Five Tips For Using A Hot Tub In The Winter
While some people close their hot tub in the winter, others look forward to soaking in warm water during colder months. Using a hot tub throughout the winter is a luxurious pastime, but doing so is not as simple as plopping down in the water like any other time of the year. That’s why we put together a list of the most essential tips for using a hot tub in the winter.
Consistently run your hot tub throughout the winter to ensure the water stays warm, which will prevent pipe damage. It’s also important to keep the hot tub full, so the pipes aren’t exposed to outside air. Replace your hot tub’s cover if it’s damaged and remove snow, ice, and debris as needed to ensure it stays intact throughout the season.
Never run your air jets for too long during the winter, or else the cool, outside air may damage your pipes. Follow along as we explore five essential tips for using a hot tub in the winter.
How To Safely Use A Hot Tub In The Winter
Using a hot tub in the winter is all about protecting the internal components, which is sometimes easier said than done. However, you can use your Jacuzzi all winter long if you keep a few key things in mind.
1. Invest In A Good Cover
It’s hard to imagine someone leaving their hot tub uncovered during the winter, as it’s common sense. That said, simply covering your hot tub doesn’t always mean that it’ll stay safe throughout the winter. You must invest in a great, solid cover and tightly secure it on top of your Jacuzzi year-round, and especially during cold months.
Cracks and gaps in a Jacuzzi cover can affect the water temperature in your hot tub. This may lower the water temperature despite the fact that you’re heating the water. That can even damage the heating element, as it may work harder than needed to keep up with the outside air that’s lowering the water temperature.
Unfortunately, hot tub covers typically go bad in around 3 to 7 years, depending on the material. You may go through 3 or 4 covers throughout your hot tub’s lifespan, so keep that in mind. Inspect your hot tub cover before the winter and replace it if it’s in bad shape, so you can comfortably use your Jacuzzi this winter.
2. Don’t Use The Jets Excessively
It may be a buzzkill, but you shouldn’t use the jets as often as usual when you use your hot tub in the winter. That’s because hot tub jets pull air from the outside and pump it into your hot tub to gently massage your back. Naturally, the air that goes through the jets is much colder during the winter, as the outside air is cold.
You can inadvertently lower the water temperature in your hot tub if you run the jets in your Jacuzzi too much. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t run the jets at all throughout the winter, however, you should think twice about running the jets the entire time you’re in the hot tub if it’s cold outside.
It’s still important to run the jets for a few minutes at a time throughout the winter to prevent pipe damage. The air circulation and movement can stop the pipes from freezing, but you must avoid using the air jets too much.
3. Keep It Full
Some people understandably think that hot tub maintenance is easier when there’s less water. However, under-filling a hot tub can backfire during the winter, and it may cause serious damage. That’s because the plumbing and internal equipment may freeze if the water level drops too low.
Naturally, cold air can more easily enter the internal components if the water is too low. Ideally, you should regularly refill your hot tub to ensure the internal components don’t freeze and suffer damage. This is the easiest part of winter Jacuzzi maintenance, as long as you keep track of the water level.
However, you must completely drain the tub and pipes if you don’t plan to use your Jacuzzi this winter. You must either keep your hot tub running at full capacity or close it up for the winter, or else you may ruin the tub.
4. Keep It Running
You may think to only run your hot tub during the winter when you plan to use it. However, turning it off for hours, days, or weeks during the winter when it's not being used can cause the water and pipes to freeze. Frozen pipes are the worst-case scenario, as fixing them can cost thousands of dollars in many cases.
You must turn your hot tub on and run it consistently in the winter to avoid problems. Some hot tubs have a mode that keeps them running just enough to heat the water. Such modes use less energy than if you ran your hot tub at full blast all day, which contributes to its wear and tear.
Inspect your hot tub’s control panel or read the manual to see if your hot tub has that type of mode. The water must stay warm throughout the winter to protect the pipes and jets from freezing.
5. Remove Snow And Ice From The Cover
Do you live in an area with lots of snow and ice during the winter? If so, then you’re probably aware of how easily your hot tub cover can get buried beneath snow and ice, even if it sits under a deck. Snow and ice can weaken and damage your hot tub cover, so you must remove it as needed.
The weight of the snow and ice may even collapse your hot tub cover, depending on its age and condition. It’s a great idea to keep a brush or a light shovel near your hot tub, so you can remove snow and ice as needed. Otherwise, it helps to place a snow tarp over your hot tub cover on cold days if snow is in the forecast.
That way, you can wrap the tarp up and remove it without letting any of the snow touch your hot tub. Never put snow on your hot tub cover, or else you may damage the surface.
What Temperature Should I Keep My Hot Tub In The Winter?
Ideally, you should keep your hot tub at about 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Some people set their hot tubs to consistently stay at 92 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter, then increase the temperature before getting in. The sensors will detect when the water drops below the set temperature and heat it accordingly.
That type of feature is a lifesaver during the winter if you don’t plan to winterize your Jacuzzi. Otherwise, you can just set your hot tub to stay between 92 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit all winter to prevent frozen pipes.
Summing It Up
Invest in a strong, durable cover if you want to use your hot tub in the winter, or else the water temperature may drop. It’s also important to avoid using the air jets too much, or else you may inadvertently lower the water temperature due to cold air. Keep the hot tub full to prevent the pipes from freezing, and run the heating element throughout the winter to keep the water warm.
Related Guides:
Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
More by Nick Durante
