For many hot tub owners, winter is the best time of year for enjoying their outdoor spa. Nothing beats the sensual pleasure of sitting in a vigorous 100 degree massage with that someone special and enjoying a glass of wine while snow flakes are falling around you.
Worried that you’ll freeze when you climb out? At 100 degrees, your skin will keep you plenty warm while you slide into your slippers and run into the house.
Yes, for many home owners, a hot tub in winter is a great place to be. Here’s a Winter Check List you can use to make sure your tub delivers the relaxation you bought it for.
1. Use STANDARD Mode
Make sure the tub heating cycle is set for STANDARD MODE. In Standard Mode, the hot tubs’ controller will run the heater as necessary to maintain the temperature you set. Both Economy and Sleep Modes will allow the hot tub to cool, which will end up costing you a lot more in electricity to bring it up to temperature when you’re ready to enjoy it.
2. Heater Failure
Be prepared for a heater failure. If you lose power for a few hours, it’s no problem, but if the hot tub breaks down during the winter, any water in the smaller pipes will chill and begin to freeze within 24 hours. Sometimes sooner. Many of our clients keep a spare electric space heater to put inside the hot tub walls in case of a heater failure. Just to be clear, you can’t put the electric heater anywhere will it will come in contact with water, and you have to place it carefully to avoid starting a fire. But a 1500 watt heater will go a long way to prevent pipes from freezing.
Ice in a hot tub pipe usually means expensive repairs
3. Filter Care
Maintain your filters. Lots of people get lazy when they have to go outside in 25 degree weather to change the filters. Invest in a pair of long sleeved rubber gloves if you have to, but water care begins with clean filters.
4. Cover care
After a snow, clean that cover off. A hot tub cover is made of Styrofoam. It will bend and break under pressure. So keep the cover free from snow and ice.
5. Maintain a watchful eye
Following our Winter Check List will help, but you still need to keep an eye on your hot tub. The biggest threat to a hot tub in winter is heater breakdown which could lead to frozen and cracked pipes. So check it daily to insure it is heating properly. Going away on vacation for a week? Ask a neighbor to stop by and check on the tub once or twice, and give them a phone number to contact if the tub isn’t working.
Remember, the average repair for a hot tub freeze is $1700. For more information about winter hot tub care, click here to read our article putting together an Emergency Hot Tub Winter First Aid kit.
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.
