October 18th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

5 things to think about when packing your hot tub up

It’s pretty common to pack the hot tub away at this time of year but especially so now that energy cost rises to mean that continuing to run and heat it is too expensive. If you want to make sure that it remains in a good condition when you want to start using it again in spring, there are 5 things you need to attend to now in order to get it through the harsh winter weather.

1. Water: in or out?

The first is about deciding whether to keep the water in or empty it now. Emptying the water involves a bit more work but you will have to do it in the spring if you leave the water in for now so it’s really about choosing when you want to do that. In terms of hot tub care, both options are fine, as long as you do them correctly. This brings us to the next item: winterising.

2. How to ‘Winterise’

Winterising is just a general term for preparing the hot tub for winter, but there are a couple of options (as mentioned above). Leaving water sitting in a hot tub all winter seems like it might be a bad idea, but it’s fine as long as you add a winteriser to the water, which is a chemical that ensures bacteria and algae don’t develop. You will also need to turn the pump on every so often to allow the lines to be flushed through (this will prevent them from freezing). If yours has a freeze protection mode, this is what it will do.

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If you empty the water you will need to make sure you thoroughly drain the lines and pipes, or they risk freezing and this can cause some serious damage as frozen water expands. Replace or clean the filters and make sure they are thoroughly dry when you put them back (or you can wait until you’re ready to use the tub again). Then give the whole shell a good once over with a hot tub cleaner.

3. Has your cover got it covered?

Once the hot tub itself is prepared, it’s now time to protect it from the elements and the biggest tool you have in your arsenal is the cover. Making sure your cover is in good condition and fits properly is key to keeping the hot tub protected over the long winter months.

The first thing to do is check for signs of wear, tear, and damage. If it’s not in a good state of repair, you will either have to fix it or replace it. Check all the surfaces and the fasteners that will keep it locked down firmly. Then, put it in position and lock it down securely.

4. Protect from the winter sun

Being outside, hot tubs are prone to damage from the sun, and while this is not as big an issue in the winter as it is in the summer, the UV rays can be stronger than you think so continue to apply UV protection to all exposed areas. This will help prevent it from fading and cracking as well as repel stains and dirt.

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5. Don’t leave the leaves

Anything you leave outdoors will inevitably become dirty with leaves, debris, bird droppings and other outdoor contaminants. Don’t allow these to accumulate and fester on your hot tub surfaces as mould and bacteria can develop when leaves get wet and animal waste can stain. Just brush any loose debris away regularly and keep giving it a wipe-over. If it snows, this should be removed as well before it has a chance to freeze, which can also cause damage.