In northern Colorado, where the weather can be warm one day and cold the next, you may be considering installing a hot tub. Hot tubs can be a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors even when the weather is cool. They can be super relaxing and a great addition to your home, but before you start the process, you may want to consider how they’ll affect your septic. You should, of course, be sure that you’re aware of any local regulations that may impact your ability to install a hot tub. In this blog, we’ll look at how your hot tub and septic system affect each other.
Hot Tub Placement
When you’re thinking about where to install your new hot tub, you should consider a few things. The first is how it will impact your septic system or drain field. Your septic system is surrounded by what’s known as the drain field. This area helps process all of the septic waste and water once it’s moved through the septic tank. This area is important to the balance of your septic tank and needs to receive oxygen to keep it dry. Placing your hot tub on or near this drain field will ruin the balance of your septic system and may even break the pipes below. You’ll want to be sure that you install your hot tub on the opposite side of your yard so that the chemically treated water from the hot tub doesn’t impact your septic system.
Draining Your Hot Tub
It’s important that you know how to properly dispose of the water in your hot tub when it comes time. People often think they can empty their hot tubs into their septic systems or around their septic drain fields. This is a big NO-NO, as emptying your hot tub into your septic can overwhelm the system and cause issues. It can also cause the solids in your septic tank to rise and be pushed through to the drain field, leading to clogs. The best practice is to empty your hot tub once the water has cooled and empty it away from your septic system. You can do this near vegetation, landscaping, or turf – or as recommended by your hot tub manufacturer.
Hot Tub Chemicals and Safety
To keep your hot tub clean during use, you’ll have to use chemicals. While these chemicals are necessary to keep your hot tub clean and functioning properly, they can affect other water in your home. These chemicals will have an impact on your septic system if they enter it. Your septic system has a particular pH and bacteria balance that allows it to work properly. Chemicals from your hot tub or pool will disrupt this natural balance. These chemicals can also affect streams or ponds near your home, so don’t empty your hot tub near these areas. Instead, discharge your hot tub water by stopping the addition of chlorine and allowing the water to go back to a normal pH level. Once it has a pH of 6.5-8.5, the water is safe to drain without damaging any ecosystems near your home.
It’s important to consider all of these factors before installing a hot tub at your home. In addition, being aware of the work that a hot tub requires when you have a septic system is important to understand. Should you have any issues with your septic system and hot tub, give Lion Septic a call. Our experts are happy to answer any questions or come out and assess the issue. Call Lion Home Service at (970) 829-8222 or fill out our online contact form today!
