Winterizing a Hot Tub

When someone talks of frozen water pipes during winter, the real problem is not the pipes freezing—it's the water left inside of the pipes that does the damage. When water freezes, it expands. Since a pipe cannot contract, the expanded hard water (ice) will crack and burst the pipe, causing damage that takes a lot of money to repair. If you don't plan to use your hot tub during the winter months, then you'll need to drain all of the water from the tub and pipes to ensure that the freezing temperatures won't damage the tub and plumbing. If you are going to shut down your hot tub for the winter, follow these steps to winterize your hot tub:

1. Unplug the tub and disconnect it from the power source. Turn the heater switch to the off position, turn off the power button, and then find the circuit breaker for the tub and turn it off.
2. Remove the thermal cover and set it aside, and then drain the tub by removing the drain plug, and then siphon any remaining water with a hose.
3. Turn the circuit breaker back on, turn the power switch on, and then run the blowers for about one minute so that any remaining water spews from the water lines.
4. Turn the power switch off again, as well as the switch for the tub at the circuit breaker. Take apart all of the valves and drains on the tub's pump and heater, and allow the water to drain out. Make sure that you remove all of the water, even if you have to use a wet/vac.
5. Store away the pump, heater, and valve and drain parts. Remove the tub's filter, clean it if it is reusable, and store it away with the other parts.
6. Using old rags or towels, completely dry the inside and outside of the tub. Place the tub's cover on top and secure it.
7. Cover the entire tub and cover with a tarp, and secure it by tying it down or weighing it down with bricks or concrete blocks.

Check the warranty of your hot tub. Some manufacturers will guarantee against damage during winter only if you use a professional to winterize your hot tub. It is advisable to call in a professional if you feel the need to blow out the water lines on your hot tub, since most homeowners do not know the proper pressure to use on pipes, and could cause damage to them.