How To Keep Your Spa Or Hot Tub Safe All Winter Long
Can soaking in a hot tub improve your health? Yes! Using a hot tub can provide you with stress relief, muscle relaxation, pain relief, and more.
Because of these great benefits, it is great to use your hot tub all year long. To make sure you can enjoy your hot tub during the colder winter months, it is important that you follow the right tips for using your hot tub in winter.
Do you want to learn more about how to keep your hot tub functioning all year? Keep reading this article for the top tips to keep your hot tub running during the winter and to see why you need to get a spa.
Spa Maintenance Tips for Winter
To make sure your hot tub is ready for use all winter long, you must learn how to properly maintain your spa! This includes having the right supplies, preventing your pipes from freezing, and more.
Here are some of the top steps you need to take to keep your hot tub maintained and ready for use.
Drain & Refill Before the Winter Sets in
First, you must drain and refill your hot tub before the weather changes. Hot tubs need their water changed every three months, so it is best to do this right before winter sets in.
As you do this, you can flush the plumbing system to make your spa more efficient.
Stock up on Supplies
Next, you need to buy plenty of supplies to last throughout the winter. This will keep you safe and will ensure that you don’t need to buy more supplies in the middle of a blizzard. Plus, you need to have these to keep the water in your hot tub clean and balanced.
By stocking up on supplies, you will never miss out on your hot tub during the winter.
H3: Invest in a High-Quality Cover
Having a high-quality cover is necessary to insulate your hot tub and to keep it free of snow and other debris.
Make sure your cover insulates and will stay in place on your hot tub, even in a harsh storm.
Check Water Levels Regularly
If your water levels drop too low in your spa, there is a chance that they will freeze over in the winter. This can cause serious damage to your hot tub and you will not be able to use it until it is repaired.
Monitor your hot tub regularly and refill it when you notice the water level changing!
Keep Water Clean
Similarly, you need to keep your water clean. This is part of regular maintenance, so make sure you clean the filters, balance the chemicals, and test the water to make sure it is safe to soak in.
Clean Circulation Pump Filter
Another important part of maintenance is cleaning the circulation pump filter. This should be done every 30 days to prevent clogs and poor water circulation. If your water stops circulating, the heater will turn off and your hot tub may freeze.
Prevent Pipe Freezing
While you need to make sure the water in your hot tub doesn’t freeze, you also must make sure your pipes don’t freeze. This can ruin your entire hot tub, so you need to make sure your water is heated and flowing through all the pipes. Having a backup generator or backup battery could save your hot tub during power outages.
Don’t Forget About It
To make sure your hot tub is protected from the weather, you cannot forget about it! You can use a freeze-protect system to help you monitor the temperature of the water and to run the heater. This is a great option if you are planning on travelling and you don’t want to worry about your spa.
Be Prepared to Close It
If you decide to close your hot tub for the winter, you need to know how to winterize it! Drain the water entirely, clean out your hot tub, and make sure there is no water that could freeze in the piping.
Then, you can simply cover your hot tub until you’re ready to open it.
Do Not Use Snow As a Refill
Many hot tub owners are tempted to use snow to refill their tubs in the winter to keep the water level high. You should not do this. Because there are impurities in the snow, it can disrupt the balance of your water.
This means you would need additional chemicals to clean your water. It is best to use clean water from a tap to refill your hot tub.
Spa Tips for Use In Winter
When you learn how to maintain your hot tub, you can enjoy it all winter long. However, you should still be careful with your hot tub use. Here are some of the top tips to follow for spa use in the winter.
What’s the Best Temperature for a Hot Tub in the Winter?
To make sure you enjoy your soak in the hot tub, you should set your spa to the optimal temperature. In the winter, it is recommended to set it between 36 degrees and 40 degrees celsius.
Be Conservative with the Jets And Blower
Next, be conservative with the jets and blower. Because these blow cool air into the water, they can lower the temperature of your spa. To keep your hot tub warmer, do not use your jets as often in the winter!
Make Smart Choices To Save on Energy
You should also find ways to save energy while you are heating your hot tub. This will lower your bills and conserve heat!
First, you can limit the use of your jets and blower to keep the water warmer for longer. You can also buy a well-insulated cover or spa blanket to help keep the heat inside your hot tub.
It is also more energy-efficient to keep your water at a consistent temperature, rather than lowering it when it is not in use.
Wear A Warm Hat & Proper Shoes To Get To The Spa
To avoid losing body heat when you walk to your hot tub, you should always wear a warm hat and good shoes as you get into your hot tub. This will keep you from getting too cold in the winter weather.
You can also use a bathrobe to use as you get out of the hot tub.
Use It To Fend Off The Winter Colds
As was mentioned before, hot tubs have many health benefits. Because they help you sweat out toxins, they can help you fight winter colds. Plus, the cold air can relieve your coughing and sore throats.
Stay Hydrated
Staying in the hot tub for too long can cause you to dehydrate. To make sure you don’t lose too much water, you should drink plenty of water before and after you use the hot tub!
Be Conscientious About How Long You’re In
While hot tubs are good for your health, staying in them for too long can cause your body to overheat. It is best to limit your soak times to 20 minutes. When you get out of the hot tub, make sure you get inside as fast as possible to avoid too much shock to your body temperature.
Have a Strategy
Finally, have a strategy for your hot tub entrance and exits! Because you will be using this in the winter, you need to get in and out of the hot tub as fast as possible to avoid temperature shock to your body.
Know exactly how you are going to get in and out so you can be prepared for the cold weather.
The Takeaway: Get Help With Your Hot Tub in Winter
If you have a hot tub, it is important that you learn how to maintain it so you can enjoy the benefits of hot tubs in winter. Thinking of getting one? Edgewater Pools can help! We provide homeowners with low-maintenance pools and the best spas you can buy. This way, you can enjoy your hot tub in winter and through all the other seasons. Book a consultation today!
