Daft one...can I rig an old pump up to help drain my hot tub?!!

[johnny2hands]

I got one of those lazy spa jacuzzis which was nice...but every now and again, the water needs changing...I don't like emptying it all over the garden through the bung and there's a nice drain nearby...I have an old CH circulating pump...can I rig it up with some hoses to help drain the water or will it just burn out if it's not actually circulating? (Or not work at all)!

 

[Tigercubrider]

I'd be tempted to use a water butt submersible pump.

Lidl/aldi sell them for £20/30 and they have built in safety

 

[stem]

As you suspect a 'Central Heating Pump' is actually a misnomer. A 'Central Heating Circulator' would be more appropriate. They are designed to work in an enclosed circuit, and displace the water inside them, pushing it around sealed loop. They don't create any suction that would enable water to be drawn up into them. Also, the outside of the pump......erm.....circulator is not sealed / designed to get wet or be used outdoors. You would also need to make a stand for it, and wire it up. By the time you have done that the Lidl / Aldi solution will be cheaper.

 

[Nige F]

Good point stem - I remember being told as an apprentice that an SMC was just a gravity (thermosyphon) circuit assister