The winter months can be an amazing time to use your hot tub in New England. Nothing is better than taking a soak surrounded by majestic, snowy scenery. You will want to make sure to follow a few steps to protect your hot tub during the winter. And always consult your owners manual or give us a call if you have any questions or issues.
Your Cover is Key!
Keep your cover on at all times when you are not using it. Keeping the cover on will maintain your spa temperature. Keeping your hot tub warm is a main factor in protecting it during the colder months. You always want to maintain your water temperature as opposed to letting it cool down and then re-heating it. It is more energy and cost efficient to keep the temperature consistent.
If your cover is damaged, make sure to change it before the winter. A high quality cover will provide protection for your spa and keep your heating costs down. Water saturation is a common indicator that your cover is damaged. If your cover is saturated with water, it becomes too heavy to take off your hot tub. And in the winter, it will become a block of ice! You can also use a bubble cover for even more protection against heat loss.
You will want to make sure to keep your cover clear of snow and ice. Use a SnoBrum or soft bristle broom to keep it clean.
My hot tub is not heating, should I drain it?
If your hot tub is not heating, has lost power, or has a leak, do not drain the spa. There is a high chance of encountering a potential freeze situation which may damage the hot tub’s components, or rupture its plumbing, and is not covered by warranty. We recommend placing a (UL listed) space heater (with independent heat and fan controls) in your equipment area if possible. Set the heater to LOW HEAT, HIGH FAN to circulate warm air on the spas’ equipment. Make sure not to place the space heater in direct contact with, or up against, any equipment, wires, or surfaces to avoid potential damage. The fan should be facing towards the components. If the cabinet door cannot fit back on the hot tub, we recommend tenting the cabinet door against the equipment area then wrapping a tarp around the equipment door (both sides) to keep as much heat inside as possible. Avoid lifting your cover regularly to keep the water as hot as possible. If your spa is equipped with a circulation pump, we recommend increasing the circulation settings to be more frequent to move the water through the system.
Can I drain and refill my hot tub in the winter months?
We do not recommend draining and refilling your hot tub once the weather has consistently been under 35 degrees. There is a high chance of encountering a potential freeze situation which may damage the hot tubs’ components and is not covered by warranty. If you absolutely need to drain and refill, plan to do so when the weather breaks and it’s a warmer day. Make sure to reference our Winter Filling Procedure.
If you do not want to use your hot tub during the winter…
If winterizing the hot tub: follow detailed steps in Owner’s Manual or contact our store for assistance. Damage caused to your spa by improper winterizing is NOT covered by your spas’ warranty. New England Spas offers a Winterizing and Un-Winterizing service. As the months get colder New England Spas may not be able to complete this service. We recommend you consider and schedule a call prior to November 30th.
