With fall and winter close, the muscles and joints are more likely to strain or be pulled while engaging in physical activity like working out or enjoying regular recreational activities. The benefit of having a hot tub is that it allows an individual to soak in the warm water to relieve some of the soreness.

It relaxes and soothes stiffness and warms the body, preparing you for another, safer workout. The water should be drained and changed for optimum health before temperatures dip too low. That is the time to clean the structure thoroughly.

Before getting in or having others in, ensure that everyone has had a shower to get rid of any products, bacteria, or oils, and leave some fresh slippers for everyone to wear from the house to the spa so no one brings debris or dirt into the water. These will also keep everyone’s feet warm until they hop in the water.

Consider these suggestions when using the hot tub in winter for the most efficient and greatest health advantages.

How Can You Take Full Advantage of a Hot Tub in the Fall and Winter

Active individuals feel the effects of their physical movements the most in the winter months when the body stiffens and grows cold due to the frigid temperatures. The muscles and joints grow sore with nothing more soothing than the warmth of hot tub waters.

The priority is to keep the system working efficiently so you can continue to indulge throughout the fall and winter seasons without facing any issues or possible breakdowns. Let’s look at some of the things you should do and what you should avoid in the cooler temperatures.

Slipper or sandals

It’s wise for a homeowner to invest in several pairs of slippers or sandals in varied sizes to keep in a basket for family and close friends to slide into when they want to enjoy the hot tub on a cool fall or winter day. It allows the owner to have better control over care and upkeep.

Not only does it keep everyone’s feet warm on the way to the spa, but it will also keep their feet clean until they get into the water. Everyone learns how to take care of hot tub while keeping dirt and debris out of the water. Another suggestion is to ask each person to shower with soap and water, including washing their hair if products are used.

This keeps oils and creams from invading the water and blocking the filtration system.

The waterfall valves can freeze

In the same vein that household plumbing can freeze, the plumbing lines for a hot tub have a small risk of freezing. These are the smaller lines, including waterfall lines, that require a supply of water. The issue begins when the pipes are closed with no water capable of flowing through.

In order to avoid the potential for freezing, all jets should be opened along with valves for waterfalls when not in use.

That allows heated fresh water to run through the lines, helping to eliminate the possibility of freezing. Learn what to look for when buying a new system at https://www.retirementliving.com/features-to-consider-before-buying-a-hot-tub.

The cover should be locked

An insulated hot tub cover works more effectively when locked in place. In this position, the straps are pulled tight along the edges of the material to allow for a tight seal to ensure the heat stays in. Without locking, the cover edges will slightly rise, which encourages heat to escape.

This costs significantly in utility bills. This is also true if a poor seal creates an escape from steam. That means the water will need to be topped up to keep the level where it needs to be, plus add chemicals to ensure adequate balance.

Leave the water when it’s cold

It’s recommended that water should be changed roughly every four months. That can mean draining and changing in the middle of winter if you use the system year-round.

Having fresh water means a more pleasant, healthy, and safe experience, but changing the water when the temps are below average is not wise.

The risk of freezing pipes will outweigh any possible advantages. A suggestion is that you intend to drain and rinse in small layers, roughly “12 inches at a time,” with constant refilling and reheating as you go.

You will have a different result than a total drain; it will take you to the warmer season. Read here what you should know when owning a hot tub.

Final Thought

In the winter, adding water to the hot tub with the outside taps shut down and the hose put away for the season can be challenging. Some people have actually taken the opportunity to use snow to fill their hot tubs instead of fresh water when it needs to be topped off.

It could seem like a wise thing to do in a difficult circumstance, but melted snow is not a good alternative to water. The balance is significantly wrong, making it necessary to add substantial chemicals to achieve a balance.

Aside from that, many impurities in snow lead to ineffective sanitizers and cloudy water. When you need to refill, figure out a way to add fresh water. If you want to use your hot tub in the winter, there will be an alternative to snow.