Going Away? How to Leave Your Hot Tub While You're on Holiday

A hot tub copes well with a week or two on its own, so there's no need to worry about it over October half-term, a Christmas visit to family or a winter break. The problems we hear about after a holiday nearly always come from a spa that was switched off, a water level that dropped, or sanitiser that ran out halfway through. A little preparation the week before you go avoids all three.

Leave the spa switched on

It's tempting to switch the hot tub off at the isolator to save electricity while nobody is using it. Don't. Frost protection only works while the spa has power. If the sensors detect water below 6.7°C in the heater, the pump switches on to keep water moving. A spa switched off with water in it has no protection at all, and frozen water can crack pipework, unions and pump housings. Frost damage isn't covered by the warranty.

Instead, switch to Economy or Sleep mode:

• Economy heats the water to the set temperature, but only during filter cycles.
• Sleep heats to within about 10°C of the set temperature, again only during filter cycles.

Both keep the spa ticking over without the heater running constantly. Our hot tub error codes guide shows how each mode appears on the display.

Check the filter cycle setting

The first filter cycle starts six minutes after the spa powers up and the second 12 hours later. Each can run for 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours, or continuously. Keep to F2 or F4 while you're away. Long cycles on high settings can overheat the pump.

Away for longer, or a spa nobody can check?

For a long trip in the coldest months, or a holiday home where nobody can look in, either winterise the spa properly or arrange regular checks if you keep it running. Our guide to whether to empty your hot tub in winter walks through the choice. If in doubt, call Canadian Spa Company on 01293 824094 before you drain anything.

The week before you go

Top up the water and clean the filter

Water evaporates faster than you might expect, especially in cold, dry weather. If the level falls below the filter intake, the pump draws in air and the heater cuts out. On many spas a low-flow message such as dr or dRY shuts the spa down until someone resets it by hand, which nobody can do while you're away. Top up to the level shown in your owner's manual before you leave.

Rinse the filter at the same time, or replace it if it's due. Hard-shell filters last 6 to 12 months, and portable spa filters 4 to 6 weeks. A clogged cartridge is one of the most common causes of heating and flow errors.

Balance the water a few days early

Test pH, alkalinity and sanitiser three or four days before you go, not on the morning you leave, so there's time to correct anything and test again. Canadian Spa 3-in-1 Test Strips (£5.99) give a quick reading.

Sanitiser keeps being used up while you're away, even with nobody in the water. A Spa Floating Dispenser (£15) floats on the surface and releases chlorine at a steady rate, so a residual level stays in the water between doses. Fill it with Chlorine Tablets (800 g, £22) and set the opening following the supplied instructions. The tablets are made for floating dispensers, not manual daily dosing, and pH must be between 7.2 and 7.6 for them to work.

Lock the cover

Close the cover and fasten every strap, then lock the clips. A covered hot tub should never be left unlocked: nobody can see what's under the cover, so it's a risk to children, and a locked cover also keeps out rain, leaves and animals. If you use a cover lifter, lower the cover onto the spa rather than leaving it folded back.

Ask someone to look in

A neighbour or friend who checks on the spa once or twice a week makes a big difference, especially if frost is forecast. Ask them to check that:

• the cover is still strapped down
• the display shows a water temperature rather than an error message
• the water level looks normal when they lift one corner of the cover

Show them where the isolator is, and give them our number in case of a power cut in freezing weather. The advice then is to keep the cover on and call us on 01293 824094 before draining anything. Ask them never to open the control box.

Or check it from your phone

If your spa has a Wi-Fi-enabled Balboa BP control pack, the Balboa Control My Spa Wi-Fi Module (£269) lets you check and control the hot tub from your phone. You can see the water temperature and filter cycles from a distance, use Spa Lock to stop anyone using the spa while it keeps running its automatic functions, and set a schedule so the water is warm for the evening you get home. Our guide to the Balboa bwa smart spa app explains the setup.

When you get home

1. Switch back to Standard mode and set your temperature. With the cover on, the water warms at about 1 to 2°C an hour, so a spa left in Sleep mode can take a while to come back up.
2. If the display shows dashes instead of a temperature, the pump hasn't run recently. Turn the jets on and give it a couple of minutes for an accurate reading.
3. Check the water level and rinse the filter.
4. Test the water and adjust. If it looks dull or smells stale after a fortnight with the lid down, our cloudy hot tub water guide covers how to shock it and bring it back.

A quick going-away checklist

• Spa left powered, in Economy or Sleep mode
• Filter cycles at F2 or F4
• Water topped up to the right level
• Filter rinsed, or replaced if due
• Water tested and balanced a few days before you leave
• Floating dispenser filled
• Cover closed, strapped and locked
• Someone briefed to check on it, with our number

If you're not sure which settings your model uses, or how to prepare a spa for a longer trip, call Canadian Spa Company on 01293 824094.

One last note for when you're back in the water: you shouldn't use a hot tub while pregnant, and if you have a health condition, speak to your GP before you soak. The NHS website is the place for health advice; this article is about looking after your spa.