Emergency Procedure & Helpful Winter Tips for Hot Tubs

There are a few tricks that a homeowner can do to keep a spa from freezing until help arrives. First and most importantly: Do not drain the spa!!! Unless you are capable of blowing out all of the plumbing lines and equipment with a very powerful shop vac you do not want to attempt to winterize the spa yourself. We repair many spa leaks in the spring that were “winterized” by someone who was not properly trained. Don’t check the water if you lose power. If you lose power during a winter storm, do not remove the cover or check the water. If you’ve maintained an appropriate temperature, your spa should be okay for a day or two until power is restored.

If power to your home is out. If you lose power during a winter storm, do not remove the cover or check the water. You do not want to lose any heat! If you’ve maintained an appropriate temperature, your spa should be okay for a day or two until power is restored. Check your GFCI. Once your power is restored to your home, do not assume the spa turned itself back on. The outdoor GFCI could have tripped! Check the spa to be sure all functions are running.

If your spa is not running: Check the GFCI breaker. Turn it all the way off & then back on to see if the spa starts back up!

If your spa is running but not heating: Leave it running. Most spas have freeze protection which means the pumps will turn to high speed if the water temp goes below 42 degrees. You can also help by turning the high speed of your pumps on throughout the day and evening. This will actually heat the water since the pumps produce heat. It also circulates the water through the plumbing which helps prevent freezing. If your spa pumps do not run: Make sure you check the GFCI breaker/both breakers. Turn them ALL the way off and then back on. If the breaker still trips or the spa does not turn back on then try putting a heat source inside the spa cabinet. A very small space heater set on LOW will help warm the spa. A high-wattage shop light will sometimes do the trick as well.

Call us as soon as you notice trouble so one of our technicians can come out & remedy the situation – (847) 265-5280

If the spa does not start up, follow this procedure below:

The best alternative is to use a submersible sump pump. Not to drain the spa but to heat and circulate it. The heat from the pump will actually heat the water while it’s circulating. Put a garden hose on the pump. Remove a filter from the spa and put the end of the hose into the filter area, down the pipe if possible. The objective here is to move water in the spa and in the plumbing if possible.

You can use a small space heater to keep the spa from freezing as well. Remove the front skirt panel, usually the one directly below the spa control. Put a small space heater inside the equipment bay and set on a low temperature. Make sure the heater isn’t touching anything else, especially PVC or plastic components. Also, remember to keep the cover on tight and close up the cabinet.

Winter Time Do’s & Dont’s:

Winter is nearly upon us and that means we’re heading into prime hot tub season for some, or the end of hot tub season for others! Whether you’re looking forward to relaxing with the snow falling around you, or you’re bidding farewell to your spa for a bit, you’re going to want to read on. Every year we get questions about the best way to winterize a hot tub or how to prevent it from freezing. We’ve gathered the essential winter hot tub tips to keep your spa in top shape during the colder months. Let’s get into it!

Check your spa water regularly. As temperatures drop, it’s critical to check your spa water daily or at least twice per week. Give your topside a look and be sure there are no errors. Circulate the spa water. As part of your visual water check, run the pump briefly to circulate the water. If you have a 24-hour circulation pump, confirm it’s operational. Keep your spa covered. You should always keep your spa cover on when not in use, but especially in the winter. This helps maintain water temperature, helps keep water and plumbing from freezing, and saves on your energy bill. Changing the water well before temperatures drop. We recommend changing the water as a part of your regular maintenance schedule well before freezing temperatures hit your area. Address equipment failure immediately. If your heater or other critical piece fails, call for immediate service. You can use a ceramic heater placed carefully in the equipment bay while waiting for a replacement. Make sure the heater isn’t touching anything else, especially PVC or plastic components. Use during the “warmer” hours of the day. If possible, use your hot tub midday to maintain energy costs and avoid freezing temperatures that often occur during the late evening and early morning hours.