Before determining a maintenance plan for the winter, you need to determine if you want to keep your spa open or if you want to close it. At Goodall Pools & Spas, we have some suggestions for you that will help you make that decision. We also provide tips for proper winter maintenance for spas.
Closing Your Spa for the Winter
The best thing for your spa is to keep it open, but if you decide this is not an option for you, you must:
- Drain the water. This means ensuring the lines are properly drained as well as the spa itself.
- Add antifreeze to the plumbing to prevent the pipes from freezing.
Some people believe keeping their spa running will cause a huge blow to their electric bill, but this is not true. There may be a slight increase, but it will not be a major hike. Typically, you can expect to spend less than a dollar a day on spa electrical costs.
Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Spa or Swim Spa Open for the Winter
Whether you have a regular spa or a swim spa, winter maintenance requirements are the same if you decide to keep it running. One benefit of keeping it open is that you can use it all winter. Follow these tips for a healthy spa so it is ready for use when you are.
- Keep the spa covered when not in use.
- Keep the spa filled with water and continue to treat it with chemicals weekly, even if you are not using it. You can bring water samples to Goodall Pool & Spa for testing so you can keep the water properly balanced.
- Make sure the spa is kept running with the water flowing through the pipes.
- Most spas allow you to set the temperature to around 60 to 70 degrees. This is a good option if you plan to keep it operating throughout the winter but do not plan on using it. At this temperature, you should not have to be concerned with pipes freezing.
Heating the Spa for Winter Use
If you plan to use your spa regularly, it makes sense to set the temperature close to where you normally would set it. If you want to use it only occasionally and keep it routinely set at 65 to 70 degrees, you can do so. In this case, it will take a little longer to heat the water up to your desired temperature; perhaps a day or two.
A good guide is that it takes about an hour to raise the temperature 1-2 degrees in many spas. If you keep your spa at about 85 – 90 degrees, and turn it up in the morning, it should be ready for use at a comfortable temperature by that evening.
For answers to your questions, or to find out about our spa maintenance program, contact us at Goodall Pools & Spas for more information.
