One of the many benefits of owning a hot tub is the ability to enjoy a hot, relaxing soak which can feel extra nice on a cold winter’s day, but what should you do if you don’t plan to use your tub over the winter? If you live somewhere cold, it’s probably best to winterize your hot tub which will help protect it from potential damage caused by freezing water and ensure that it remains in good condition for the next season.

Do I Need to Winterize My Hot Tub?

Just like you need to winterize your home, your sprinkler system, summer toys like personal watercraft, etc, your hot tub also needs attention before temperatures drop below freezing. If you plan to use your tub over cold winter months, there’s nothing additional you need to do to prepare for winter except to keep up with regular maintenance, but if you plan to be away from your home for months at a time or know for sure you won’t be using it, then you’ll definitely want to protect your tub before temperatures drop below freezing. 

If you are going on a short trip or still plan to use your hot tub infrequently over the winter, you probably don’t need to drain it, but you will still need to keep it running and the pH levels balanced. You can turn down the temperature to keep the water warm versus hot, and make sure you have a tightly fitting cover to keep the heat in. If you have an outdoor hot tub and live in an area where temps will fall below freezing and you will not be using your tub for a few months, then you should probably winterize it. 

Freezing temperatures can do significant damage to your hot tub, particularly the plumbing lines, so taking a few hours to fully winterize your tub is the best way to protect your tub from costly damages, repairs or even replacement. The temperature needs to be under 28 degrees for at least 36 consecutive hours for frosty temps to endanger your tub. If you don’t live in a cold climate, you won’t have to worry about damage from freezing, but it still might be a good idea to “winterize” your tub so you don’t have to spend time and energy maintaining it if it won’t be used for an extended period of time.  

How to Prepare Your Hot Tub for Winter

The first winterization step is to let the chemicals in the water dissipate; once your sanitizer levels have dropped to zero you can begin winterization. Turn off both the power and breaker to ensure there’s no power getting to your tub and then drain as much water out as you can into a proper drainage area. Using a sump pump will make the draining go quicker. If your hot tub has an air blower you also have to drain water from it as well as the plumbing lines. 

Next remove the filters and either deep clean them or dispose of them. Removing water from the plumbing lines is the most critical part of winterizing, especially if you live in a freezing climate, if not done correctly the remaining water will freeze and expand which can cause the lines to crack or burst. Blow out the lines by using a Shop-Vac’s blow function multiple times on every drain and filter cavity. Lastly you can suck out any remaining bit of water in the tub. 

Once your tub is completely drained, you can deep clean and sanitize the shell. While you’re at it, clean your cover so that you won’t introduce any dirt or debris when you put it back on. Once your tub and cover are clean and dry, make sure your cover is securely attached to your tub. You can use additional wind straps to make sure no critters or dirt get in. Then you can rest assured that your tub is clean and ready to use in the spring or when you’re home again.  

With a little diligence and care, your hot tub will remain the relaxing spa you intended it to be for years to come. Give us a call with any questions you might have about maintaining your tub at 970-879-4390 or contact us here.