The Benefits Of Soaking In The Hot Tub In Winter

Winterizing your spa for the season — draining, cleaning, and protecting from the effects of freezing weather — can be a complicated and time-consuming procedure. In many cases, the health of your hot tub should keep it running. Plus, in addition to enjoying the everyday benefits of your home spa, you’ll get to experience some perks unique to the winter months.

Staying Warm Outside In The Cold

In freezing weather, a soak in your home spa allows you to spend time outside in warmth and comfort, instead of huddling indoors or shivering in the cold air.

Cold-Weather Hydrotherapy

When your muscles and joints are cold, you’re more likely to pull or strain them during physical activity. In chilly temperatures, soaking in your hot tub before exercise can help warm you up and prepare your body for a safer workout, while soaking after a workout can relax and soothe aching muscles or stiff limbs. Learn more about integrating your hot tub with exercise in this guide.

Winter Socializing & Celebrations

The winter holidays are a perfect time to enjoy the company of close friends and family. Your hot tub can serve as a unique and memorable site for a festive winter gathering.

10 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Hot Tub In Winter

During the winter, follow these tips to protect your hot tub, keep yourself safe, and enhance your enjoyment.

1. Invest In A Good Cover

Make sure your hot tub cover is well-insulated and has a tight-fitting seal. A high-quality cover in good condition will help your hot tub maintain a constant high temperature, even when the weather is frightful.

2. Monitor The Water Level

Check your water level frequently and add more as necessary. If the water level falls too low in cold weather, the components may freeze, which could damage your hot tub.

3. Keep The Water Clean

Make sure you clean and maintain your water and filters according to your usual schedule. Simple problems can become more complicated to fix in subzero weather.

4. Change Your Water Early

If your tub will be due for a scheduled water change during winter, it’s a good idea to shift it to earlier in the year. Changing water while the outside temperatures are low can be particularly challenging, as there’s a risk of water freezing and damaging your spa.

5. Turn Down The Jets

Use the jets to a lesser extent than you would in other seasons, and don’t forget to turn them off when not in use. The jets work by blowing air into the water, which can lower the temperature.

6. Be Smart About Soak Times

The longer you stay in your spa, the higher your body temperature climbs. While it may be tempting to linger in the comforting warmth of your hot tub when the outside air is cold, try to limit your soak time to about 20 minutes. Moving from extreme heat to extreme cold can place dangerous stress on your body.

7. Stay Hydrated

It’s always important to stay hydrated when you’re using your hot tub. During the winter, you may want to drink warm or room-temperature beverages while soaking to keep yourself hydrated while combating the cold. Since alcohol can increase the effects of dehydration, it’s best to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages in your spa.

8. Have A Plan For Retreat

Cold weather can be dangerous, particularly when you’re wet and wearing a bathing suit. After your soak, when you must leave the protective warmth of your spa and face the icy winter air, make sure to immediately shield yourself from the cold. Keep a bathrobe and shoes, or sturdy slippers, nearby, and get indoors as quickly as possible after leaving your hot tub.

9. Vacation Without Worry

If your winter plans involve travel, rest assured your hot tub will be fine without you. Consider adding Connextion™ from Hot Spring^® Spas, a subscription-based service that will remotely monitor your hot tub and alert you and your dealer to any potential issues, no matter where you are in the world. If problems arise, your dealer can arrange to have them fixed without disrupting your vacation.

10. Enhance Your Outdoor Sanctuary

Use accessories to add warmth and comfort to your outdoor hot tub environment in the winter. Consider adding heating lamps, or a towel warmer, or maybe simply a weatherproof rug to protect bare feet from the frozen ground. Just make sure all electrical devices are either battery-operated or are placed far enough away from your hot tub to avoid any possible risk of electrocution from contact with water.

If you’re still debating whether to keep your hot tub running all winter long, it may help to know how much energy your spa is likely to use in cold weather. For any questions you may have about winter hot tub use, please call or email us at Hot Spring Spas. They’ll be able to help you better understand your model and its known performance specifications.