The new year is a great time to commit to maintaining a pristine and clean…
Just because it is cold outside doesn’t mean it’s time to drain and cover your hot tub for the season. Keeping it filled, heated and ready for the next soak can do a lot to make the coldness of winter worthwhile.
In fact, some would say their hot tub plays a role in looking forward to cold night and snowfall.
Let us show you how to best enjoy your hot tub this winter by giving you some ideas on how to get the most out of it.
Get the Most Out of Your Hot Tub This Winter!
Using your hot tub in the winter can be tricky—while it sounds so delightful in the below-freezing nights of winter, it can take some convincing to get yourself out of your lovely home. The winter also brings up some remarkably interesting questions about the best spa operating practices. No fear—we have a slew of hot tub winter tips that will help you get through the season safe and relaxed.
1) Sweat Out The Sickness
Cold and flu season is usually in full swing in the middle of winter when everyone is sick and indoors simultaneously.
If you start to feel achiness or anything in your lungs, jump into your hot tub to sweat out the toxins and get some cool air in your lungs.
Cold air can help with coughs and sweating in the hot environment (and replenishing with lots of water) may help you avoid having to use your precious sick days. If your tub is not already set there, crank up the thermostat to 104° and sweat away.
2) Wear a funky hat!
This may seem like an obvious bit of advice, but it really can help. If you live somewhere that gets the nastiest of the winter, a hat can help you keep your hair dry and keep the heat from escaping through the top of your head.
A knit hat or baseball cap both work great to help regulate body temperature. Whatever your style, remember to keep that head warm!
3) Family or Date Night
Whether it is a romantic night with your significant other or a party with your family living in the same house (who could conceivably fit in your hot tub), give yourself reasons to use the hot tub.
You can challenge each other to go for a roll in the snow or any other winter-related games you can come up with.
Try and limit your time in the water to 20-minute increments at a time, longer if you crank down the water temperature to 100° or less.
Make sure everyone is drinking a lot of water and well hydrated.
4) Lotion Your Skin Before Jumping In
Getting out of your hot tub and feeling like your skin has gotten dry will certainly discourage you from using it frequently and reaping the benefits.
A simple solution is to utilize face moisturizer before you go outside and into the hot tub.
It may seem peculiar, but a thin layer of lotion will keep your face from drying out. It even keeps airborne spa chemicals from getting into your pores and drying them out more.
5) Be moderate with your jet and blower usage in cold weather
Anything that injects cool air into the water is going to rapidly lower the water’s temperature. This applies to the hot tub blowers, especially. Use them scarcely if you want to keep the water warm and be sure they are turned off after your time in the water has ended.
6) Stock up on supplies and chemicals
You will not be able to use your hot tub if you run out of sanitizer or other vital chemicals when a storm hits. No one wants to run out when the roads are icy and inhospitable. Do not let this keep you from using your hot tub during the winter months!
Check your chemical supply stash and be sure you have sufficient of what you need while the weather is good. If not, we recommend you stock up for the winter season.
7) Enhance your workout routine and stay healthy
Cold weather makes people inactive. While your New Year’s resolutions may have you determined for the first few weeks of January, it can be easy to talk yourself out of a home workout vs watching TV.
Let your hot tub encourage you! After a workout, use your hot tub to stretch your muscles afterward. Hydrotherapy can be a good way to help your body recover so you do not ache quite so much in the morning.
8) Use sandals or slippers when going to your outdoor hot tub
Most outdoor hot tubs are a little more than a hop, skip, or a jump away from the nearest doorway. Keep your feet warm during the journey while at the same time keeping dirt and debris out of the hot tub water.
Use shoes that have a good grip because surfaces around the tub can get slick in the freezing weather.
9) Check your water levels regularly to avoid costly damage
An unattended leak can lead to huge issues with your hot tub.
If water levels get low enough, your pumps and heaters can stop running and the water inside the tub freezes.
A frozen hot tub can be an awfully expensive problem to remedy. If you are not using your hot tub frequently, at least keep an eye on its functionality.
10) Have a hot drink in the great outdoors
Whether you take your tea with you to the hot tub or have a cup of hot cocoa ready for when you get out, there is nothing quite as soothing as your favorite warm beverage.
If you do take it into the hot tub with you, just be careful not to drop it in!
11) Make smart choices to help save energy and money
You can lose a lot of heat out of your hot tub in the cold weather. Some people think they’ll save money by raising and lowering the temperature of the hot tub water based on their usage.
This is not true. In fact, it’s more cost-effective to maintain a set temperature than to have it constantly heating up and cooling off.
In addition, be sure to cover your hot tub as soon as you’ve finished using it, so the heater isn’t trying to heat up constantly cooling water.
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