Turning off your hot tub after use is very important for ensuring both the safety of those who have used it and that you protect your equipment while also maximizing your spa’s energy efficiency. Regardless of whether you are planning to use your spa again soon or if it will be unused for an extended period of time, following the appropriate way to power down your hot tub can help prolong the life of your spa system and help it operate effectively when it is started again.
Before turning the power off for your hot tub, you will want to make sure that it is not currently running either an active filtration cycle or a heating cycle. Most modern hot tubs run their filtration cycle on a predetermined schedule throughout the day to ensure that the water in the spa is kept clean and properly balanced.
Interrupting a filtration cycle by turning the electronic control panel off can cause issues with water circulation and/or cause undue stress on a hot tub pump. Once you have confirmed that your hot tub is not running either a filtration cycle or a heating cycle via the electronic control panel, you can continue with the next step to turn your hot tub off.
Your next step will be to safely disconnect power to your hot tub. Hot tubs are typically hard-wired into a dedicated circuit located in the electrical panel of your home, and many have an outdoor GFCI disconnect box. To safely turn off your hot tub, you need to switch the circuit breaker to “off”.
If you have both a disconnect and a circuit breaker for your hot tub, be sure that both are turned “off” to complete the disconnect from the unit. Be sure that your hands are dry and have no contact with water while handling any electrical parts.
Once you have turned off the electricity to the hot tub, be sure to securely close and lock the cover. The cover keeps the hot tub clean and safe from debris, rainwater, and insects.
Additionally, the cover keeps children and/or pets from being able to gain access to the hot tub while it is not in use. Having a locked cover ensures that your hot tub is safe from damage when you are not using it.
It is still very important to maintain a proper level of water chemistry throughout the period that the hot tub is not being used. A properly balanced level of sanitizer and pH both help keep bacteria from growing and scaling on surfaces, even when water is not circulating throughout the hot tub.
You may have to adjust your chemical usage based on how long the hot tub will be turned off and/or if the hot tub is going to be located in an area with environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold weather, or rain.
For long-term or seasonal shutdowns of the hot tub, additional steps are required, particularly when located in climates subject to cold weather. It is necessary to completely drain the hot tub, remove all filters and other accessories from the inside of the hot tub, and clean the interior shell of the hot tub before removing the filters and other accessories.
In addition, the plumbing lines of a hot tub must be blown out to prevent freezing damage from occurring after shutting down the hot tub for the winter season. If you do not know how to “winterize” your hot tub, you can find instructions on the internet. Failure to prepare your hot tub system properly for daily use could result in cracked tubing and/or pump failures due to freezing conditions during the winter season.
When you are ready to use your hot tub again, turn the power back on at the breaker that operates the hot tub; then allow the hot tub’s computer system to restart itself. After that, check to make certain the hot tub is circulating water to the correct temperature and does not have any error codes displayed on the screen. You can also want to retest your water chemistry and adjust your chemicals accordingly to ensure you have safe water to soak in.
By following these 6 steps, you can comfortably turn off the power to your hot tub correctly and safely after you have finished using it. This will protect your hot tub investment, along with providing you with an efficient, clean, and enjoyable experience with your hot tub every time you use it.