Home Improvement Ideas Outdoor Structures Pools & Spas How to Winterize a Hot Tub Protect your hot tub from freezing temperatures to keep it in working condition. By Kamron Sanders Updated on November 16, 2023 Project Overview Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $20 Properly winterizing your hot tub is crucial to ensuring you can enjoy it when the weather improves. The most important part of readying your hot tub for cold weather is removing every bit of water. Failing to do so before freezing temps arrive can lead to frozen pipes and pumps and damage other crucial components, which can ruin the hot tub. You should winterize a hot tub even if your area never sees cold temperatures, as bacteria can grow in it after long periods of no use. We’ve laid out exactly how to remove all the water from a hot tub’s inner workings, as well as some necessary steps to ensure reopening the hot tub is a breeze. The 8 Best Hot Tubs of 2024, According to Testing and Research Before You Begin To avoid dumping chemicals from your hot tub when you drain it, remove the chemical supply and allow the hot tub to sit for several days before winterizing it. The chemical levels should drop, but make sure they do before draining by using a chemical test kit to check the levels. Bob Stefko When you’re ready to drain, locate a spot in your yard that’s away from the house and can handle hundreds of gallons of water. Ensure your hose can reach this spot. When in doubt, check local guidelines for dumping chemically treated water, especially if there’s a chance that your hot tub water could reach a main drain. Safety Considerations Water and electricity don’t mix. Whenever attempting to service your hot tub or any other electrical appliance, always turn off the power at the breaker rather than just turning off the appliance’s power. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Water hose Water pump (optional) Wet/dry vac Pipe wrench or pliers (optional) Bucket Materials Filter cleaner Hot tub cleaner Rags Instructions How to Winterize a Hot Tub Follow these steps to get every last ounce of water out of your hot tub before the freezing temps arrive. Turn Off the Power Locate the breaker that controls the hot tub and turn it off. Double-check the hot tub to confirm it doesn’t have any power to it. Drain the Water After establishing a safe space to drain the hot tub, hook a hose to the drain port and drain as much water as possible. If you have access to a hot tub drain pump, using it can be quicker than draining the water from the drain port. Drain the Blower Ensure the hot tub heater is turned off, and then restore power to the hot tub. Double-check to make sure the heater is still off, and run the hot tub for at least 30 seconds to drain the water from the blower. Turn off the hot tub and turn off the power at the breaker once more. Loosen the Unions Open the bottom of the hot tub and loosen the unions on both the pump and the heater. Remove the Pump Drain Plugs If the pump has drain plugs, loosen and remove them. Remove and Clean the Filters Remove the filters and clean them with water and a filter cleaning chemical, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Thoroughly dry the filter and place it in storage indoors. Blow Out All the Lines Remove the filter from your wet/dry vac and place the hose on the “blow” side. Use the hose to blow out all the lines, blowing each cavity, drain, union, and jet for at least 10 seconds. When you are finished, repeat this step to ensure all water has been removed. Remove Any Remaining Water Place the wet/dry vacuum hose back on the suction side and use it to suck out all remaining water from the shell. Clean the Shell and Cover Use hot tub cleaner to wipe out the shell and cover and remove any scum or water lines, following the manufacturer’s instructions for proper application. Wipe it dry when you are finished. To get the most life out of your hot tub cover, follow the cleaner with hot tub cover protectant. Lock the Cover When everything is thoroughly dry, replace the cover and lock it in place until it is time to reopen the hot tub. Essential Tips for Planning a Home Spa or Hot Tub How to Keep a Hot Tub in Working Condition A properly winterized hot tub will be ready to go once the winter weather is gone, but here are some other key hot tub maintenance tips to keep your hot tub working great all season long: Buy a high-quality cover.Change the water regularly.Maintain the proper chemical balance.Skim and vacuum often.Deep clean the hot tub occasionally.Keep filters clean.Circulate water often, even when not using the hot tub. Following this simple maintenance checklist will keep your hot tub in good working order year after year. The 10 Best Hot Tub Covers of 2024, According to Research and Testing