Prepare Your Spa For The Cold

Prepare Your Spa For The Cold

Winter is upon us and it is time to get ready to prepare your hot tub for the cold if you are planning to not use it for up to 30-60-90 days. There is not a mechanical reason you need to winterize your hot tub, in fact, it is best to keep your spa running and maintained during the cold weather and to be checked at least once a week to make sure the spa is running properly.

It is important to keep your spa maintained to get the most out of your Cal Spas hot tub all year long. However, if you are planning to winterize your hot tub, it is best to use a professional to make sure it is done correctly. Below you will find simple and easy instruction on how to properly winterize your hot tub.

In many areas of the country, the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C). We recommend that you always have your spa full of water and running at normal spa temperatures (80°F to 100°F, 26.7°C to 37.8°C). This will help reduce the risk of freezing in your spa and your spa’s equipment.


Warning: If you find the need to drain your spa, be aware of the potential of freezing in your spa’s equipment and plumbing. Even if the directions below are followed perfectly, there is no guarantee that your spa will not suffer freeze damage. Freeze damage is not covered by your warranty.

  1. Open all filter covers.
  2. Remove the filter baskets and filters.
  3. Drain your spa completely as described in the instructions above.
  4. Vacuum water from the spa’s main drain fitting with a wet/dry vacuum.
  5. Remove drain plugs from the front of the pumps.
  6. Disconnect the unions from both sides of the pump.
  7. Blow any remaining water out of the jets and equipment area with the wet/dry vacuum.
  8. Cover your spa with a good spa cover and an all-weather tarp to ensure that neither rain nor snow enters the spa

Note: All manifolds are plumbed in series directly to the main drain (see example at right), making it easier to remove water and reducing the possibility of freeze damage.

It is good to winterize your hot tub if you are leaving town for an extended period of time, or you already know you will not be using it for the season. The three places that need most protection on your hot tub is the pump housing, filter housing, and the manifold that distributes water to it. If you do not want to winterize your own hot tub, find a service dealer closest to you, and they will be happy to help.

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