Hot Tub Winter Care in Canada: Keep It Running or Winterize It

A hot tub on a snowy January night is one of the best things about a Canadian winter, but the same cold can do real damage if the tub loses heat or water is left sitting in its plumbing. You have two choices: keep it running and look after it through the season, or shut it down and winterize it completely. This guide covers both, along with cover care, water care, what to do in a power outage, and the electrical safety basics. Your spa's owner's manual comes first, because heaters, freeze-protection settings and drain layouts vary between models.

Keep it running or winterize it?

For most Canadian owners who use their tub in winter, keeping it running is the simpler and safer option. Heated water circulating through the pumps and pipes is itself the freeze protection. Winterizing makes more sense if:

• the tub is at a cottage or cabin that will sit empty for weeks;
• you won't use it until spring; or
• you can't check on it during long power outages.

Winterizing a hot tub is more involved than draining the shell. With the power off at the breaker, the tub has to be emptied and water cleared from every pump, pipe, jet and the filter housing, because even a small pocket of trapped water can freeze and crack a fitting. Filters come out and get cleaned and stored dry. Many owners have a local spa technician do the first winterizing so they can learn their model's drain points.

Wherever you drain, check the local rules first. The City of Toronto, for example, requires chlorinated water to be dechlorinated before it goes to a storm sewer and says not to drain on a rainy day. It also allows discharge onto your own lawn if the water is fully absorbed and doesn't flow onto neighbouring properties. Other municipalities have their own sewer-use bylaws.

Cover care and snow load

In winter the cover does most of the work. It holds heat in and keeps snow and debris out. It also carries the snow load, so treat it gently:

• Clear snow regularly. Master Spas recommends a plastic snow shovel or a soft broom, and warns that sharp objects or a metal shovel can tear the cover. Clearing the snow keeps too much weight from building up and damaging the foam core.
• Break ice gently. If the cover freezes to the shell, tap the edges lightly or rock the cover side to side to loosen it. Don't pry at the vinyl with anything sharp.
• Keep straps and locks fastened. Locked straps stop wind from lifting the cover and help keep children out.
• Check the fit. Steam escaping at the edges or a cover that sags in the middle means you're losing heat. If your cover is worn out, our hot tub accessories include replacement spa covers. Measure your tub before ordering.

A plastic shovel or broom from our snow and ice removal range is gentler on a cover than a metal blade.

Freeze protection while it's running

• Leave the tub on and heated all winter. Don't let it run cold to save power, because circulation is what keeps the plumbing from freezing.
• Keep the water at the level your manual specifies. Pumps and heaters need enough water to run safely.
• Learn whether your control panel has a freeze-protection or economy mode and what it does, so you understand the display if it switches on.
• Check the tub every day during deep cold snaps. Lift the cover briefly, confirm the water is warm and circulating, and close it again.
• Keep snow and ice away from the equipment access panel so you can reach it if you need to.

Water care in winter

Bathers still add oils and lotions in winter, so water care doesn't stop just because the yard is frozen:

• Test the sanitizer level and pH at least weekly with test strips or a test kit, and after every heavy-use weekend.
• Adjust the balance with pool and spa water balance products, following the label and your manual.
• Rinse the filter cartridge regularly and replace it on the schedule your manufacturer recommends. Replacement cartridges are in our pool filters and cartridges range; match the size and model to your spa.
• If you drain and refill during the season, pick a mild day, refill promptly and restart the tub as soon as it has water. Never leave an empty tub sitting in freezing weather.

Power outages

A well-insulated tub with a good cover holds its heat for a while, but a long winter outage is the most common way hot tubs freeze. Jacuzzi's power-outage advice is to:

• keep the cover on and closed to hold in heat;
• add blankets or sleeping bags over the cover if temperatures drop overnight;
• avoid draining the tub unless you have no other choice, since you don't know how long the outage will last; and
• test pH and sanitizer once power returns, and shock the water if needed.

If you use a portable generator during an outage, follow the federal Get Prepared guidance:

• Run fuel-burning generators outdoors, at least 6 m (20 feet) from any building.
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
• Connect a backup generator to your home's wiring only through an approved transfer panel and switch installed by a qualified electrician.
• Make sure carbon monoxide alarms are working. We don't carry CO alarms, so buy them locally.

A hot tub heater draws a lot of power. Ask your electrician whether your generator setup can safely run it, and never run a tub from a generator through an extension cord.

Electrical safety

Water and electricity are a dangerous mix, and hot tub wiring is not a do-it-yourself job. Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority stresses that pools, hot tubs and spas have very specific electrical requirements. It recommends a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who makes sure equipment is properly grounded and bonded, including nearby metal. Other provinces have their own electrical safety regulators and permit rules, so check before any new wiring or move.

• Never power a hot tub through a household extension cord. Hot tub makers such as Jacuzzi warn that this creates a fire risk and can void the warranty.
• Test the tub's GFCI monthly with its test button, as Jacuzzi suggests. If it won't trip or reset, stop using the tub and call an electrician.
• If anyone feels a tingle or shock in or near the tub, get everyone out, turn off the power at the disconnect or breaker, and have a licensed electrician inspect it before it's used again.
• Turn the power off at the breaker before draining, changing parts or opening equipment panels.

Winter hot tub checklist

• Decide early: keep it running all season, or have it fully drained and blown out.
• Clear snow off the cover with a soft broom or plastic shovel, and keep straps locked.
• Keep the water heated, at the right level and circulating, and check it daily in cold snaps.
• Test the water weekly and keep the filter clean.
• In an outage, keep the cover closed, add blankets, and don't drain unless you have to.
• Run generators outdoors, 6 m from the house, with working CO alarms.
• Leave all wiring to a licensed electrician, and test the GFCI monthly.

Getting the rest of the deck ready for snow? See our guide to winterizing patio furniture and the grill.

Frequently asked questions

Should I drain my hot tub for the winter in Canada?

Not if you plan to use it. A tub that stays heated and circulating is protected from freezing. Drain and fully winterize it only if it will sit unused or unchecked, and make sure water is cleared from every pump, pipe and jet.

How do I remove snow from a hot tub cover?

Use a soft broom or a plastic snow shovel and clear it regularly so weight doesn't build up and damage the foam. Avoid metal shovels and sharp tools, which can tear the vinyl.

What should I do with my hot tub during a winter power outage?

Keep the cover closed, add blankets over it if the night is cold, and avoid draining unless you have no choice. When power returns, test the pH and sanitizer and shock the water if needed.

Can I plug my hot tub into an extension cord?

No. Hot tub manufacturers warn that household extension cords create a fire risk and can void the warranty. Have a licensed electrician provide a proper GFCI-protected circuit.

Can I run my hot tub from a generator?

Only if a qualified electrician has connected the generator through an approved transfer switch and confirmed it can carry the load. Always run fuel-burning generators outdoors, at least 6 m from buildings, and keep CO alarms working.