Should I Leave My Hot Tub on All the Time?

We often have people asking us questions about shutting down and starting up their hot tub. Here's some common questions and their answers:

Should I leave my hot tub on all the time?

The short answer is yes. If a hot tub is left drained and turned off for a long period of time it can lead to problems such as biofilm and freeze damage. A hot tub is built to be filled and running all the time. Use test strips to monitor the water chemistry and a floating dispenser to release sanitizer (either chlorine or bromine) into the water.

What if I need to turn the hot tub off due to renovations or another reason?

If you need to shut down your hot tub, we recommend following these steps:

1. Turn the hot tub off at the breaker.
2. Remove the filter. This is a good time to clean the filter then store it in a cool, dry place.
3. Fully drain the hot tub. You can use a shop vac to remove water from the foot well and around the seats.
4. Open all the unions in the equipment compartment.
5. Blow air though the pipes to help them dry out.
6. Apply some hot tub antifreeze to all the plumbing to protect from freeze damage in the winter.

How do I start up my hot tub after it's been shut down?

If your hot tub has been off for a long period of time, we recommend following these steps:

1. Take a look inside the equipment compartment. Make sure all unions are closed. You might want to take a look at the o-rings to make sure they are still in good condition. Replace any o-rings that look worn.
2. Start filling the hot tub with a garden hose. Place the hose at the bottom of the filter compartment to help avoid any air in the plumbing. We recommend using a hose filter to make sure the fresh water is clean and contaminant free.
3. Turn on the hot tub at the breaker.
4. Next you'll want to clean the inside of the pipes to remove any left-over antifreeze and biofilm that my be built up in the pipes. Pour a bottle of Dazzle Drain Prep into the water. Run the hot tub jets at full speed then let the water sit overnight.
5. Turn the hot tub off at the breaker and drain it. You may want to give all hot tub surfaces a wipe to clean off any gunk or oils.
6. Refill the hot tub.
7. Place a clean filter cartridge into the hot tub.
8. Turn on the hot tub at the breaker.
9. After the hot tub has warmed up, balance water chemistry as you normally would.