To help you get the most out of your spa and protect your investment, we’ve put together some helpful tips and suggestions:
- An insulation blanket should be installed in the equipment compartment from November through April. This blanket will help minimize the spa’s power consumption and protect against potential freeze-ups during power failures in the unlikely event of a component failure in your spa.
- Check your spa daily to confirm that it is heating properly. It is also imperative that your filters are kept clean to ensure proper flow through your spa’s heater (warranties do not cover damage from freeze-ups).
- Remove heavy snow accumulation from your spa’s thermal cover to prevent damage. Change your water, seal your redwood skirt, and clean and condition your thermal cover by mid-December. That way, you shouldn’t have to worry about doing it again until Spring.
- Make sure your cover is at peak performance level. Check for signs of wear and tear, and make sure the seal is still tight so heat doesn’t escape.
- If you plan on draining your spa and leaving it empty this winter, you must get all the water out from the spa, including the plumbing. Simply opening the drain and letting the water run out is not enough as a shop vac will be needed. Follow the instructions in your Owner’s Manuel carefully or call the service department at (800)889-3729 for the Drain and Winterize Service.
- Once winterized, the spa should be covered with a tarp or Spa Garage to keep water from getting into the spa.
In very cold weather you many not want to venture outside to use your spa. In this case, you may move it to a heated area, or leave it as is until the weather warms. If you do leave the spa unused for a long period of time in severely cold weather, you should drain the spa to avoid accidental freezing due to a power or equipment failure.
IMPORTANT: The following steps should protect your spa from freezing damage provided these instructions are followed exactly.
Please contact the service department if you have any questions or if you do not wish to attempt yourself.
1) Disconnect the spa from the power supply by the appropriate method:
- 115 volt models: Disconnect the power cord tom the house receptacle, coil it and place it in the equipment compartment.
- 230 volt models: Trip both of the GFCI breakers located in the subpanel.
2) Remove the screws from the equipment access door; remove the door completely (for 115 volt models only).
3) Locate the main drain valve and remove the drain cap. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and route the outlet of the hose to an appropriate draining area.
4) Open the valve and the spa will drain by gravitational flow.
5) Remove the threaded cap from the secondary drain. The remaining water about 1 gallon will drain from the bleedline system.
6) Remove the filter cartridges, then clean and store the cartridges in a dry place.
IMPORTANT: The following additional instructions must be followed when draining and winterizing your spa in climates where the temperature falls below 32 oF. A five gallon combination wet/dry shop vac (capable of blowing air as well as vacuuming) must be used to effectively remove the water that is trapped inside the plumbing lines.
7) Attach the vacuum’s hose to the output (blower) side of the shop vac.
a) Remove the filter standpipes by turning them counterclockwise.
b) Place the end of the vacuum hose into one of the filter openings and cover the closest filter opening with a clean rag.
c) Turn on the blower and allow it to blow out any water remaining in the plumbing lines (should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes).
d) Turn the SmartJet® lever to the second position and allow that system to purge.
e) If your spa is equipped with more than two jet systems, each jet system must be purged.
f) Allow the blower to run for 3 to 5 minutes for each jet system in order to be sure the plumbing has been completely purged of any remaining water.
g) Once no more water is being blown out of the jets, the blower can be turned off and the filter standpipes reinstalled.
NOTES:
- The standpipes may have a silicone sealant temporarily holding them in place and it may take firm pressure to get them to initially break free.
- One spas equipped with two jet pumps, each jet pump system and SmartJet® system must be purged.
8) Attach the vacuum hose to the vacuum side of the shop vac.
NOTE: When removing the water from jet openings, you may notice suction coming from another jet. With the help of a second person, block off any suction from the other jet using a large rag. This will help pull out the water that is trapped deeper inside the main line.
1) Use the shop vac to pull any remaining water out of the filter compartment and Moto-Massage niche, if applicable (removal of the faceplate may be necessary).
NOTE: It will be necessary to cover the drain grate tightly with a rag when vacuuming the main drain and secondary freeze drain outlets to be sure that all water has been drawn from the internal plumbing system.
2) Place the shop vac hose over the main drain outlet and allow it to draw any remaining water from the spa’s internal plumbing (approximately 3 to 5 minutes).
3) Place the shop vac hose over the secondary “freeze” drain outlet and allow it to draw any remaining water from the spa’s bleedlines (approximately 3 to 5 minutes).
9) Thoroughly dry the spa shell with a clean towel.
10) Leave the main drain valve open and leave the caps off of both outlets during the winter months.
11) Close the spa cover and fasten the cover tie downs. Cover the spa with a Spa Garage to prevent any water from entering through the spa cover.
WARNING: IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, DAMAGE DUE TO FREEZING WATER IN THE PLUMBING LINES MAY OCCUR!
