Hot Tub Freeze Protection using an electric space heater

The single biggest problem any hot tub owner can have is if the spa breaks down when the outside temperature is freezing.  Pipes plus cold equal ice.  Water expands when it freezes, struggling to break out of the pipes that are holding it.  That can mean broken pipes and expensive repairs for a frozen hot tub.

The most ironic part of the problem, however, is that the majority of freeze related repairs can be avoided by having a simple, inexpensive heater on hand.

A space heater, available from a home improvement or department store for under $20, will provide all the heat needed to provide hot tub freeze protection, even in the most frigid environment.  If you own a hot tub and live in an area where winter temperatures drop below freezing, there’s no reason in the world why you shouldn’t have one of these heaters in your house, just as a safety back up while awaiting a service person to repair your hot tub.  And if you need a heater, than don’t forget a heavy duty extension cord that can handle the 1500 watts of electricity the heater will draw.  You don’t want to use a cheap lamp cord that will melt or short out if it gets wet lying on the ground.

To use the heater, you need to remove the front wall of the hot tub.  For most hot tubs, there are anywhere from 6 to 24 screws holding the front wall on.  Take out the screws and carefully pull the wall away.  Some hot tubs have lights or stereo’s attached, so be aware of any wires attached to the wall, note where they come from and take a picture with your cell phone so you can replace the proper wires to the proper location.

With the wall removed, find a good place inside the hot tub to place the heater.  You want to be near as many of the white pipes as you can, because they have the greatest volume of water.  If there are rodents’ nests, leaves or anything else flammable, clear off a safe spot for the heater.  We like to put a brick underneath it, just to get it off of the wooden base of the hot tub, which is often wet.

Remember, that heater was built to put on the carpeted floor in your home, so it i safe to put on bare wood and shouldn’t normally get hot enough to start a fire.  Also, the heater is designed to turn off automatically if it tips over, so you’ll need to make sure it is standing straight. 

We will usually set the heater for “Medium” heat when we put it in the hot tub, but that should be dependent upon how cold the outside temperature is.  If the weatherman is calling for 28 degrees fahrenheit, than medium is fine.  If the temperature is forecast to be in the single digits for the next week, you should probably turn the heater up to “High.”

Finally, lean the front wall against the opening to close up the tub.  Don’t put the screws back in, and don’t worry if it’s not a tight seal.  We like to put a brick or two on the ground, underneath the wall, to create a thin gap that outside air can circulate in through, but try to keep the top of the wall against the hot tub so warm air doesn’t escape.  The heat generated by the space heater will keep the base of your hot tub toasty warm, and over time will heat the water as well.

This is not a “set it and forget it” task.  Especially in the first few hours after putting your heater in, check the hot tub continuously to make sure you are not melting any PVC pipes or burning any insulation or plastic.  Until you’ve had the heater on for 24 hours and are sure it’s not going to harm your hot tub, we recommend checking it at least every hour.  You’ll see quickly how it’s working for you and you’ll know how long to wait between your inspections.

How much hot tub freeze protection will that heater generate?  Last winter, we had a customer that needed a new electronic pack, and the part took 7 days to ship.  The outdoor temperature was 25 degrees farenheit most of the week.  When we arrived to install the part,  that little heater had the water in the hot tub at 89 degrees.

For more information or to schedule a service call to resolve your hot tub problems, contact us at 201-897-7900 or 732-894-4494.  You can also reach us by email through this link.