How to Protect Your Hot Tub During a Snowstorm

Your hot tub is your own personal oasis, and you depend on it to work when you need to relax and rejuvenate. But harsh weather conditions can damage your spa and prevent it from functioning properly. And as winter goes into full swing, frigid snow storms threaten to harm your hot tub.

The good news is that you can protect your hot tub from snow, ice, and freezing temperatures with a few simple tips. 

Keep Your Hot Tub Running

One surefire way to protect your hot tub during a snowstorm and through the winter is by keeping it running for the season. By supplying power throughout the winter months, you’ll prevent water from freezing and destroying valuable pipes and other hot tub components. 

Most new hot tubs and spas are energy-efficient and require relatively little power to maintain, even when the mercury dips down to its lowest. So, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to keep your hot tub running all winter long.

Use Hot Tub Covers

When snowstorms roll around, one of the best ways to protect your hot tub is to latch on a hot tub cover. Hot tub covers are great for keeping debris out of the water and protecting the various parts of the unit. You can even find specialized hot tub covers made for wintery conditions. 

Just be sure to install your hot tub cover securely. It’s important to make sure that the cover is tight and flush because high winds can potentially rip the cover off during a storm. 

Severe snowstorms may bring down tree branches, thick icicles, and other debris. Even the strongest spa covers are still susceptible to damage from sharp and heavy objects. 

For some added protection, try laying down a sheet of plywood on top of your spa cover to reduce the risk of punctures from snowstorm debris. Just make sure to strap the plywood down to prevent it from blowing away. 

Besides unwanted debris, winter storms bring dense snow drifts that can cause your hot tub cover to collapse. Snow is heavier than you think, and a few feet of accumulation can cause even the best hot tub covers to cave in. As much as possible, try to monitor snow accumulation on top of your hot tub and use a broom to gently remove any excess snow. 

If you’re interested in using a hot tub cover to protect your unit this winter, Watson’s carries a variety of easy-to-use spa cover lifts from CoverMate to protect your hot tub from inclement weather and unwanted debris. 

Winterize Your Hot Tub

If you’re not the type to brave the cold for a soak in the spa and you want to shut your hot tub down for the winter, you’ll need to follow some steps in order to properly winterize your spa. 

First, remember these general hot tub winterizing tips:

• Choose a day with temperatures above freezing to winterize your hot tub - the warmer, the better. You don’t want water to freeze up as you drain the unit.
• Be as thorough as possible because even small amounts of water in pipes can freeze and cause damage to your hot tub.
• Make sure to treat the water before draining to prevent the growth of nasty bacteria and other microbes.

Next, you’ll need to make sure you’ll have the right tools and equipment. You will need the following:

• An electric sump pump or garden hose
• A wet-dry vacuum
• Towels or rags
• Nontoxic hot tub antifreeze 
• A long funnel
  

Now that you’ve got your supplies, you can start the process of winterizing your hot tub.

1. Unplug your hot tub or turn off the circuit breaker to ensure no power is running to the spa.
2. Drain the water by removing the drain plug. You can either use a sump pump to accelerate the process or let the water drain naturally. Depending on the particular model, you may even be able to attach a garden hose to the drain plug to facilitate easier drainage - although this method takes a little more time.
3. Take out your hot tub filters. Now is a great time to clean them up, so they’re ready to go when warm weather returns.
4. Remove any and all pipes and pumps that may contain trace amounts of water - they can freeze in cold temperatures and may be expensive to repair or replace. Use a wet-dry vacuum to suck up any water that may be left in the jets or any other components of the spa where water accumulates. 
5. Pour antifreeze into the hot tub jets and other openings using a long funnel.
6. (Optional) Use this opportunity to give the surface of your empty hot tub a good cleaning.
7. Replace the drain plug and cover the hot tub for the winter.

If you’re looking to protect your hot tub from snow and freezing temperatures this winter, Watson’s has everything you need.

When you shop with us, you’ll find an amazing selection and personalized service, along with the guaranteed lowest prices in the USA. We offer all the hot tub supplies you need, along with a robust selection of new spas to choose from. For all your hot tub needs this winter, trust the experts at Watson’s.