Will A Hot Tub Freeze Overnight If It Is Turned Off?
If you live in a cold part of the country that sees plenty of freezing winter weather, you probably worry about your hot tub freezing overnight. According to Canadian Spa Company, freezing most commonly occurs when your hot tub has been drained (but not sufficiently winterized) and can lead to both damaged pipes and hot tub components. Thankfully, it's pretty rare for a hot tub to freeze if it's filled with water, especially if it has an insulated covering that traps the heat from the hot water.
That being said, if your hot tub is turned off and left outside in freezing weather, it will eventually become frozen and damaged. According to Ultra Modern Pool & Patio, it takes roughly a day and a half of freezing weather for a full hot tub to freeze after it's turned off. On the other hand, if you emptied your hot tub the day before but didn't remove water from its pipes to winterize it, your hot tub's pipes will likely freeze much quicker when the temperature plummets.
What if my hot tub loses power?
If your hot tub shuts off for any reason when it's freezing outside, don't panic. There are a number of ways you can prolong it from freezing overnight, per Allen Pools & Spas, but quick action is warranted if you don't anticipate the weather improving anytime soon. First, ensure that your hot tub cover is closed and locked so that as little heat as possible can escape. You'll also want to keep your hot tub connected to its power source. Finally, it's advisable to insulate the hot tub's equipment compartment during freezing weather and add a heating element if possible.
As many hot tub owners know, life is undoubtedly simpler when your hot tub is left running, especially when it's cold outside. Not only is it less expensive to run your hot tub constantly than turning it off after every use, but it's also less likely to freeze overnight during cold weather. As such, the only reason your hot tub should be turned off for extended periods when it's cold outside is if you've retired it for the season.
When to winterize your hot tub
Winterizing your hot tub should be done whenever you plan on closing your hot tub down for the remainder of the season. Removing any remaining vestige of moisture from your hot tub will enable it to survive freezing weather without experiencing frozen pipes, rapid bacterial growth, or damaged hardware. However, before winterization, you'll want to do several things. First, double-check with your family to ensure that nobody else desires to use the hot tub for the rest of the season. Next, you'll want to ensure that you possess all the tools you'll need for winterization, including a shop-vac and garden hose.
While winterizing your hot tub is certainly no walk in the park, most homeowners should find the ten or so steps required to be pretty manageable. However, first-timers will undoubtedly need to take a little extra time to complete the process correctly. When winterizing your hot tub, remove all remaining water from your hot tub's lines with a shop vac after draining the spa. Also, if your owner's manual calls for antifreeze, be sure to use a safe product for your hot tub instead of an antifreeze designed for automotive use, via HotSpring.