Power outages can occur at any time, for any reason. The biggest concern is when it happens during snow storms which is usually followed by freezing temperatures. During that time, many people worry about the potential damage it can do to their hot tub since it can be a costly repair. So, how to keep hot tub from freezing during power outage?

In case of a power outage, you can adjust your spa to keep it warm for long time by doing the following:

1. Cover the hot tub cover
2. Get a hinge seal
3. Place a small ceramic heater in the hot tub
4. Check the water temperature every few hours
5. Add hot water to the spa
6. Use Hot Stones

Still, there are a few more things that you should be careful about. You will still need to check your hot tub every day and measure the water temperature.

Will a Hot Tub Freeze Overnight 

If your home lost power while your hot tub was running, then you might be wondering if your hot tub could simply freeze overnight and sustain long-term damages because of that.

So, will your hot tub freeze overnight? Your hot tub cannot freeze overnight. On average, it would take more than 7 days before your hot tub can start freezing.

There are many things you can do in order to help your hot tub maintain the water temperature.

Can Other Hot Tub Parts Freeze Overnight

Your hot tub consists of multiple parts. Most of them get in touch with water. This means that each of them are at risk of freezing during power outages and extremely low temperatures.

So, can other hot tub parts freeze overnight? Other hot tub parts can freeze overnight. Typically, the most vulnerable spot for freezing is the equipment compartment due to being less insulated.

The reason for this is that the motors and equipment can breathe and run cooler. This is actually even more prevalent on a deck.

Keep in mind, it might be a little challenging to re-start with ice chips in the pump so make sure to look for that. People usually use a hairdryer to thaw things out.

How Long Will a Hot Tub Stay Warm Without Power

The amount of time that a hot tub will stay warm without power will depend on several factors, including the ambient temperature, the insulation of the hot tub, and the initial temperature of the water.

In general, a hot tub that is properly insulated and has a high initial water temperature will stay warm longer than a poorly insulated hot tub with a low initial water temperature.

On average, a hot tub will stay warm for several hours without power, although this can vary depending on the specific circumstances. If the ambient temperature is very cold, the hot tub may cool down more quickly.

To help extend the amount of time that a hot tub stays warm without power, you can try the following:

1. Keep the hot tub covered: A hot tub cover can help to retain heat and prevent the water from cooling down quickly.
2. Use a hot tub blanket: A hot tub blanket is a floating insulation pad that can help to retain heat in the water.
3. Add hot water: If the power goes out, you can try adding hot water to the hot tub to help maintain the temperature.
4. Use a solar cover: A solar cover can help to absorb the sun’s energy and transfer it to the water, which can help to keep the hot tub warm.

By following these tips, you can help to extend the amount of time that a hot tub stays warm without power.

Do Not Do These Things To Your Hot Tub During a Power Outage

In case you find yourself in the situation of having no power with a hot tub running, make sure you do not do the following:

1. Do not drain the spa
2. Do not put flames under the hot tub
3. Do not pour antifreeze into the spa
4. Do not stuff blankets or comforters underneath the spa

Let’s look at each of these closely.

1. Do not drain the spa! Most power outages in winter are resolved pretty quickly, and most hot tubs with any sort of insulation, and a good spa cover can hold heat for at least 24 hours. In case your spa was 90 F when the power went down, it could take a long time for temperatures in the equipment and pipes to cool to near freezing. This is especially true for a hot tub with a tight cabinet and good insulation.
2. Do not put flames under the hot tub! Very often, the first thought one might have is to place a small fire, or a kerosene heater, or any gas heater under the spa. This can cause a big problem with melted spa parts, soot and carbon monoxide. Instead, keep the cover closed, and lay down heavy woolen blankets over the top if needed to prevent old spa covers from losing heat.
3. Do not pour antifreeze into the spa. Another common issue people do. You might be laughing, but it is a true story. Don’t be fooled by the label that says “Non-toxic antifreeze for pools”, it’s definitely not safe to pour into the hot tub. Also, it wouldn’t work unless you put in an amount equal to at least 10% of your hot tub water volume.
4. Do not stuff blankets or comforters underneath the spa. Once the equipment starts up, the heater and pump will need the air spaces to keep themselves cool. 

Good Things To Do During a Power Outage

In case you find yourself in the situation of having no power with a hot tub running, make sure you do the following:

1. Cover the hot tub cover
2. Get a hinge seal
3. Place a small ceramic heater
4. Check the water temperature every few hours
5. Add hot water to the spa
6. Use hot stones

Let’s look at each of these closely.

1. Cover the hot tub cover with some heavy woolen blankets and even some plastic tarp. Wrap it tightly around the edges. This can prevent the heat from leaving, and it is especially recommended to do so with older covers or hot tub covers that don’t exactly fit the tub.
2. Get a hinge seal; A hinge seal is an extra piece of foam and vinyl that is velcroed into the fold/hinge on the inside of the cover. Some covers might already have it. What is does is that it helps with heat loss coming out through the fold.
3. Place a small ceramic heater or a 100W light bulb in the equipment area of your hot tub, in case you have a generator. Just make sure that the heater or bulb DOES NOT TOUCH any components or plumbing. 
   

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4. Check the water temperature every few hours using a floating thermometer that you can quickly access via a smartphone app, or by quickly lifting the cover just slightly. The water temperature in the pipes will need to reach a few degrees below 32° and stay there for several hours before they expand enough to cause some damage. At 32°, most of what will happen is that the water will just turn slushy and not freeze hard.
   
   

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5. Add hot water to the spa. This is not a bad tactic and it’s cheap. What you need to do is to drain half the water, and refill with hot water from a garden hose connected to a spigot in the kitchen or your laundry room. 
6. Use Hot Stones, that are warmed for 30 minutes in a fireplace or somewhere else like a wood-burning stove. What you want to do is to put them in a large iron skillet and have them placed under the hot tub cabinet. 8-10 large stones will do just enough to warm the cabinet spaces for the overnight.

What To Do In an Extended Power Outage (7+ Days)

If you think the spa won’t have power restored for more than 7 days, there are still actions you can take to keep everything safe and last longer.

You can drain your hot tub but only as a last resort in case there is a great risk of freezing and you have tried everything from above.

In general, hot tubs can be emptied for winter (called winterizing) but you have to do a very good job of it. One of the main challenges is getting all the water out of the plumbing (many will mistakenly only get out what they can see) and you should use RV antifreeze for what is left. 

What happens is that the water left in the plumbing freezes quickly. That will cause water to expand so the plumbing that is totally full of spa water will crack. 

My hot tub is not working after power outage

Hot tub winter power outage happens quite often, so unless you want to drain your hot tub, you need to prepare yourself for days without power going to your hot tub. Sometimes, it can happen that your hot tub doesn’t work after the power outage.

Here is a short list on how to check your hot tub after power outage.

• The first thing to check is the electrical switchboard. Make sure that non of the switches are killed.
• Once you can verify that you hot tub has the electricity, see if you can hear any buzzing or any other noises from your hot tub. I might indicate a pump issue.
• Lastly, try resetting your hot tub. If that doesn’t work, then make sure to bring in professionals to inspect your hot tub and determine what’s wrong with it.

What to do with hot tub if power goes out in winter?

If the power goes out in the winter and you have a hot tub, there are several steps you can take to help keep the hot tub warm:

1. Keep the hot tub covered: A hot tub cover can help to retain heat and prevent the water from cooling down quickly.
2. Use a hot tub blanket: A hot tub blanket is a floating insulation pad that can help to retain heat in the water.
3. Add hot water: If the power goes out, you can try adding hot water to the hot tub to help maintain the temperature.
4. Use a solar cover: A solar cover can help to absorb the sun’s energy and transfer it to the water, which can help to keep the hot tub warm.
5. Insulate the hot tub: If you have not already done so, you may want to consider adding additional insulation to the hot tub to help retain heat.
6. Keep the area around the hot tub clear: Make sure that the area around the hot tub is clear of snow and other debris, as this can help to reduce heat loss.

By following these steps, you can help to keep your hot tub warm if the power goes out in the winter. It is important to use caution when using a hot tub in cold weather, as the water may be colder than usual and the risk of hypothermia may be increased.

What to do if your hot tub freezes?

Don’t worry.

In case your hot tub is frozen, the first thing to do is to defrost your hot tub and get all the ice from the shell. You can do that by adding hot water or by placing a ceramic heater in the hot tub.

Finally, talk to your dealer so you know more about how to do it properly.

Last update on 2023-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API