Hot tubbing can be enjoyed in all seasons, but sometimes even the promise of a cozy hot tub can't make you brave the cold – we understand! There are two options if you aren't planning to use your hot tub during the winter months: keep it running to prevent the water from freezing (while racking up energy costs), or drain it and tuck it in for the winter! Keep reading to learn how to winterize a hot tub to protect it during the winter months and to ensure it's all ready to go for the hot-tubbing season.

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What Does It Mean to "Winterize" Hot Tubs?
How to Winterize a Hot Tub

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What Does It Mean to "Winterize" Hot Tubs?

Winterizing a hot tub is the process of draining, cleaning, and drying the inside of your hot tub before covering it up for the winter. This process is super important if you don't plan to keep your hot tub up and running during winter because otherwise the water can freeze over, causing cracks and damage. Not to mention, keeping your hot tub running requires consistent upkeep to prevent any bacteria from growing. By winterizing your hot tub, you ensure it'll be in pristine condition when you're ready to use it again!

How to Winterize a Hot Tub

It's best to winterize your hot tub before the average outdoor temperatures go below freezing. Otherwise the water could freeze before you have a chance to drain it. Below, we will walk you through how to winterize your outdoor hot tub for the best results.

1. Turn Off Your Hot Tub

Before you do anything, you need to turn off your hot tub via the on/off switch and unplug it from its power source. This way, no electrical components or power cords get exposed to water during the draining process. Look at your hot tub's instructions manual for specific tips on how to turn off a hot tub.

2. Drain the Water

Now that your hot tub is turned off, you're ready to drain the water. There are two draining methods you can choose from: You can either submerge a mechanical drain pump into the hot tub attached to a garden hose to pump out water or you can unscrew the hot tub's drain plug and attach a garden hose to it. The garden hose helps to direct the water away from the area around the hot tub, which is super important to prevent a buildup of water on your patio or deck. This method usually takes longer than a drain pump but it is still effective. The drain plug is usually located along the outside of the hot tub along the bottom edge.

Depending on the size of your hot tub you might need to give it a few hours to fully drain.

3. Turn On the Air Blower

Most hot tubs have air blowers that produce the bubbles that add to the spa-like experience. However, they can also be used to help remove water from the air channels. Reference the hot tub manual to locate the switch or button to activate them. Then, you'll need to turn the hot tub back on. Once the hot tub is back on, go ahead and turn on the air blowers. Let them run for one minute or less before turning them off and turning off the power to the hot tub. You may need to use a sponge or towel to clean any of the water expelled from the air channels.

4. Drain & Clean Out Filters, Pipes, & Pumps

Take this time to remove and clean your hot tub's filters so that they're all ready to go for the next season (keep them in a safe dry spot inside over the winter). Then, use a specialty hot tub vacuum or a wet-dry vacuum to remove water from the hot tub pumps, jets, and jet pipes, and the heater mechanism as best you can. This way there won't be any water inside these components to cause them to freeze or crack. Reference How to Clean a Hot Tub for more cleaning and maintenance tips. Make sure to review the hot tub manual for specific instructions on how to access pump and jet components.

5. Dry Off the Hot Tub

Now that you've drained the water and attempted to remove water from the important pieces of your hot tub, it's time to dry it off. You can use large towels to soak up any water that's still in the bottom of the shell and wipe around the jets to soak up any excess moisture. Drying your hot tub can also prevent a build-up of moisture-loving bacteria.

6. Place a Protective Cover on Top

Protective covers are a must when it comes to winterizing your hot tub because they help preserve and protect your hot tub over the winter. Covers keep rain water and snow from filling up your hot tub and causing components to freeze with low temperatures. Not to mention, they keep out leaves and dirt so you have minimal cleaning to do when you reopen your hot tub.

Tip!

Now that you know how to winterize a hot tub, check out these 11 Patio & Deck Hot Tub Ideas for ways to elevate your outdoor space.

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