As the price of pools has gone up by 40% over the past couple of years, people are investing in hot tubs as an alternative.
If you are one of those lucky few to pick one up, you should ensure it is ready to withstand the colder Canadian months, as winter can be hard on such an installation. So, are you aware of what winterizing hot tubs means and how you can do it to protect your asset?
Below we describe the winterizing process so you can set up your new tub to withstand the cold and snow of Canada. As you read through, check you have all the equipment you need to get this done so you can get started before things get too cold.
There are several reasons to ensure your hot tub is ready for winter. Some of the benefits of winterization include:
With the colder months comes the possibility of ice in your installation's pipes. This will create leaks and cracks in the device internals. By winterizing, you can ensure such temperatures do not affect the inner workings of the hot tub.
Winter might be cold, but you might still find some things growing in standing water after a long period. It is best to ensure bacteria, algae or other living things do not take hold in your hot tub. They can cause illness and are harder to clear out once they spread.
Over the winter months, you are much less likely to use the hot tub. If you intend to keep using it, you can likely put it in a low-power or "sleep mode" to keep the device warm. You do still need to make sure it is clean, well-maintained, and chlorinated, but do not need to worry as much about protective steps.
If you skip out on the hot tub during winter, you should do this as soon as you can after the last time you use it. Definitely make sure to protect it before the temperature drops to around 3 degrees or below. This will stop frost or ice from affecting the hot tub.
The winterization process is several steps long. Make sure to perform all these to prevent harm from coming to you or the device. Of course, once you start this process, you cannot use the hot tub until you complete it.
Over the year, dirt and grime will have started to accumulate in the hot tub's piping system. If you do not plan to use your tub during winter, this will get much worse, causing harm to the pipe and potentially making people ill.
What you should do to clean them is remove the hot tub's filter and add "flush line" liquid to the hot tub's water as it cycles. As it goes through, it will clean the pipes and ensure they do not contain anything unexpected.
After you use the hot tub's motor to clean it, you should turn off and unplug the device. The cleaning process may involve you getting very involved with the interior of the device, so this ensures your safety.
Using a simple hose and/or pump, start to drain out the water from the tub. When you are close to the end, you can start to loosen the connectors linking the plumbing system to the hot tub. This will ensure all the various inner sections are also drained.
Draining hot tubs can take a while, so prepare for the rest of the hot tub winterizing process while you wait.
A fresh filter can do wonders for the cleanliness of the device. So, take the filter out of the tub and place it in a filter-soaking chemical. Follow the instructions on the chemicals to ensure you leave them for the right amount of time.
When the water has all come out, you should start to see the dirt in the hot tub. You can use most bathroom surface cleaners or specialized hot tub cleaners to clean the inside of the tub. Also make sure to clean the cover too, as a lot of dirt can start to build up there.
While you may have removed as much water as possible from the tub, a little might always remain. As such, during the winter months while you do not use it, use propylene glycol antifreeze (not ethylene glycol) to protect the device.
Make sure you put a tarp or specialized hot tub cover over the whole tub. This protects it from anything that might fall in over the winter.
When spring appears, there is still more to do. You need to ensure your hot tub is cleaned of all the chemicals you used over the winter period so it is safe for you to use in the new year.
Perform the following steps as above:
After this, you can do the following to prepare the tub for the new year:
While you did this at the start of winter, you may have added antifreeze before the season. You want to get rid of this and ensure the whole tub is clean before refilling it.
Also, re-clean the filter and the tub itself to ensure nothing has built up over the months between use.
It is time to put fresh water back in the tub. You are almost ready at this point.
Add twice as much chlorine as you usually do. Kick-start the chlorination process and let it circulate for several hours.
This will also take any remaining antifreeze out of the system.
With the above steps, you should be a master at winterizing hot tubs. If there is anything else you want to know about this, or if you want to invest in your own tub, we can help you out even more.
Our people can talk to you about the perfect hot tub for your home. We can even come and install it or clean it, should you need help. All you need to do is send us a message and we can start the process toward a brand-new tub in your home.
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