How to Winterize Your Hot Tub

There is nothing better than using a spa when it is 20 degrees below zero, in the middle of winter. Many hot tub enthusiasts who live in cold climates enjoy the sensation of jumping out of their spa into a snow bank and then quickly jumping back in. (Do not try this before consulting a doctor.) However, if you need to leave your spa empty in the winter, here is how you do it.

  1. Locate the spa heater and turn it off. If you have a power switch on your spa pak, turn it off and turn off the circuit breaker on your home's electrical panel. Remove the spa cover and take the filter cartridge out of the canister.
  2. The next step is to drain out the spa. This can be done by hooking a garden hose to the spa's bottom drain spout or by siphoning it out. An easy way to siphon out the water is to connect the hose to a tap and place the other end in the spa water. Turn the water on until the hose is full, then turn off the water and disconnect the hose. Run the hose down an incline to allow the water to continue siphoning.
  3. If you have an electric air blower on your spa, turn the circuit breaker back on and replace the cover. Turn your blowers on for about 1 minute to drain the water out of these lines. Remove the cover again and soak up all the remaining water from the spa. If you have a power switch on your spa pak, turn it off and turn off the circuit breaker inside your home's electrical panel.
  4. Loosen the PVC (plastic) couplers on your heater housing and one coupler on each of your pumps to allow drainage. Remove any bleed valves or drains that may be on the equipment. This will prevent any equipment from freezing and cracking. If you feel you still have water in your jet lines, use a shop vacuum to remove excess water. As long as the majority of water is removed from each water line, freezing will not cause damage.
  5. Place the cover back on your spa and close up your equipment panel. Covering the spa with a tarp will protect the cabinet and cover from the elements.

Keep these instructions handy and repeat the process in reverse, for your next spa start-up.

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