Winterizing Your Spa

John wrote:
>
> Dear Sir,
>
> I just found you site and I like it.
>
> Can you please help me out -- I live in Pennsylvania and just purchased a
> spa that I keep on my deck.
>
> I was just planning to drain it for the winter, but the installer said that he
> would recommend using a non-toxic anti-freeze.
>
> Do you have any thoughts or recommendations?
>
> I greatly appreciate your help in this matter.
>
> Thanks
>
> John

John,

What brand and model of spa is it that you own. I have many customers
who have their spa winterized. I personally love to use it in the
winter.

If your spa is not well insulated your electric bill could be as high a
$120 per month. Even with a moderately insulated spa by today's
standards. your winter use of electricity would be $30 to $40 or so per month depending on the
costs for your KWH.

In order to winterize a spa, I use the following method after draining
and removing the filter. The idea is to get all of the water out of all the parts and keep it out.

4. You can reverse the air flow and blow out the fittings for another 5
to 10 minutes.

At any time the water goes into the tub vessel, vacuum it out.

5. Place the plastic straight nozzle on vacuum at one jet at a time.
Using a plastic sheeting, cover all the other jets, and draw out all of
the water. The vacuum wild hold the plastic sheet in place over the jets. Don't
let it suck the plastic into the jet body!

6. Move from jet to jet with all the other jets in the pump jet system
covered. This draws out the water from the jet manifold. 3 minutes at
each jet or until you hear no more water being pulled into the vacuum.

7. Return to the equipment compartment an place the vacuum hose directly
on the pressure plumbing pipe. It is connected to the outlet of the
pump. Let it run for 5 minutes. Then do the same to the suction.  Leave all the fittings open, and keep track of the unioin gaskets and o'rings.

8.Place a waterproof tarp neatly over the top (if you are leaving the spa) of the spa cover and hold
it down with rocks. This will insure that water will not get back into
the spa. Make it like a tent with sloping sides to allow air under the
tarp. If there is no water in the spa it can't be harmed by freezing
water as it expands when it turns into ice.

9. Spray off the filter as you would normally do then soak it over night
(12 hours minimum) in a filter cleaning solution (GLB Filter Cleans is
really good one). Rinse the filter thoroughly and let it dry with a box
placed over it to keep dust off. Have air vents in the box, small 1/2 inch holes
in to help it dry faster.

In the spring apply Magic Lube to all the o'rings and reconnect all the
unions on the equipment. Then replace the filter and fill it up.

I don't like to clean a spa that has had antifreeze in it. It is much
simpler to just fill it come spring. There is no need for antifreeze if there
is no water in the spa.

I always ask people this. Why are you not using the spa in the winter?
To me, there is nothing like a hot soak on a cold winter night! If you are concerned about freezing, have the SPA-Thermaguard TM installed. If you are leaving for the winter, then by all means have it winterized.

If you have an in-ground spa, it must be winterized much like a swimming
pool, by lowering the levels of the water adding antifreeze and blowing
out all the equipment. I recommend having a professional winterize a
custom installed spa.

I hope this helps you!

Jim Arjuna
The Spa Specialist Inc
Broomfield CO 80020
(303)-404-2224

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