12/09/2019
Here is a post I wrote in winter 2015 about dealing with cold weather and malfunctioning spas. It's 4 years old, but, sound advice doesn't expire. Stay warm!
https://www.facebook.com/673856092757888/posts/763194357157394/?substory_index=0
Brrr it's cold out there! Hopefully your spa is a relaxing way to get warm and enjoy the winter wonderland. But, in the event something goes wrong, here are a couple of tips on what to do until we can get to you with help.
1- Think before taking any action. What may be the best choice in one situation may not be the best in another.
2- Draining the spa in extremely low temperatures is USUALLY a bad idea. The large volume of water in your spa is actually a heat source that normally takes days to cool, while if you drain it, there will only be a small volume of water in the pipes. The small amount of water can freeze quickly. So, while not always, but usually it is a better plan to leave warmer water in a spa that is not able to run. Again, think it through.
3- Another common misconception is that if the spa is not heating you should just shut off the power. But, if the pump can run, even without the heater, there are 3 advantages. First, the warm water from the tub circulates through the plumbing keeping it warmer and reduces the odds of it freezing. Second, the pump itself actually creates heat from friction as it runs. There are actually some small tubs that use only this friction heat to keep the spa hot. And, third, moving water is much harder to freeze. So, as long as the pumps will run, it usually makes sense to keep the power on until help arrives.
In the event the spa is completely shut down, adding a heat source is USUALLY a very good idea. Normally this is best done by opening the cabinet and placing a small heater in the equipment area. AGAIN, THIS REQUIRES THOUGHT AND COMMON SENSE! Small heaters are best, and, you must be careful how you place them. Poorly placed heaters can melt or catch fire to surrounding objects. My preferred heater for thawing out or preventing freezing on a spa is actually a hand held hair blow dryer. I know that sounds small, but, they actually put out the same heat wattage as heaters, but with a higher speed fan. This means the heat is better circulated around the plumbing rather than concentrated in one spot. And, it is much less likely to do damage. Hair dryers are equipped with thermal safety overloads so, if they get too hot, they will shut down until they cool off. Also, if you do find it necessary to add a heat source to the spa, remember that heat that escapes does you no good. Close the cabinet back up, or, if you can't do that, use blankets or something to block openings where the heat will escape. AGAIN! KEEP BLANKETS OR FLAMMABLES AWAY FROM HEAT SOURCES!
So again, I hope this message finds you enjoying your spa, but, when things don't go as planned, think it through, and give me a call. I always move freeze emergencies to the top of my list. Beware Jack frost nipping at your nose!
EDIT: I have had some people use a light bulb or electric heat lamp as a heat source with limitited success. The problem with this is that it provides heat where the light is, but it does not circulate it like a heat source with a fan will. So, it is probably better than nothing, but, certainly not as good as the other methods listed above.
No method is guaranteed, but the precautions listed are highly effective.
