Best Practices for Winterizing Your Hot Tub

As winter approaches, it’s important to think about preparing your hot tub. Whether you use it to escape the cold or you plan to shut it down for winter, you need to care for your hot tub. Without proper winterization and preparation, your might need to repair your hot tub or waste a lot of energy.

Throughout this guide, we give you the steps needed for preparing your hot tub for winter!

Why is winterizing a hot tub important?

Whether you use your hot tub every day in winter or shut it down at your vacation home, winterizing is important. This helps prevent damage and keeps your spa energy efficient. Doing this preserves it’s lifespan, ensuring the longevity of your Beachcomber Hot Tub.

Step 1: Pre-Winter Inspection

Check for Cracks or Leaks

Before you start the hot tub winterization process, you need to carry out an inspection of your home spa. This involves checking for any leaks or cracks in the acrylic, skirting, or pipes. Pinpointing physical issues before you start hot tub winterization is important.

Examine Your Hot Tub Cover

Your hot tub cover should be in top condition. You want to ensure you are maximising the energy efficiency and heat retention during the colder months. Assess your hot tub cover and determine if you should replace it.

Inspect Seals and Gaskets

After your visual inspection, make sure your seals and gaskets are operating efficiently. Run your hot tub and look out for unusual bubbles or noises. If you notice anything unusual, contact your hot tub service provider. They can make sure your hot tub is in peak condition for the winter months.

Step 2: Drain & Fill

Crystal clear water is the goal for every hot tub owner. Before winterizing your hot tub, you should drain and potentially fill the water.

Start by turning your hot tub off at the breaker or by disconnecting the switch. Using the Drain & Fill valve and a garden hose, empty the water from your hot tub. Wipe or spray down the inside of your hot tub, allowing the water to drain out of the valve. Make sure the surfaces of your tub are sparkling clean before you move onto the next step.

This is a great time to clean the shell and filters of your hot tub. While the tub is empty, you can reach every part. This is also a great time to flush the plumbing lines.

Step 3: Prepare for Hot Tub Shutdown

Beachcomber Hot Tubs are made to be used 12 months of the year. Even if you don’t plan to use your hot tub, it can still run at a low cost. Its energy efficiency, technology, and plumbing system help maintain low expenses.

To save on energy costs, set your hot tub to the lowest temperature. Then, cover it tightly. This way, you can run the hot tub without using it. This is what Beachcomber advises to all our customers!

However, if you choose to completely shut down the hot tub, use the following steps.

1. Remove the plumbing assembly from the jet pump return line and heater inlet. Please consult your Owner’s Guide for details.
2. Blow air into these lines with a Shop Vac, then suck the water out of the tub and from the pumps.
3. Dry the hot tub shell.
4. Secure the Heatshield cover onto your hot tub. Check for a proper seal and tie your hot tub cover down in case of high winds while you are away from your tub. You can add the Beachcomber Cover Cap to protect your hot tub cover from the elements.

Benefits of Keeping the Tub Running

Benefits to keeping your hot tub running throughout the winter:

1. Running your hot tub year-round ensures that the water and internal parts don’t freeze. When the temperature drops in winter, this will prevent potential damage and repairs.
2. When you leave your hot tub on throughout the winter, is allows the water to keep running. This means it will be easier to keep your water balanced and you won't need to do a full refill and rebalance after winter.
3. Keeping your hot tub running on economy mode can save you money. It is often cheaper than rebooting and reheating the whole tub when you want to use it again.
4. You avoid the maintenance of draining and winterizing your hot tub. This can be very time-consuming.
5. If you can use your hot tub in winter, it is a great way to escape the cold and benefit from the warmth of the water. A hot tub soak can help with your mental and physical health, especially during the colder, darker days.

Regular Maintenance Tips During Winter

Running your hot tub throughout the winter is mostly the same as throughout the rest of the year. You still sanitize and add chemicals as you normally do in the spring, summer, or autumn.

• If temperatures drop low where you live in winter, watch your water levels. This will help you avoid low levels that could freeze.
• Keeping a steady temperature is important. You can use your Bic-E System mobile app and EasyTouch™ Smart Control to help with this.
• Securing your HeatShield™ cover after each use is vital. This helps manage the hot tub temperature and protects it from the weather.

When you follow these steps, it makes the winter period much easier to navigate as a hot tub owner. Winterizing a hot tub or preparing your spa for winter can seem very daunting, and we want to make it as easy as possible. By following these steps, you can prepare your Beachcomber for the cold months. This way, you can enjoy its benefits whenever you want.