Hot Tub Buying Guide

How to drain a hot tub for winter

Winter is moving in and you have decided not to keep your tub running throughout this cold season. Are you sure? Have you sat in the tub with the snow falling gently around you? It's delightful, really. Okay, you're sure. Maybe you are in a climate that is just not conducive to keeping the tub ready in the winter, maybe your tub is in a location that makes it difficult to use in the colder months, or maybe your tub is at your vacation house that you don't use in the winter, or maybe it's just none of our business why you want to close up your tub for the winter. It is really a wonderful thing to be enjoying the hot, soothing water in the tub watching your breathe steam in the cold air, but that's okay, you can do what you need to.

So, how do you drain your hot tub for winter? Drain the tub like usual for your routine maintenance. Unlike with the regular maintenance, you need to be sure you get all the water out of the tub including all the pipes. Check with your manufacturer to see what their recommendations are for your specific tub. You need to make sure that you get all the water.

So open everything you can open all drain plugs, all the fittings in the heater housing, the pumps, etc. Remove the filter and drain the water from that area as well. You can use a shop vac to blow the water out. Do it again and again until you are sure the water is out of everywhere. Then use the vacuum to suck out anything left in the lines. Then do it all again. Once you have all the water out, you can take one more step to be sure. Add some RV antifreeze to the lines and blow that through making sure all the water has come out. The antifreeze is colored so you will see it as it comes out, ensuring that all the water has come out. You do not need to use much antifreeze in this step. RV antifreeze should not hurt your tub and when you start the tub back up once winter thaws you will just flush the lines to get any residual out.

Once the water is out, your tub is ready for winter. Replace the cover making sure it is secure. You may want to add an additional tarp to protect the tub from the harsh winter weather.