Table of Contents - How To Winterize Your Hot Tub- A Basic Guide
- Why Should You Winter-Proof Your Hot Tub?
- Getting Your Hot Tub Winter-Ready: The Essential Prep Guide
- Draining and Scrubbing Your Hot Tub: The Winter Clean-Up Party!
- Hidden Water Hunters: Getting Those Last Drops Out of Your Hot Tub
- The Antifreeze Adventure: Adding Extra Protection to Your Hot Tub
- Must-Have Hot Tub Winterization Goodies: Your Shopping List
- Final Thoughts: Your Hot Tub Winter Protection Plan
- FAQs
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How To Winterize Your Hot Tub- A Basic Guide
Why Should You Winter-Proof Your Hot Tub?
Getting Your Hot Tub Winter-Ready: The Essential Prep Guide
Safety First: Powering Down Your Spa
- Find your hot tub’s circuit breaker on your home’s electrical panel
- Flip that breaker to the “OFF” position
- Don’t forget to turn off the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) if your tub has one
- Double-check that the power is truly off by looking for any lights or active displays
Your Winter Prep Shopping List
- Garden hose (for the big drain)
- Submersible pump (optional but super helpful for faster draining)
- Wet/dry shop vacuum (your best friend for water removal)
- Soft cloths and fluffy towels for cleaning and drying
- Hot tub-specific cleaners (not household cleaners!)
- Filter cleaning solution
- Hot tub antifreeze (propylene glycol, the non-toxic kind)
- Funnel for pouring antifreeze into tight spaces
Spa Depot Complete Winterizing Kit
Hot Tub Winter Prep: The Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Check your owner’s manual for specific winterization tips
- Regularly peek at your winterized tub for snow buildup or damage
- Give filters a thorough cleaning before tucking them away
- Call in the pros if you’re feeling unsure about any steps
- Keep water balanced if you’ll be using your tub in winter
Don’ts
- Wing it without proper knowledge (your wallet will thank you)
- Use hot water to melt snow (vinyl covers hate this!)
- Drain your hot tub if you’ll use it now and then during winter
- Use a tarp as a cover (causes inner foam to get all sweaty)
- Let water levels drop too low (even in winter, levels matter)
Draining and Scrubbing Your Hot Tub: The Winter Clean-Up Party!
How to Say “Bye-Bye” to Hot Tub Water for Winter
- Double-check that your hot tub power is completely off (remember our safety chat?)
- Hunt down your hot tub’s drain valve – it’s usually hiding in the equipment access area
- Hook up your garden hose to the drain spout and point it somewhere water can safely flow
- Open the valve and let gravity do its thing (patience required – this could take hours!)
- Want to speed things up? Pop a submersible pump into the lowest spot in your tub
Water Wisdom:
Give Your Hot Tub Shell a Spa Day
- Grab a non-abrasive spa cleaner or whip up a simple white vinegar and water solution for scrubbing
- Focus extra attention on the waterline – that’s where body oils and gunk love to party
- Don’t forget those jets! Clean each opening carefully, fishing out any debris
- Stubborn gunk giving you grief? Remove the jets and let them soak overnight in vinegar water
- Rinse everything super well and towel-dry to banish all moisture
Leisure Time Surface Cleaner
Filter Care 101
- Pop all filters out of their homes
- Give them a good shower with your garden hose to blast away loose debris
- For the deep-down dirty stuff, let them soak overnight in a filter cleaning solution
- Fighting calcium buildup? Try a 1:10 solution of muriatic acid to water (but only after degreasing first!)
- Rinse thoroughly and let them completely dry before storage
- Tuck your clean, dry filters away in a cozy indoor spot for winter
Hot Tip:
To Drain or Not to Drain? Winter’s Big Question
| Keeping Your Bubbles Bubbling | Draining for Winter Hibernation |
|---|---|
| The Good Stuff: | The Good Stuff: |
| – Keeps Jack Frost from damaging pipes | – Your energy bill takes a winter vacation too |
| – Ready for impromptu soaks anytime | – No need to play chemist all winter long |
| – Water chemistry stays happy | – Perfect for vacation homes sitting empty |
| – Skip the whole winterization dance | – Shields equipment during power outages |
| The Not-So-Good Stuff: | The Not-So-Good Stuff: |
| – Your electric bill keeps coming | – Mess up the draining process? Hello, damage! |
| – Regular maintenance doesn’t take a holiday | – It’s not a quick job |
| – Power outage? Potential freeze problems | – Spring means a complete restart |
| – Chemistry supplies keep dwindling | – Any water left in lines spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e |
Hidden Water Hunters: Getting Those Last Drops Out of Your Hot Tub
Your New Best Friend: The Wet/Dry Vac Technique
- Set your wet/dry vac to “blow” mode first
- Stick the nozzle into each jet, filter opening, and drain hole
- Blast air through for about 10-15 seconds per opening
- Flip to “suction” mode and repeat the process (double trouble for water!)
- Don’t forget that sneaky filter standpipe—water loves playing hide-and-seek there
My Go-To Tool:Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
Dealing With Air Blowers and Pump Houses
- Temporarily wake up your hot tub by reconnecting power
- Put the cover on your spa (safety first, friends!)
- Run the blower for 30-60 seconds to push water out of those air channels
- Quick! Disconnect the power again right after
The Final Frontier: Unions and Drain Plugs
- Find your hot tub’s access panel (usually held on with screws)
- Locate the pump(s) and heater hiding inside
- Spot all unions (those big circular fittings connecting pipes)
- Gently loosen these unions using your hands or the right tools
- Find and remove all drain plugs on each pump
- Grab your trusty wet/dry vac again to slurp up any water that escapes
The Antifreeze Adventure: Adding Extra Protection to Your Hot Tub
Antifreeze Application: Where and How?
- First, grab propylene glycol-based, non-toxic RV antifreeze specifically made for water systems
- Never, ever use automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) – that stuff is super toxic!
- Pour about 1-2 gallons of RV antifreeze into the filter canister until you see it coming through the suction intakes
- Grab a turkey baster (not the one from your kitchen!) to squirt about 1 ounce into each jet
- Those fancy whirlpool jets? They’re extra thirsty – give them about 5 squirts each
- Don’t miss that tiny ozone jet hiding in the foot-well of your tub
My Top Pick
Putting Your Hot Tub Back Together
- Pop all those drain plugs back where they belong
- Snug up all unions around pumps and heaters
- Re-secure any parts you loosened during your winterization adventure
- Double-check everything is properly fastened – water should stay out!
- Make sure all access panels are tightly closed
Antifreeze Do’s and Don’ts: The Cheat Sheet
Do’s
- Stick with propylene glycol-based, non-toxic antifreeze only
- Take a peek at your manufacturer’s warranty before adding antifreeze
- Apply to all spots where water might sneak in or out
- Schedule extra time for spring startup to flush out all antifreeze
Don’ts
- Touch automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) – it’s dangerously toxic
- Forget to flush the antifreeze when firing up your tub in spring
- Bother with antifreeze if you’re 100% sure you got all water out
- Use antifreeze products with metals that could cause corrosion
Must-Have Hot Tub Winterization Goodies: Your Shopping List
Freeze-Fighting Antifreeze Champions
Splash Pool & Spa Antifreeze (6 Gallon Bundle)
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Non-toxic formulation | Kind to your plumbing (and the planet!) |
| -50°F burst protection | Keeps pipes safe even when polar vortexes strike |
| Includes winterizing guide | Perfect for first-time winterizers |
| Pre-measured quantities | No guesswork or waste |
Safety Alert:
Water-Busting Vacuum Heroes
Water Transfer Pump (115V 1/10HP)
- Comes with handy on/off switch for precise control
- Includes two 6-foot water hoses in the kit
- Features 1/8″ low suction capability for grabbing every last drop
- Specially designed with hot tubs and pools in mind
- Absolutely fantastic at clearing jets and drain lines
Cozy Cover Solutions
Winter Cover Cap (7’x7′)
- Light yet tough fabric that stands up to winter abuse
- Extra-generous 35-inch skirt wraps everything up
- Tension shock cord keeps it hugging your tub tight
- Protects both your regular cover and skirting
Final Thoughts: Your Hot Tub Winter Protection Plan
FAQs
Q1. Is it necessary to winterize my hot tub if I live in a mild climate?Q2. How much antifreeze do I need to winterize my hot tub?Q3. Can I simply drain my hot tub and leave it empty for winter?Q4. Where should I add antifreeze in my hot tub during winterization?Q5. What’s the most important step in winterizing a hot tub?
