Closing Your Spa?

I have been getting a lot of questions these last couple of weeks about the best way to close/winterize their spa, so I thought I would jot down some quick helpful tips if you have decided to close your spa for the winter.

First let me start by saying "ARE YOU CRAZY" this is the best time of year to use the spa. Nice 100 degree water and 30 degree night air, get in and enjoy the night star filled sky...Nothing Like IT....

Anyway, back to the task at hand. If you want to close/winterize the spa you need to remember that these are small pools, you can not just drain the water out of it and walk away, the plumbing that is within the spa holds 10-15 gallons of water and this WILL freeze once we get those constant cold nights. First thing to do is turn off the breakers to the spa, you will need a shop vacuum and a blower or compressor to clear out the lines of water.


Remove the skirting on the front of the spa to expose the pumps, loosen the unions on the pumps to let the initial water out then take the shop vacuum and suck out whatever water you can from the pipes at the pump connections. Now I take the blower or compressor and blow air through the same unions and this will blow the water in the plumbing out into the spa itself and then you can use the shop vac to vacuum out this water.


Repeat this process a few times alternating between the blower and the vacuum. Listen for a hollow air sound going through the pipes and you know you are getting the water out. Then get inside the spa and vacuum out each and every jet, working from the top of the spa to the bottom foot well. Be sure to vacuum out the filter area and any main drains in the bottom of the spa as water will settle to the lowest point of the spa.


I now take pool anti-freeze and add this a little at a time in the jets and the filter holes, you can add a little into each pump for added protection. Once this is all done reattach the unions to the pump and vacuum out any remaining water or anti0freeze that is in the body of the spa and wipe down the surface. Put the cover on the spa and lock the straps so no wind can blow open the cover and let snow or water into the spa and ruin all your hard work. I tell my customers to get a tarp and cover the entire spa and tie a rope around the bottom so no water can get back in.


Now you can enjoy the lower electric bill, (at least for the spa) and have peace of mind that the spa is safe from freezing. 


Until Next Time...