I'm Going on Holiday... Should I Turn My Hot Tub Off?

It's an overcast morning in late September. A warm smile appears on your face, born of the knowledge that in less than 6 hours from now you'll be soaking up the last of the summer sun, sipping a Sex on the Beach as you glide down the French Riviera for 14 blissful, uninterrupted days.

Suitcase - packed ✅

Boarding passes - in hand ✅

Sunglasses - acquired ✅

Swim shorts - forgotten ✅

As you tick off your mental to-do list, you glance out the window towards your garden, and, as your taxi to the airport pulls up outside your front door, your smile slowly fades to concern.

The hot tub. Oops.

With only 60 seconds to go before the taxi driver boils over with rage (okay, slight exaggeration), you have to make a snap decision.

With no time to lose, you switch the hot tub off at the wall, grab your keys, wallet and sunglasses and trundle out the door with your suitcase in hand. 

As you make your way to the airport, for less than a second you wonder - should I have done that? The thought slips away just as quickly as it appeared. After all, who cares? In a matter of hours, I'll be somewhere far, far away. Ah... bliss.

We'd all like to think that our hot tub (and what it needs to be happy) simply *poofs* into nonexistence the moment we step away from it, but we both know that the reality is a bit different.

If you're going on holiday soon (lucky you), stay tuned as we dissect what to do with your hot tub while you're away.

Should I turn off my hot tub if I'm going on holiday?

The answer is not black and white. There are a few things to consider first:

1. How long are you going away for?

If you are away for a week or two, we recommend you leave your hot tub on. However, you will want to take some steps to ensure it's in good working order when you get back, such as testing and balancing chemicals and cleaning out the jets. We unpack this later on.

If you are away for longer than two weeks, you can consider draining and turning your hot tub off. You will want to put an hour aside to give it a proper clean and make sure you've checked your stock of hot tub chemicals so you can rebalance the water once you come back. We'll go through this in more depth later on.

2. How much energy does your hot tub consume?

Smaller hot tubs (usually 1, 2 or 3-person) are by nature more energy-efficient, which makes leaving them on while you're on holiday less costly than a large hot tub designed for 4+ people. Once you add on the cost of refilling and heating the hot tub back up when you return, you might find it's cheaper to simply leave a small hot tub switched on, even if you are away for longer than two weeks.

If you're leaving your hot tub turned on, we suggest you lock the heat in with a high-quality hot tub cover so that you're not paying over the odds for your energy.

A large hot tub, on the other hand, will use substantially more energy, which makes switching it off a no-brainer if you're away for longer than two weeks.

3. What's the weather going to be like? (At home, not along the Côte d'Azur!)

Hot tubs consume more energy in the winter, regardless of size. If you're heading on holiday in the depths of winter, the threshold for when you turn off your hot tub may be lower.

For example, leaving your hot tub turned on for ten days during the summer will be less costly than leaving it for the same length of time in the winter. So, you may want to switch it off if you're going away during a cold snap at home (you lucky, lucky human).

The quality of your hot tub will have a significant influence on how energy-efficient it is. Cheaper models tend to use cheaper insulation, which means they're likely to sap heat at a faster rate.

On the opposite end of the scale, a hot tub made from high-quality materials will be able to withstand winter chills without losing excessive amounts of heat.

I've decided to switch my hot tub off. What now?

If you've decided to turn your hot tub off during your holiday, don't worry - it's pretty straightforward to do. Here are our top tips:

1. Drain the water from your hot tub completely, either by using the built-in drain valve or by using a submersible pump. You should also flush out any water from its pipes to prevent it from freezing. A vacuum with a 'blow' setting will do the trick.
2. Make sure to remove, clean and dry the filters, storing them in a cool, dry place (inside if temperatures are freezing).
3. Give the jets, headrests and the hot tub's interior a wipedown with a microfibre cloth and a cleaning solution. We recommend that you use a specialist hot tub cleaner, or opt for a natural alternative like diluted white vinegar. Never use bleach to clean your hot tub.
4. Finally, seal your hot tub with a high-quality cover. This will help keep the heat in and repel unwanted debris like leaves.

I've decided to leave my hot tub switched on. What now?

To prevent any stagnation, we'd recommend you:

1. Ensure the water is properly balanced before you leave using a testing kit and a chlorine/non-chlorine shock.
2. Remove any debris such as leaves to avoid organic contaminants causing scum.
3. Clean out the filters and jets and ensure they are running so that water is circulated effectively.
4. Use a floating dispenser to ensure the sanitiser is gradually released (granules may dissolve too quickly).
5. Lower your hot tub's temperature so that it uses as little energy as possible. If your hot tub has an eco/sleep/away mode, now is a great time to switch it on.

When you get back, use your hot tub's control panel to turn the temperature back up, test the water, dive back in and relax... Ahhh. It's like you never boarded that flight home. 

No matter your final decision, the most important thing to remember is that you'll need to check up on your hot tub before and after your holiday - whether that's simply testing the water or filling it up from scratch.

If you're still unsure, reach out! We're always happy to help.