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Having a hot tub outside is a delight in the summer but what do you do with it in winter? Here are the key tasks you need to do to winterize your hot tub. Read on!
If you live in a cold climate, using a hot tub during the winter months isn’t a luxury, it’s a need. Soaking your body in hot water would be a great help and give you a fresh feeling.
However, if you choose to move to a warm climate during your winter days, you might want to winterize your tub well before time. You can protect your hot tub or personal spa during the harsh winters so that it remains in the best working condition.
If you have an inflatable hot tub, follow the steps outlined here to have a well-winterized tub. This will prevent you from having damaged plumbing due to an accumulation of freezing water. This will also help you to have a fully functional hot tub in the next season.
Prepare to Winterize Your Hot Tub
You’ll be prudent if you winterize your hot tub well in advance rather than leave it for the end. So, begin by planning well in advance. Ensure that you use clean water before draining it. This will help minimize the dangers of bacteria remaining in unused pipes at a time when your hot tub isn’t in use.
Once you’ve done all of this, wait for a clear day when the temperatures are a little above zero, or the water could freeze in your tub.
Steps to Winterize Your Hot Tub
These are the steps you need to complete.
Drain All the Chemicals
Drain all the chemicals before you empty the water from the tub into your yard. The chemicals you can expect to get rid of are generally chlorine, apart from a few sanitizers that can prove dangerous to plant and animal life. After a few days, test the purity of the water. If you find the chlorine level has fallen to zero, you can begin the winterizing process.
Switch Off the Electricity
You might have invested in the best inflatable hot tub, but when it comes to winterizing it, you can’t take any short cuts. Ensure that all power to the tub is completely cut off.
Drain the Tub of All Water
With the power off, you can now drain the tub of water. For this, attach a garden hose to the spout of the tub’s bottom drain and let it do its work.
Make All Connections on the Pumps and Heater Loose Enough for Quick Water Drainage
Loosen all connections on the pump and heater so that water drains quickly and effectively. If there are several pumps, you might have to continue to follow this procedure on all the pumps so that water is completely drained, and the unit is bone dry.
Disconnect the Drain Plug
Facing each pump, you will find a drain plug. You will need to disconnect each of them at this stage so that water drains from within the pump.
Remove Water from Tub Lines Using a Wet Vacuum Cleaner
One necessary step at this stage is to remove any water that lies in the tub lines. This is imperative as otherwise, it could damage your sanitation when the water freezes. You can avert such a situation by introducing a wet vacuum cleaner into all drains and filter out the water. Leave it there for about 20 seconds so that all the water is entirely drawn out by suction.
Put Back the Drain Plugs on All Pumps
Once you extract all the water from the tub, it’s time to replace all the drain plugs on the pumps. Restore all the connections as before and ensure that the gate valves have been opened.
Add Antifreeze to Your Hot Tub
Add one gallon of antifreeze into each pump and another gallon into the filter cavity.
Restore the Cover of Your Hot Tub
Shut the lid of the tub and wait to reopen it.
More Tips to Winterize Your Hot Tub
Here are some tips to help you winterize your hut tub effectively:
- If you don’t use a sanitizer, wash the tub with soapy water and a clean rag. Rinse the tub thoroughly and fill it up with soft water.
- Avoid using a harsh cleanser or the surface of your tub will be damaged.
- If you don’t intend using the tub straight away but want to store it, take care to dry it completely. Ensure that you don’t leave a trace of dampness in it when you fold it and store it away.
- Look for a storage place for your tub that’s away from the glare of the sun. Your tub should not heat up where it is placed as sunlight and heat can damage the material that it’s made of, causing you to either replace it or have it repaired.
- Typically, filters for hot tubs are smaller than their inflatable hot tub counterparts. As a hot tub owner, you must ensure that you keep the filter in good working order and exceptionally clean. For this, it’s best to make a solution of cleanser in water and soak the filter in it overnight. This will help loosen the dirt so that it can all come loose when you rinse it. If you feel the filter is damaged in any way, replace it immediately.
- Not all people can clean their hot tubs professionally. If you are one of them, it would be better if you called in a professional to winterize your hot tub. This way, you can be sure the job will be done to perfection.
- It’s not necessary to winterize your hot tub annually. If you don’t think it’s necessary, leave well alone. However, you should do it if you’re going to be away for a length of time or won’t be using it for some time.
On the other hand, if you do want to winterize your hot tub, you should work hard on it so that you do an excellent job. So, keep an eagle eye out for any water that may lie trapped in the pipes. If you take such care, your hot tub will make it through the harshest winter safely and will be ready for your use in the following seasons.
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