As winter draws closer, many people are starting to look forward to warm cups of cocoa, more time with family and cozy nights by the fire.
For hot tub owners, though, winter also means the arrival of a lingering question: “How the heck should I winterize my hot tub?”
Don’t worry — we’ve got your back. Here, we’ll share the five simple steps you can take to winterize your hot tub:
- Power down and drain.
- Remove filters.
- Unscrew pipe fittings and remove drain plugs.
- Blow out pipes.
- Dry and clean.
- Cover it up.
Do You Need to Winterize?
Before we get started, it would be wise for you to consider whether you need to winterize your hot tub at all.
After all, enjoying a relaxing soak in your hot tub on a cold day can be a truly wonderful experience. So, if you plan on using your hot tub during the winter, all you need to do is check out our article on how to keep electrical costs down.
There are times, however, when winterizing is your best option. These include when:
- You don’t want to use your hot tub during the winter.
- You plan on being gone for an extended period of time during the winter.
- You’re trying to save as much electricity as possible.
- You don’t want to worry about maintaining your hot tub when it’s cold out.
If any of those situations apply to you, keep reading to learn the five steps of hot tub winterization.
Step 1: Power Down and Drain
Start by cutting all electricity to your hot tub. You can do this by switching off the appropriate circuit breaker, though it’s simpler and easier to just unplug your hot tub completely.
Then, fully drain your hot tub. Once you open the drain valve, you can attach a drain hose or sump pump, or you can simply let gravity do its thing, depending on the type of hot tub you own.
Just remember to never drain your hot tub into a creek, river or other type of waterway, as this can pollute drinking water sources or harm wildlife.
Click here to learn more about the entire hot tub draining process.
Step 2: Remove Filters, Pipe Fittings and Plugs
Remove your filters, clean them and store them away until the spring. This will keep your hot tub clean and preserve the life of your filters.
If you’re unsure how to best clean your filters, check out our guide here.
Step 3: Unscrew Pipe Fittings and Remove Drain Plugs
Next, you’ll need to ensure that any residual moisture inside your hot tub’s plumbing doesn’t condense and build up.
To do this, you’ll need to unscrew the pipe fittings and remove the drain plugs.
Start by opening up your hot tub’s cabinet and unscrewing all the fittings that connect pipes to the pump and/or heater. You don’t need to remove the fittings completely, just make sure they’re loose enough for excess moisture to drain through.
Then, remove all the drain plugs from the pump, heater and/or filter canister. Store them away from the season — we recommend storing them in the same place as your newly cleaned filters to keep everything as organized as possible.
Step 4: Blow Out Pipes
Now, eliminate any residual water by blowing out the hot tub’s pipes. You can do this with the blowing end of a shop vac or air compressor. If you’re in a pinch, you can even use a leaf blower.
Just get inside the hot tub, turn on your shop vac (or other device), set it to “blow” and put the end of the hose up to each jet.
Make sure that each jet is open as wide as possible for maximum airflow.
Step 5: Dry and Clean
Once you’ve blown out your pipes, it’s time to remove any remaining water and ensure that everything is completely dry.
You can do this a few different ways. Of course, you can always keep it simple by using a sponge and cloth. Or, you can speed things up with the help of a sump pump or shop vac.
After removing every drop of water, give your hot tub a thorough cleaning. This way, it will be fresh and ready to use come springtime.
All you’ll need is a soft cloth and a bottle of gentle hot tub cleaner (never use regular household cleaner). Click here to find out more about cleaning your hot tub, and make sure everything is completely dry when you’re done.
Step 6: Cover It Up
You’re almost done! All you need to do is place a clean, dry hot tub cover over the top of your hot tub (learn how to properly clean a hot tub cover here).
Make sure the cover is either strapped or locked in place — you don’t want it budging and letting in debris or snow over the winter.
Once your hot tub cover is firmly in place, you’re finished!
Now you can rest easy for the entire winter knowing your hot tub is safe and sound.
