Alaska Hot Tub Winter Care
Cold weather advice from Alaska's authorized hot tub dealer since 1976. Understand winter operation, freeze prevention, and professional service options.
Should you winterize your hot tub in Alaska?
One of the questions our showroom staff hears most every autumn is: "Should I winterize my hot tub?"
For most Alaska hot tub owners, the best recommendation is to keep your spa powered, heated, and running through the winter months. Modern Hot Spring® and Caldera® spas feature dense, multi-layer full-foam insulation and energy-efficient circulation pumps specifically designed to maintain set temperatures in sub-zero ambient conditions.
Winter is also the absolute best season to enjoy outdoor hydrotherapy in Alaska — nothing compares to soaking under the northern sky while snow falls around your spa.
Why Year-Round Running is Preferred:
Complete winterization is an intensive, multi-hour process. In cold climates, draining a spa without completely evacuating every internal line, manifold, and pump housing carries severe risk, because trapped residual moisture can expand and crack plumbing lines. Keeping the spa heated avoids these risks.
When Winterization is Necessary
Consult Your Manufacturer Manual
Every manufacturer and collection has specific winter shutdown guidelines. Watkins Wellness (Hot Spring & Caldera), FreeFlow Spas, and Endless Pools each have distinct plumbing configurations. Always refer directly to the winterizing section of your official owner's manual before taking any equipment offline.
Critical Safety Cautions
- • Never use automotive antifreeze: Automotive ethylene glycol is toxic to humans and damages internal spa seals.
- • Do not loosen heater unions: Unauthorized tampering with heater union collars or internal fittings can damage O-rings and void factory leak warranties.
- • Avoid heavy plywood on covers: Never place heavy rigid plywood directly across spa covers unless explicitly authorized by the cover manufacturer, as excessive concentrated weight can damage internal foam cores.
General Winter Care Checklist for Active Spas
Check water weekly. Low water can trigger heater shutoff or airlocks in the circulation pump.
Use a soft broom to gently brush deep snow accumulations off your vinyl cover to prevent seam strain.
Ensure your GFCI breaker stays powered. If you travel, have a trusted neighbor check that the spa is operating.
Request Professional Winterization or Service
If you are closing a seasonal cabin or will be away for an extended period, our service department provides professional winterization and seasonal equipment preparation for the brands we represent.
Our technicians use commercial high-volume air blowers to evacuate jet lines, suction fittings, and internal pump housings according to factory technical protocols.
* Freeze damage resulting from power outages, utility failures, or improper shutdown is excluded from standard manufacturer warranties. Professional winterization is recommended whenever a spa cannot be monitored continuously.