Contrary towinterising swimming pools although essential, winterising outdoor spas is less common because many of you enjoy their benefits in a snowy setting! However, to maintain the water at an ideal temperature in winter, your spa consumes more energy, so be aware of the increase in your electricity bill! Use an insulated cover to maintain the water temperature.
If you do not use your spa for several weeks, passive winterisation is recommended to preserve your equipment for the long term.
Here are our tips for protecting your hot tub or inflatable spa from freezing.
Winterizing your spa is necessary if you use it less frequently or in the event of prolonged frost. Indeed, in regions where frosts are frequent, the cold can damage the tank or the hydraulic circuit. In this case, winterizing an outdoor spa is strongly recommended.
Winterizing your hot tube can take a few hours, as it involves thoroughly cleaning your pool and equipment, and storing the equipment for the winter in the right conditions. These steps are important because they determine the quality of the water for the next season, and avoid the use of maintenance products when the spa is restarted.
If you have an embedded or hard-shell spa you can choose to winterize your outdoor spa in passive or active mode.
If you have an inflatable hot tub, go to the dedicated paragraph below.
This operation consists of keeping your outdoor spa filled with water by maintaining minimum operation. To do this, you must regularly:
Finally, please note that there are special winterising products for spas that protect against freezing and help maintain water quality. The use of a thermal cover is recommended to keep the water at the right temperature and insulate it from the cold.
If winters are particularly severe in your area, with repeated freezing episodes, or if you're away from home without being able to keep your spa running at a minimum, we recommend shutting down your spa after draining all the water.
Here are some tips that our ICO Spa user community regularly shares and that can be useful to everyone.
In winter, you can opt for a winter cover or an integral spa cover that will protect both the structure of your pool and prevent dirt from polluting your spa. If you have pets or small children, there are models with straps and padlocks for added security. Last but not least, in the event of heavy snowfall or severe frost, don't hesitate to add an anti-freeze cover (like those used for cars) over your isothermal cover. This allows you to remove the snow/ice without having to scrape your tarpaulin and risk damaging it.
The main risk of freezing is in the plant room and the pipes.
For semi-inground or inground outdoor spas, it is important to insulate the plant room as much as possible from the outside air.
To protect all pipes from freezing, it is advisable to use rock wool or insulating sleeves suitable for winter conditions.
As you can see, winterising your spa is optional and depends on where you live and how you use it. Whether you opt for passive or active winterising of your spa, it is essential to protect the pipes from freezing in order to preserve your equipment and to use suitable protective covers.
If you have an ICO connected water analyser, consult this article to find out more. comment hiverner votre ICO.
