot tub uses and the chemicals going into it. Furthermore, in order to protect your grass from dangerous chemicals,  particularly when draining a hot tub, it is important to know the pH balance of the water and to eliminate the existence of chlorine.

In order to do so, users should refrain from adding chlorine or any other treatments to the hot tub water a minimum of two days before the draining takes place. To speed up the dissipation process of chlorine, the cover should also be left off of the hot tub.

After this time period, the chlorine level of the hot tub should be tested. If there are no signs of chlorine, the water should be safe to use and drain without killing the surrounding grass!

What Do you Do With Hot Tub Water?

Hot tub water can be used to water plants, rehydrate a home’s foundation, or wash a car. This being said, hot tub water should be drained and replaced roughly every three to four months.

In order to do so safely and avoid flooding your yard, it is important to follow a series of specific steps. First, turn off the circuit breaker connected to the hot tub to ensure that no circuits are running. Next, remove the front panel of the hot tub, and attach a garden hose.

Find a safe place such as a driveway that leads to the street to drain the water so that it does not end up pooling in the yard. After all of the water has drained, use a shop vac to suck up any leftover water droplets and a towel to dry the inside of the hot tub. 

Simply draining the water away is the most common and easiest way to get rid of old, dirty water. However, as previously mentioned, if simply letting the water wash away seems wasteful, there are several useful ways to reuse the drained water.

For instance, if the chlorine level was at zero upon the time of draining, the water can be collected and used to safely water nearby trees and shrubs. However, it should be noted that the pH of the water should be between 7 and 7.8 in order for it to be safe for use on grass. 

Additionally, the water is a great way to rehydrate a home’s foundation or large concrete areas such as a driveway in order to prevent cracking in hot summer heat. 

Finally, the drained water is more than enough to be able to fully wash a car. 

Does Chlorinated Water Generally Kill Grass?

Generally, chlorinated water such as that found in pools does not contain high enough levels of chlorine to kill grass. However, high amounts of chlorine such as those found in hot tub water or undiluted waters will kill grass very quickly. 

Will Hot Tub Water Kill Plants?

Using hot tub water can be a great way to keep plants watered. However, as previously discussed, it is crucial to take the proper steps. For instance, all of the chlorine should be dissipated from the water as exposure to the chemical can be detrimental to the plants. 

Similarly, while it decreases the salt within the water does not totally disappear, and its presence should be noted when watering plants. It is important to make sure plants are salt-tolerant before they come into contact with any water from a  hot tub. 

How to Dispose of Hot Tub Water?

Hot tub water can easily be recycled to avoid water waste. However, if not being recycled there are particular cautions and procedures that should be taken in order to properly dispose of a hot tub’s water. 

Many areas have rules and regulations regarding the use and disposal of hot tub water. Therefore, it is important for hot tub owners to be aware of the regulations in their area before draining the water from their hot tubs. For example, it is never legal to drain hot tub water into lakes, and in many cases it is illegal to discharge water onto one’s lawn. In this case, it should be disposed of in a sewage system. 

What to Do With Drained Hot Tub Water? 

Hot tub water can be recycled and used immediately for a variety of tasks such as watering a house’s foundation or driveway, watering grass and plants once appropriate chlorine and salt levels are reached and washing one’s car. 

However, drained water can also be saved and used for a variety of tasks. For example, if the water is not extremely dirty it can be added to a swimming pool and enjoyed once again. Similarly to washing a car, hot tub water can be used to bath any dirty pets. In addition to keeping them clean, the use of hot tub water can actually prevent dogs from overheating in hot summer temperatures as well. 

Can I Drain my Hot Tub Into the Street?

It is often recommended that hot tub water is drained into the street. Of course, this holds true only if the water is not being immediately used for other purposes or saved for later use. However, standards of politeness should be maintained when draining water into the street.

For instance, the water should be drained into a street where it will flow into sewage systems. It should not pose a threat to the owner’s or any neighbor’s lawns as the water has the potential to flood yards and damage water. Otherwise, draining old hot tub water and running down a driveway into the street is often considered one of the easiest ways to dispose of the water. 

Is Hot Tub Water Worth the Hassle? 

Due to the immense benefits associated with hot tubs such as reduced stress, reduced inflammation, the healing of sore muscles, and more, the hassle of hot tub water is well worth the trouble. In fact, the task of maintaining clean hot tub water and frequently draining it may seem daunting, but it can be a breeze!

The hygiene levels of the water can be maintained with pH tests easily found in stores or online and common garden hoses can be used to easily dispose of the water. Furthermore, when draining a hot tub it is easy to knock out several chores at once by recycling the water. Overall, maintaining clean hot tub water is not much work and can increase one’s household productivity.