Who says hot tubs are for summer only? While the idea of submerging in water seems more appealing in the summer months, the feat holds therapeutic benefits for us in winter. Not only that, but hot tub baths are equally relaxing in winter as in summer.
Don’t let Colorado winter deprive you of the joy of outdoor bathing. Instead, use the best cold-weather hot tubs and make your season magical.
If you are worried about falling temperatures and their impact on your health or energy bills, use this guide.
Why Winter Hot Tub Soaks Are a Game-Changer
Most people winterize their hot tubs in freezing winters because of associated energy costs. After all, these tubs demand near-constant heating to pump hot water into the pipes and prevent freezing.
You must have strong reasons to justify these costs, right?
Interestingly, hot tubs offer significant health benefits to justify the winter energy costs associated with them.
Here are a few benefits of using hot tubs in Colorado Springs’ winter.
- Reduced Stress: These baths help you fight winter blues by balancing your neurotransmitters, relaxing your muscles, and helping blood circulation.
- Better Health: Soaking in warm water every day helps immunity and builds our cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health.
- Higher Cognition: First, these baths enhance our cognition by improving our sleep. Then, it increases thinking and reasoning by improving blood circulation to the brain.
- Strengthened Family Bonds: A hot tub soak offers a unique opportunity for family members to gather, unwind, and share meaningful conversations away from the distractions of daily life.
These reasons should be enough for you to convince yourself to continued use of your hot tub. If they aren’t, remind yourself that nowadays, you can easily find the best cold-weather hot tubs when you know the right manufacturer.
How to Enjoy Hot Tub Soaks In Colorado Winter?
Are you ready to prioritize your health over your financial concerns? Here is how you can continue using your tub in winter. Pay extra attention to getting the right hot tub and maintaining it if you want to use it in winter because of the extra risk associated with this use.
Choose the Best Hot Tub for Winter
Buying the right hot tub is the first step to ensure continued use of your outdoor spas, irrespective of the weather. Consider it the foundation of a quality spa experience for years to come. You must hunt for a hot tub that can function well in winter.
Insulation is the most crucial function you will want to check in these hot tubs. You can find options with full-foam insulation installed in the walls and floor. It ensures that once the water is heated, it will remain warm for a long time.
Other insulation options include partial foam and thermal wrap insulation. Although these two alternatives are more cost-effective than full-foam insulation, they aren’t worth their dime in Colorado winters. For the freezing winter of Colorado, pay extra and get full-foam insulated spas.
You should also pay attention to the accompanying hot tub cover. It should be sturdy and thick. You will also need to check its density. As a rule of thumb, a higher density indicates a higher insulation value, though it accompanies heavier cover to maneuver.
Add Extra Insulation to Stay Warm
The full-foam insulation for the walls and floor of your hot tub should combine with a dense cover to give reasonable insulation against freezing Colorado winters. However, you will want to maintain the temperature with an added insulating layer.
Many manufacturers recommend using a thermal blanket as an extra insulation layer. This blanket goes under your hot tub cover and floats over the water to trap heat and maintain the temperature level of water for prolonged periods.
Make sure your cover is ready for the winter. If it’s broken or brittle, replace it promptly. In addition to insulation, the cover will help maintain the pH level and chemical balance in the bath water by preventing snow and rain from falling into the tub.
Maintain Your Hot Tub Regularly
You need to clean your hot tub after every eight to twelve weeks. The start of winter is the best time to do that in Colorado if you don’t want to carry out the freezing task in the middle of the season.
Clean it thoroughly as you would for summer. Finish the scrubbing activity by filling the tub and checking its chemical balance. You will want to limit the use of jets in winter. If you insist on using them, remember to turn them off after the soak to ensure they don’t throw air into your hot tub, lowering the temperature.
A crucial concern for hot tub users in extreme weather is preventing freeze damage to their tubs. You can prevent this damage by regulating the flow of hot water to your tub. To do this, you need to set a 20 to 30-minute timer for your heater so it sends water at regular intervals.
Create a Cozy Surrounding
You don’t want to step out of your hot soak into freezing air, as this is distressing for your body.
- Make sure your hot tub is shielded against cold winds with screens or plants.
- Use heating lamps or heaters to heat the space to match the bath temperature.
- You can also use rugs to prevent stepping on freezing floors after a warm bath.
In winter, limit your soak to 20 minutes at maximum. Longer baths can dehydrate you more quickly in winter because of the potential loss of water from your body. To maintain hydration levels in your body, drink plenty of fluids, including hot beverages, and avoid alcohol consumption.
Summing It Up: Stay Warm, Relaxed, and Safe This Winter with Your Hot Tub
Hot tubs require careful maintenance in winter. If you choose to keep using them during the season, you must adhere to certain maintenance standards and take precautionary measures to avoid health risks and the potential for financial loss.
Establish a safe and enjoyable hot tub routine by limiting your soak time to a maximum of 20 minutes to prevent dehydration. Schedule thorough cleanings at the start of winter and every eight weeks thereafter to maintain water quality. Enhance your experience by hydrating before and during your soak with water or warm, non-alcoholic beverages.
Finally, create a cozy environment with rugs, heating lamps, or windbreakers to make stepping out of the hot tub in cold weather more comfortable.
