There are common, costly mistakes that come with this annual task. Here's how to perform the job correctly, plus whether you need to do it at all.
Welcome to Family Handyman‘s Guide to Winterization, where you’ll find expert advice on how to get your home in shape for the cold season — because frozen pipes and sky-high heating bills do not have to be an inevitability this winter.
One of my ultimate relaxations is sitting in a hot tub when the snow is falling. And since I use my hot tub regularly throughout the winter months, all I need to worry about is keeping up with its water, chemical and cleaning maintenance. But if you are going to be away from your hot tub for an extended time, or shut it down for the cold months, winterizing your hot tub is an essential task.
“People hate this part,” says hot tub expert John Uhle. “It’s quite a messy job and requires some time and effort, but it’s definitely easier than dealing with frozen pipes, buying new parts or doing it when it’s already a little bit too late.”
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to winterize your hot tub, plus why and when it’s a necessary task.
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Why Is it Important to Winterize a Hot Tub?
If you’re not going to be using your hot tub throughout the winter, winterizing it will help it last longer, plus prevent damage from freezing water, which can crack pipes, pumps and other components. “It also eliminates the need to maintain it when it’s not in use, and stop processes like algae growth and bacteria buildup that always happen and infect every corner of the tub if you just forget about it,” says Uhle.
What Happens If You Don’t Winterize Your Hot Tub?
If you just stop using your hot tub, at any time of year, you’ll start to run up against a number of costly maintenance issues, including cloudy, smelly water, algae growth, clogged filters and mildew.
In the winter, that list expands to frozen water lines, cracked plumbing, damaged jets and broken pumps and heaters. “The heating element and surrounding plumbing are particularly vulnerable to ice buildup and expansion, which can destroy the unit,” says home maintenance expert Levi Freedman. “Overall, the cumulative effect of freezing, water stagnation and debris can significantly shorten the hot tub’s expected lifespan.”
How To Winterize a Hot Tub
Winterizing is mainly about draining all the water and clearing out all the debris, says Uhle. To winterize a hot tub:
- Turn off the power to the hot tub at the breaker.
- Scoop out any pieces of large debris, such as leaves or pine needles.
- Drain the water through the drain spout or with a sump pump.
- Use a wet/dry vac or blower to push water and hidden debris out of jets and pipes. “People often forget about this, but every drop of water is enough to freeze and crack a fitting, and every bit of debris can rot and clog the system,” says Uhle.
- Disconnect the pumps and heater to let any trapped water drain out. If there’s water left inside, it can freeze and crack the housing of expensive equipment, says Uhle.
- Remove and clean the filters, then dry and store them indoors to prevent mildew.
- Clean the interior shell, jets and seats with a soft cloth.
- Wipe down and dry the shell and cover. Again, everything should be completely dry to prevent mold growth.
- Freedman also recommends pouring non-toxic RV antifreeze into the plumbing lines, jets and pumps to further protect them from freezing. “Pro-tip: Use a funnel to pour the antifreeze directly into the plumbing lines through the pump unions and drain plugs,” he says.
- Secure the cover, making sure it seals tightly around the edges. If possible, Uhle recommends creating a slight slope so water runs off instead of pooling in the middle (a support bar or cover lifter can help with this).
- If you live in a particularly harsh climate, consider also securing a tarp over the cover, for added protection from the elements.
- As temperatures permit, crack the cover open every few weeks to let condensation escape.
- Check your owner’s manual for model-specific instructions.
- Hire a pro if you’re worried about doing it incorrectly.
FAQ
Do you have to winterize a hot tub?
It depends. If your outside temperatures never drop below freezing, or if you plan on running the heater throughout the winter months, then you don’t have to winterize it. But if you’ll be away for an extended period and not able to perform regular maintenance, it’s a good idea to winterize your hot tub, no matter where you live.
When should you winterize and dewinterize a hot tub?
Winterize a hot tub either before the first freeze or when you are going to stop using it for an extended time. “Dewinterize it as soon as you feel you want to use it again on a constant basis and are ready to get back to regular maintenance,” says Uhle. “But dewinterization is a bad idea just for one-time use, because you either need to winterize it again after the use, or keep maintaining it in vain.”
About the Experts
- John Uhle is the founding partner and product expert at Discount Salt Pool. He has more than a decade of experience helping thousands of pool and hot tub owners keep their systems low-maintenance and affordable.
- Levi Freedman is co-owner of Des Moines Home Buyers, LLC, a family business that helps homeowners sell their houses. He has nearly 20 years of experience in fixing up and maintaining properties.
