Caring for Your Hot Tub in Autumn and Winter

Peak hot tub season is certainly summer so now that autumn is here you need to make a decision about whether you’re likely to use your hot tub over the next few months or whether you’re going to winterise it and close it up until spring.

So, why do you need to decide? It’s really just a question of hot tub maintenance. Some like to use their hot tub all year round and some don’t. Whichever you decide to do, you need to make sure you are looking after your tub and keeping it in good condition over the winter.

Closing the hot tub up for winter

If you don’t fancy venturing between the tub and the house in your swimming costume in minus temperatures then it’s a good idea to winterise it so that it’s clean and ready to use when you want it. Just leaving it to sit and stagnate full of water without any treatment over the winter will do it no good at all. You can either conduct a full winterisation process, as detailed in another post [link to Winterising your hot tub post], or you can apply a winteriser product.

Running your hot tub through the winter

If you rather enjoy relaxing in a steamy hot tub while the surrounding garden is in snow and ice (if it’s good enough for the Scandinavians then it’s good enough for us!) then the good news is you can maintain your hot tub effectively just by continuing to run it and do the same things you would during the summer: checking the water levels, keeping it clean etc.

However, winter conditions do bring a few things that you need to stay on top of to keep your spa in good condition.

Keep it clear and clean

Leaves, dirt, and debris dispersed by wind and rain can settle on your hot tub or even get into the water itself and that can potentially clog up plumbing lines and filters. Make sure you periodically clear any mess away and give any exposed areas a clean.

Secure the lid properly

When you’re not using the tub make sure that the lid is securely in position to prevent things falling into the water (not just leaves and debris, as mentioned above, but potentially wildlife, family pets, or even children). Fasten any straps or locks in place so that wind cannot get underneath and lift it up.

Keeping the lid in place like this will also help you to save money as your tub would have to work overtime to maintain temperature if the water was exposed to very cold weather for a long period.

Beware of icy weather

The actual water in the tub won’t freeze if you continue to heat it but any excess water around the tub will. That means any water splashed around the area of the hot tub can freeze and create a slip hazard. Either clear up spills when they happen or put some salt or non-slip material down to prevent any accidents.