Winterizing a Spa

As winter approaches, it is important to be familiar with winterizing a hot tub in the case that the spa is to remain empty during potential freezing weather.

A  hot tub left empty outdoors or even partially empty can be subject to severe damage as heating and pluming components can freeze.  Properly winterizing a spa will prevent damage and allow for a smooth refilling in the Spring.  When in doubt, there are local service companies that will handle the closing of a spa for you.

In the event a part is needed to restore functionality of the hot tub in the winter, it is important to either quickly get the part and install it, or use a submersible pump to drain the spa water and then winterize the spa in the mean time until repairs can be completed. This is why even for hot tub enthusiasts that never drain the spa, the owner should still be familiar with the consequences of leaving a spa that cannot heat itself full of water during freezing weather.

Once the hot tub is completely drained of water, clear out jets with a wet vac and even add a little non-toxic RV antifreeze in the line as a precaution.  Important things to consider when avoiding a freezing spa are:

• Remove remaining water with a wet vac\
• If spa has a blower, turn blower on after water is drained to get additional water out of air lines
• Make sure all water is drained out of the spa – use a shop vac on each jet and filter ports
• Remove and store spa filter
• Open, remove and store any drain plugs on the jet pump(s) – don’t forget to replace them before refilling!
• Loosen the lowest union or heater union to allow for any remaining water to drain out.
• Check with your spa manufacturer or dealer for more tips on winterizing a spa.

Knowing these proceedures can save you costly repairs down the road.