For many hot tub owners, taking a toasty soak in the middle of winter is the best feeling in the world. However, if you’re planning on spending most of the colder months traveling, whether it be for work or pleasure, it’s a good idea to winterize your spa before departing. In addition to helping to lower your monthly electric bill, this will protect your hot tub from potential damage.
The Pros and Cons
Before starting the process of winterizing your spa, it’s important to take a good look at your schedule and decide if this is the right move for you. If you have a few trips planned but will be returning to your home periodically, it might not be worth it to spend the time winterizing. While it will minimize your energy bill, the process can be time-consuming. In some cases, it’s best to keep your hot tub constantly running, filled with hot and properly sanitized water, and covered all winter, instead of taking the extra steps to winterize it.
Prep Your Spa
When you’re ready to winterize your personal spa, start off by cleaning and purifying the water. This might seem like an unnecessary step since you’ll be draining the water in a moment, but by sanitizing everything first and removed debris, you’ll reduce the risk of pesky bacteria making itself at home in dormant pipes while you’re away. You’ll also want to gather a few tools that will make the rest of this process a lot easier:
• A wet vacuum or sump pump
• Absorbent towels just in case things get messy
• Sanitizing solution to clean the basin of your hot tub
• A scrubbing tool
Time to Winterize
Every hot tub model is unique so before starting the draining process, make sure to consult your owner’s manual for specific guidance. If you’re looking for extra help, you can also contact our team for assistance. Simply put, you’ll need to power down your hot tub, grab your wet vacuum or sump pump, and then start draining the water. If your spa is equipped with drain plugs, you can go ahead and remove these and just use your vacuum or pump at the very end to suck up any remaining liquid.
Once the water is drained, blow the jets for a few seconds to purge any remaining water. Next, you should clean the vents, filters, and jet baskets. Once finished, give the inside of your hot tub a thorough scrub with a sanitizing solution. This will ensure that any leftover bacteria is effectively eliminated. Next, close your cover and you’re all finished! If your cover is equipped with a lock, make sure to lock it down tight for an added layer of protection. When spring rolls around, you can go ahead and refill your hot tub, balance the chemicals, and start enjoying your personal oasis again.
Need Help?
If you’re intimidated by completing this process alone, feel free to reach out to us! Our friendly team members are always here to help you properly maintain and get the most out of your hot tub.
