- [Narrator] If your hot tub freezes,
the ice can damage everything
from your liner to your plumbing.
But don't worry,
you can keep your spa from freezing
with the right steps.
Check it out.
(rock music)
If you wanna keep using your hot tub
when it's cold out, and I mean, who wouldn't,
here are five things to help you prepare
your spa for the cold weather.
Number one, change the water.
Before it gets too cold,
drain and clean your hot tub,
and then refill it with fresh water.
Changing your water every three to four months
helps protect your filter and plumbing from nasty buildup.
But trying to change the water
when it's already really cold outside
is not a good idea.
You could risk your pipes freezing in the process.
Now, if it's already extremely cold
and you absolutely need to change the water,
do it in small batches.
Remove 6 inches to 12 inches of water at a time,
refilling and reheating the water
between these partial drains.
While this won't get you the same results
as completely draining and refilling the hot tub,
it's the best option until the weather warms up.
Number two, invest in a good cover.
Most temperature loss happens at the water surface,
so before freezing temperatures hit,
check your hot tub cover carefully
and make sure that it's in tip-top shape,
and be sure it's secure snugly
when it's on to prevent heat loss.
Number three, get a floating thermal blanket.
A floating thermal blanket sits
between the water and the cover,
and it can help keep even more heat
in your hot tub.
Number four, check the water level.
Throughout the entire winter,
you'll wanna check on your water level,
especially if you haven't used
your hot tub for weeks.
If your water level drops too low,
your pump and heater could shut down,
and that means possible ice
and damage to your hot tub.
Number five, close your hot tub for the winter
if you're not using it.
If you live in a colder climate
and you don't plan on using your hot tub
regularly throughout the winter,
you'll need to drain and winterize your spa
before it gets cold.
Most winter hot tub damage is caused
by freezing water in pipes, jets,
or places like your heater,
so follow these winterization steps
to help protect your spa
until it's ready to be used again.
First, you'll need to drain your hot tub's plumbing.
Adding a line flush cleaner before you drain
will help break down any biofilm buildup.
Then, drain all the water from your hot tub.
You can connect a hose to the spa drain
and let the water slowly drain out,
or you can use a sump pump to speed up the process.
Next, you'll wanna fully drain the spa blower.
Shut off the heater and run the blower
for about 30 seconds to push all the water
from the system and dry it out.
This is also a good time
to pull out and clean the filters,
rinse them off, dry them,
and keep them somewhere safe during the winter.
Even if you've drained your hot tub,
there could still be water in the plumbing fittings.
Loosen the fittings and allow the water
to completely drain out them.
If you have a gas heater, shut it down
according to the manufacturer's instructions
and drain the water from any valves
and fittings to be sure they're dry.
Then, blow out the jets.
You'll need to make sure there's no water
in the jet system.
Using a wet/dry vac,
blow air through each jet to make sure
all the water has been expelled from your system.
Then finally, mop up any water
that's been left behind in the hot tub,
and then give it a good cleaning
before putting the cover back on
and locking it for the winter.
If you decide to keep your hot tub running
during the colder weather,
make sure it's well-insulated with a good cover
and check on the water level.
If you decide to close down your spa,
take the time to drain and winterize it properly.
I know this may seem like a lot of work,
but it's way better than finding
frozen and cracked hot tub parts in the spring.
If you're looking for an easy-to-follow tutorial
that'll answer all your hot tub questions,
go check out our hot tub handbook and video course.
You'll get in-depth video lessons, plus,
a step-by-step downloadable guide
covering everything that you need
to know about hot tub maintenance.
It's packed with money-saving tips
so you can save money and time
keeping your hot tub clean.
If you missed anything or have any questions,
please leave a comment to let us know.
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if you found this video helpful.
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That's it, thanks again, and happy soaking.