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How to
Close And Winterize A Hot Tub Spa
Winter Spa Cover
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Winter Spa Cover with Air Pillow Installed under
Cover |
How to
Close And Winterize A Hot Tub Spa
- First of all, please realize that most
damage that occurs to hot tub spas is caused by improper winterization. Also realize that
the damage that can be done due to freezing is very costly to repair. Be very careful if
you choose to close down your own spa. If you have any doubts, it is much better to
contact a local spa professional to do this for you !
- Start off by turning off the circuit breaker for the
spa’s electrical line, or if possible, unplug the unit. Then remove the hard thermal
cover and drain out the spa. This can be done by hooking a garden hose to the spa’s
bottom drain spout, or by actually pumping the water out with a submersible pump. Either
way, make sure you leave the bottom drain spout open when you are done.
- Next, locate your spa heater, and turn it off. This
is most important ! Replace the hard thermal cover on the spa and turn the spa’s
circuit breaker back on, or plug the unit back in. Activate the spa’s air blower and
let it run for approximately 30 seconds. This will blow all the water out of the air
channel under the spa seats. If you do not have an air channel and air blower, you can
obviously skip this procedure.
- Once again, remove the cover and soak up all the
remaining water from inside the spa with towels or a mop or suck it out with a shop
vac.
Make sure that you get all the water out, especially in the footwell. Remove the cartridge
filter from the spa and make sure that all the water is out of the filter canister
compartment. Leave a large terrycloth towel in a lump in the bottom of the footwell to
soak up any additional water that might get in.
- Go to your spa equipment pack. Trip the ground fault
circuit interrupter (GFCI). This is usually done by pressing the TEST button.
- Turn off the circuit breaker that is used for the spa
in your home breaker box. Also unplug the spa if it is a 110 volt unit.
- Loosen or unscrew any fittings on your spa equipment
that look like they could be loosened or unscrewed. These are usually quick disconnect
fittings on either side of the heater and on either side of the pump. As you loosen each
fitting, water will come out. This is what you want ! Leave all fittings unscrewed. Remove
any drain plugs that may be on your pump housing. This is most important ! Pump housings
crack easily with only a small amount of water in them. Make sure you also drain out the
filter canister and the heater and remove any drain plugs that are there.
- Next, you’ll want to blow out any residual water
from the jet piping. This can be done with either the "blowing" end of a shop
vac, an air compressor or some types of leaf blowers. Get into the spa and put the blowing
end of the hose up against each jet. Make sure that the jets are all open as wide as
possible, and make sure that the topside air controls are closed. Start with the jet
closest to the exhaust side of the pump and work your way around the spa, jet by jet. As
you do this, more water will pour out of the various fittings you unscrewed at your
equipment. After you do this to each jet, you will have removed most of the water from
your entire jet system and there is little chance that any pipe or piece of equipment will
still have enough water in it to freeze and cause any damage. Please do not put any type
of pipeline antifreeze in your spa, pipes or equipment. It is very difficult to get this
liquid completely out of your system come Springtime, and it really is not necessary,
provided that you have performed all of these winterizing procedures properly.
- Get out of the spa and put the hard cover back on the
unit. Secure the cover to the spa so that wind will not flip it up.
- On portable, cabinetized spas, close and secure the
equipment hatch door. Often, vermin will try to nest inside spa cabinets over the winter.
They can chew wires and cause expensive damage !
- On portable, cabinetized spas, it is a good idea to
protect your spa cover and wood cabinet with a Winter Spa Cover (see article called "What is a Winter Spa Cover ?"). Install Winter Spa Cover or
other type of tarp over the hard thermal cover to ensure that no water leaks through the
seam in the hard cover. This is most important!
- On inground or indeck spas, you must also place a
tarp or Winter Spa Cover over the hard thermal cover. Placing the Winter Cover over the
hard cover and laying swimming pool type water tubes around the perimeter of the spa on
your decking will keep any rain water from getting into your spa over the winter.
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Remember - If you are worried or hesitant about closing
down your spa by yourself, we strongly suggest that you contact a local spa professional
to perform the service for you. Most companies will guarantee their winterization against
any freeze cracks to your spa, pipes or equipment. |
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