How to Ensure Your Hot Tub Equipment is Ready for the Cooler Months

Now that the weather has cooled down significantly, it may be time to think about closing your pool and hot tub. Although hot tubs can be used year-round, it is important that you adequately prepare your hot tub for the cooler months ahead. Snow, wind, and frost are all quite damaging to hot tub equipment, especially those that are made of metal. However, you must prepare the entire hot tub, including the water, for the cooler months rather than just the pump, heater, and pipes. This will truly ensure that your hot tub remains in excellent condition and is safe to use whenever you choose to open it again. If you need help protecting your hot tub for the winter months, contact Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs for more information! Visit our hot tub store in Toronto today!

Begin with Cleaning

Before you prepare and pack up your hot tub equipment, you need to clean everything. Start by cleaning your hot tub. Use a skimmer to scoop out any loose items or foliage. Alternatively, you can drain your hot tub so that you can deep clean the interior prior to preparing it for the winter. In this case, you should scrub the interior surfaces of the hot tub thoroughly to dislodge any dirt or grime. Ensure that you rise off the excess dirt and cleaning products afterward. 

Cleaning your hot tub prior to the winter months will help reduce the risk of bacteria overgrowth or algae growth. Algae, in particular, is very problematic as it can clog your hot tub pump and even your heater. This can be highly damaging to your hot tub equipment, especially when the algae is left to grow for an extended period of time, like over the winter months. This is why it is highly recommended that you completely clean your hot tub before the winter. 

Balance Your Water

After cleaning your tub, you should balance your water. This will help prevent any scaling or corrosion, both of which can damage your pool elements. Scaling caused a buildup of minerals on your pool pump and heater, resulting in poor performance and faster burnout. Corrosion, on the other hand, can slowly damage metal elements and pipes. It can cause rust and even holes in these items. 

To effectively balance your hot tub water, there are a couple things you can do:

• Measure the pH of the pool to ensure it is at a level between 7.2 and 7.8. If it is not, ensure you add the correct amount of balancer to either increase or decrease the pH. 
• Utilize a shock treatment to winterize your hot tub water effectively. It will completely kill off any germs or bacteria. 

Prepare The Hot Tub Equipment

Once your hot tub and the water are effectively dealt with, you can move on to preparing your hot tub equipment. To do so, you must protect the:

• Filter: Clean out your hot tub filters to remove any buildup. Storing the filter in a cool, dry place once your hot tub is closed will help prevent any freezing or winter-related damage.
• Pump: Use foam insulation sleeves around any exposed pipes connected to the pump. This helps prevent freezing. Ensure that the area around the pump is free of moisture to avoid corrosion. Regularly check for leaks or condensation.
• Heater: If the heater is exposed to cold air, consider adding insulation around the housing. You can use insulating blankets specifically designed for hot tub heaters. If you’re not using the hot tub during winter, drain the water entirely from the heater to prevent freeze damage. 

Get Your Hot Tub Winter Ready with Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs

Adequately preparing your hot tub and hot tub equipment for the winter months will help ensure that they stay protected from winter-related damage, such as freezing and corrosion. Effectively cleaning your hot tub is a crucial first step that should be taken to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and/or algae. Then, once you are officially ready to close your hot tub for the season, you can protect and drain all of your equipment to prevent freezing damage. Overall, prevention is the best form of protection when it comes to your hot tub. To book a hot tub service, contact Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs or visit our hot tub store in Toronto! 

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