Yes, you can use a hot tub in winter - it can be a cosy way to get warm on a cold day!
As the colder temperatures of winter start to bite, the warmth of a hot tub looks ever more inviting. You may, however, be wondering if you can safely use your hot tub in winter. The short answer is yes! This is common in cold areas like Canada and Scandinavia, and a great way to relax in the UK. However, if you want to know if you can safely use a hot tub in winter, the answer is a bit more complicated. After all, winter weather can damage a lot of outdoor furniture, including hot tubs.
Our hot tub experts have got some great tips on how to safely use a hot tub in winter while getting the most out of the experience. We've put these together into the ultimate guide on winter hot tubs, which you can read below!
How can you use a hot tub in winter?
You can use a hot tub in winter if you are careful and keep your jets on low.
Using a hot tub in winter not only gives you a way to soak away all the stresses brought on by the dark and the cold, but also extends your ability to enjoy being outdoors in your garden through the winter months. It might seem counter-intuitive, but it’s worth turning down the jets of your hot tub when using it in winter. The jets pull in outside air, which can lower the water temperature, and the agitation of the water exposes more of the water to the cold. Having your jets on high could lead to a cold tub.
For your safety, be careful when getting out of the hot tub. Being wet outside in winter is not a lot of fun – it could easily lead to hypothermia if you’re not careful. Ideally, the amount of time between getting out of the hot tub and back into your house should be as short as possible. Make sure everyone using the hot tub has easy access to towels, robes, and slip-on shoes so that they can leave the hot tub and get indoors quickly. Make sure you don't rush too much and slip. Just move carefully and quickly indoors once you're done soaking.
How can you take care of a hot tub in winter?
Whether or not you use your hot tub in winter, you should make sure you keep it in good condition. Otherwise, the tub could easily suffer frozen pipes, or get clogged with leaves and other debris.
Invest in a good cover for your tub, ideally an insulated one that fits snugly to create a tight seal. This will keep the heat in, and debris out, thus ensuring your hot tub stays functional during the winter. Keeping the cover on while you heat the tub will also mean the water heats faster – like heating water on the stove by keeping a lid on the pan.
It is also wise to change the water in your hot tub ahead of winter settling in. Drain and refill the water before the temperatures get too cold. This will help prevent frozen pipes.
Running the hot tub over winter will also prevent frozen pipes, in the same way as keeping your central heating system on an idle or standby setting. Not only that, but it will also help keep the other components of the tub in good working order. If you do decide to drain the hot tub before winter, you may miss some water within the pipes, and if that water freezes, it can cause cracks and leaks.
Anyone who owns a car will know how difficult it can be to get it started on a freezing winter morning. Hot tubs have a similar issue: if you turn it off over winter, restarting it in summer will be more difficult than if you had kept it on. This is because of all the moving parts within a hot tub that can seize up if the tub is turned off over winter.
To learn more about winter hot tub care, read: How to Winterise a Hot Tub.
We hope this guide has helped give you the confidence to use your hot tub in winter. Just remember our safety tips! If you have any further queries, or any questions about any of our products, please get in touch and we’ll be only too happy to help.
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