How to Keep Your Hot Tub from Freezing
We love using our hot tubs during the winter, and we bet you do, too. There’s nothing quite like being in a warm spa when the air around you is cold. The steam from the hot tub even adds to the ambiance!
But, you might be wondering how to keep your hot tub from freezing when it’s super cold outside. After all, you worry about your outside pipes, and you don’t want those to freeze.Usually, well-insulated hot tubs like Caldera Spas and Hot Spring Spas don’t have these issues. But sometimes, homeowners leave town, and accidents happen. In this article, we look at some ways to keep your hot tub from freezing.
If You Lose Heat to Your Hot Tub
On the rare occasion you lose heat to your hot tub when it’s cold outside, don’t panic. For most hot tubs to freeze, the temperature needs to be under 28 degrees for at least 36 consecutive hours. And, as long as your hot tub and pumps are still working, and your water is circulating, your hot tub won’t freeze.
What do you do if your hot tub isn’t heating the water?
Protect Your Non-Heating Hot Tub
If your heat isn’t working, here are some steps to follow. If possible, please give our service team a call so we can discuss all your options and make sure it applies to your spa.
- Don’t drain the spa.
- If your spa is already drained, please refill it.
- Run the jets periodically to circulate the water. This will add a bit of heat to the water.
- If your jets aren’t operating, put a submersible pump in the foot well of your spa. Plug it in and let it run in your spa without a hose. This circulates your water and transfers some heat to it.
- Keep your spa cover closed to retain any heat.
- In the equipment area of your hot tub, put a small ceramic heater or a 100 watt incandescent light bulb. Do be sure the heater/bulb do not touch any of your hot tub components or plumbing.
Standard Winter Operating Tips
There are a few things you want to watch during the winter to avoid issues.
- Monitor your water level because a full spa stays warmer longer and uses less energy. Check this level often in the winter, especially if you don’t use your tub on a daily basis.
- Maintain your water temperature.
- Buy a quality hot tub cover and use it.
- Plan for an unexpected power outage like an ice storm. This can cause costly hot tub issues. Consider installing a battery or solar backup on your pump to keep your water circulating.
Many of Our Spas Offer Freeze Protection
Our latest hot tubs come equipped with freeze protection—circulation jet pumps and heaters that are activated when temps drop to 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the water hot and flowing.
A Caldera Spa, for example, is equipped with an EnergyPro® circulation pump that periodically pumps the water through the filters to help keep it fresh, as well as an EnergyPro® heater that keeps the water well above the freezing point.
Caldera Spas have additional features that not only keep the spa warm through winter, but also provide energy efficiency. Features include:
- A FiberCor® insulated cabinet. Top-quality insulation protects the spa’s machinery and water from the effects of cold weather.
- A fitted, insulated hot tub cover. An insulated cover made specifically to tightly fit your spa model helps prevent heat from escaping, reducing your energy costs and keeping the water from freezing. Since spa covers are heavy-duty, most can withstand a few inches of snow accumulation before cleaning off.
- A Poly Sheet bottom seal that helps keep the warm air in the cabinet from escaping. The bottom seal of Caldera Paradise® Series and Vacanza® Series spa helps to keep heat from escaping from below and when the spa is on a concrete pad or deck it provides another layer of insulation. Utopia® Series spas include an ABS basepan with a ribbed pattern, which is designed to reduce contact with the freezing ground.
While these features help keep your hot tub from freezing in cold weather, you might want to take some extra precautions to prepare your hot tub for winter.
Final Thoughts
Caldera Spas are engineered for reliability and everyday use—all year long. So, caring for your hot tub to keep it from freezing in winter involves very little effort. We are well-trained and are happy to help answer any questions you might have!
You can count on our expert service team to help you with your hot tub questions and service needs!
