Winter is on its way.
And while the thought of slipping into your steaming hot tub when there's snow on the ground is a tempting one, thoughts of getting out of it again and frantically scrambling for your towel and dashing inside to avoid hypothermia dominate.
Draining your hot tub and putting it to bed until the warmer months come around again can be done by following these simple steps: 1.
Turn the power off.
2.
Pre-clean the hot tub 3.
Clean the vents and filters 4.
Flush the system 5.
Wipe down and polish the surfaces 6.
Cover the hot tub and check the cover for any tears or holes Step 1 - Pre-Clean

• Add a degreaser such as Whirlpool Rinse to remove oils from skin and bath products.
  These can build up in the pipes and jets.
  Do this 24 hours before emptying the spa.
  
• Carefully sink the underwater pump into the tub and activate it to remove the stale spa water

Step 2 - Clean Vents and Filters

• Extract the cartridge filter from the skimmer.
  Wipe around the skimmer entrance with a cloth soaked in filter cleaner.
  Wear gloves for this task.
  
• Soak the filter in a bucket full of water mixed with any recommended filter cleaner to dissolve oils and built-up sediment.
  Rinse well and set aside.
  
• Use a good-quality cartridge cleaner to remove debris, hair and plant bits from the filter cartridge.
  
• When the pump has emptied the tub, vacuum up any remaining water with the shop vacuum cleaner.
  
• Reinsert the cartridge filter into the skimmer.
  

Step 3 - Wipe Down and Polish all Surfaces of the Spa

• Use a non-abrasive polish to clean all acrylic surfaces, especially where people sit and place their hands.
  
• Clean and polish the water taps and control handles thoroughly.
  
• If closing up your spa for winter, proceed to Step 4.
  If you plan to use it in the cold weather, go to Step 5.
  

Step 4 - Close the Hot Tub and Cover for Winter

• Release all plugs and open all drains to verify the tub is completely empty of water, to prevent frozen and cracked pipes.
  
• Turn off all power, or unplug all electrical plugs that control the spa.
  
• Put on the cover.
  For winter this should be a fiberglass or wood hard top.
  
• Slip on a protective tarp, and secure it with rope or velcro strips.
  
• Ensure there are no air locks in the pipes.
  Open a pipe union near the whirlpool pump to vent out this air.
  

Step 5 - Refill the Hot Tub and Enjoy

• Check the filter is ready to operate.
  
• Fill the tub with water and test that the whirlpool jets are functioning.
  
• Cover the hot tub with a tarp or hard cover during a snowstorm to prevent overflowing.