Using Your Hot Tub in Winter — Tips for Cold Weather

Winter is genuinely the best time to own a hot tub — stepping into 40°C water on a cold night with steam rising around you is one of life's better experiences. But winter does require some attention to keep things running efficiently and safely.

Freeze protection: how it works

Modern hot tubs have built-in freeze protection that activates when the air temperature around the tub drops close to freezing. The control system runs the circulation pump continuously to keep water moving through the pipes — moving water doesn't freeze at 0°C the way static water does.

For this to work, your tub must remain powered on. Do not switch a hot tub off at the mains in cold weather unless you're fully winterising it (see our winterising guide).

Keeping running costs manageable

• Keep the cover on: More important in winter than any other time. Every hour without the cover in cold weather costs significant electricity to recover.
• Check cover condition: A waterlogged cover loses heat rapidly. In winter this is particularly costly.
• Consider a thermal blanket: A floating thermal blanket on the water surface under the cover halves heat loss through the water.
• Heat pump performance: Heat pumps lose efficiency in very cold weather. Below -5°C, your backup heater element may do more of the work. This is normal.
• Don't reduce temperature too much: The temptation is to drop the temperature to save money when not in use. But recovering from a large temperature drop costs more than holding a temperature. A 2–3°C reduction is economical; more than that usually isn't.

Snow and ice on the cover

Snow on the cover adds weight — significant snow accumulation can strain the cover and its supports. Brush off heavy snow accumulation with a soft brush. Do not use a spade or hard implement — you'll damage the vinyl.

Ice on the cover exterior is fine and normal. Do not attempt to peel or chip frozen condensation from the cover.

Water chemistry in winter

Cold weather slows the consumption of sanitiser — you may find chlorine levels stay higher for longer. Test regularly but don't be surprised if you're dosing less than in summer. pH remains equally important year-round.

One winter-specific issue: if your tub is near trees, leaf debris in winter storms can drop into the tub when the cover is off and rapidly deplete chlorine. Check for debris after windy nights.

The actual best bit

On a still winter night with a clear sky, in a properly maintained hot tub at 39°C — it's genuinely hard to beat. The contrast with cold air, steam rising, possibly stars overhead. If you're putting the tub to bed for winter, we'd gently suggest reconsidering.