Draining and Winterizing Your Spa

Why, When and How To Do It

YOUR FIRST STEP: Check the specific directions and care guide from your manufacturer, and follow those instructions.

Whether or not you decide to winterize really depends on just how cold your winters are. For many spa owners, winter is the very best time to hop in the spa — enjoying the satisfying warmth when they climb in, and the refreshing shock of cold air when they step out. But whether you winterize or not, your spa needs to be drained.

Even with the most consistent maintenance and cleaning schedule, there are certain contaminants that will build up in your spa over time. Left to their own devices, they can cause water cloudiness and other problems, so it’s important that you drain the water from your spa every three months.

Before you drain your spa, turn on the jets and add a spa flush product to remove residue and mineral deposits from the pipes and hoses — just follow the manufacturer instructions. Once that’s done, you’re ready to drain, and the first thing you need to do is turn the power off. Once that safety concern is taken care of, remove and clean the filter, then empty the spa. Depending on the model, you can do this through a drain hose, or by pumping or siphoning.

After the water has drained, you’ll need to remove the hoses from their fittings so the plumbing can drain, then blow through the jets with a wet vac to force out any water that may be inside. Next, while your spa is empty, you’ll want to give it a good cleaning and treat it with an appropriate conditioning product.

What next? Well that depends on whether you’re draining your spa as part of regular maintenance or for winter storage. If you’re draining for winter, you’ll need to make sure all of the hoses and filters are dry so you can store them without the risk of mildew build-up. If you’re draining for regular maintenance, just put your spa back together, fill it with water and the right mix of chemicals, then get back in it!