With winter well on its way through New England, it’s all hands on deck to figure out how to manage your hot tub during the cold. And since the weather can change on a dime, you count yourself among many other homeowners running out of time.
However, there’s no need to worry. If you follow these tips to help winterize your hot tub, you’ll be able to ward off the chill all throughout the coldest season.
Cover Your Bases (and Your Tub)
Your first order of business should be to invest in a solid, quality insulated cover. These covers help protect your hot tub from ice and snow while regulating the water temperature. Be warned, though, that once the snow shows up, you should monitor how much accumulates on your hot tub cover. Brush off any excess snow regularly, never letting it reach six inches or more.
It might also be worth getting a thermal blanket for even more protection. A thermal blanket sits on top of the water as an additional insulation layer. This product is especially beneficial for New England homeowners since the temperatures in this region can get extremely low. A thermal blanket will also keep your hot tub’s water at a stable temperature, prevent freezing, and reduce energy costs.
Start Maintenance Today
Good maintenance is always proactive, not reactive. If you don’t plan to use your hot tub this winter, it’s wise to have a professional winterize it for you. Not only does this make your life a lot easier, but it’s also some insurance that the winterizing process gets adequately completed.
Why winterize? Those who improperly winterize or forgo doing so at all are at risk of their plumbing lines cracking or freezing. The damage can be exceedingly expensive to repair, so take every precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen. These repairs usually aren’t protected under warranty, either, making them significantly more expensive.
There’s also something simple you can do that many homeowners overlook: switch on your hot tub’s freeze protection system, provided it has one. It’s not a foolproof way to stave off the cold, but it’s certainly worth doing for how quick it is to implement.
Keep an Eye on the Water Temperature
No matter how reassured you are by your insulated cover and thermal blanket, there’s always something that could pop up and cause your water temperature to drop. Maybe there was a hole punctured in the cover that you overlooked, or it wasn’t put on properly after the last time you cleaned the water.
Your goal temperature for hot tubs in winter should land somewhere between 97 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit — if you plan to use it. This temperature threshold makes life much easier on your tub since it has to work harder to increase the temperature when the weather gets extremely cold. Check your water temperature occasionally, ideally during your cleaning regimen, and adjust as needed.
Change It Up
Those who want to brave the cold and enjoy a soak even when it’s snowy have some quick tasks to manage, ones that you’ll ideally handle soon. The first is doing a complete water change. Performing this task now will be much easier than doing it when you’re knee-deep in snow.
And if you’re closing up shop for the winter, you still have your own work to do. Performing a complete clean of the water and filters is an essential part of winterizing your hot tub, so don’t forget to handle this before you finish shutting down your tub for the season.
It’s also best to stick to your cleaning and maintenance schedule. You might also consider creating an adjusted one that’s less intense if you aren’t using your tub in winter.
Professional Winterization for a Simpler Transition
With these winter tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a pleasant hot tub maintenance experience this winter. But if you aren’t fond of doing these things without help, let us take care of it for you.Great Bay Spa & Sauna offers winterization services that make your seasonal hot tub shut down a snap so you can focus on enjoying what’s left of fall. And if you’re curious, we have more tips that go one step further in preventing your hot tub from freezing. Contact our team today to learn more about our hot tub winterization services and schedule yours!
