how to prepare your hot tub for the winter

Winterizing your hot tub properly is extremely important to ensure that all the lines and equipment do not freeze and crack over the winter.

  1. Drain spa as per normal procedure. Remove pillows, the skimmer basket and the filter(s) from the canister.
  2. Chemically clean your filter(s) with Rapid Action Filter Cleanse and to clean your pillows.
  3. ***Only required for Hydropool Self Cleaning models: once the spa has completely drained, take the expandable plug out of skimmer. (
    • After 20 seconds, turn off the pump and shut off the breaker.)
  4. Shop vac all the jets and the bottom drain/foot well.
  5. Disconnect the unions at the spa pack and the pump(s).
    • Ensure that you have taken off both sets of unions, if there are two pumps.
    • Some pumps also have drain plugs at the front of them so be sure those are also removed.
  6. Shop vac the lines where you disconnected them.
  7. Re-connect the lines (and put drain plugs back in pumps if removed) after they have been vacuumed out.
  8. Pour 1 litre of Dazzle Antifreeze in the floor of the spa, 1 litre into the filter canister, put 1 litre into each pump and pour ½ litre into each diverter.
  9. Cover tub with your spa cover and store your filter(s), pillows and skimmer basket indoors.
  10. Cover the hot tub cover & cabinet with a Cover Cap or tarp. 
    • Make sure the cover cap/tarp covers your hot tub cover and all/most of the cabinet.
  11. Clear the snow load and ice periodically to prevent damage to your hot tub cover.

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