What Should I Do When My Hot Tub Is Frozen?
- First, disconnect power to the pump and heaters. In most cases, the fuse or circuit breakers protecting the electrical equipment will have tripped when the water started to freeze, but verify that power has been removed to prevent an electrocution hazard. Place a space heater or incandescent shop light in the pump compartment to begin slowly thawing the internal pipes.
- Hot tubs that have completely frozen should have all the water removed so the plumbing can be tested for leaks. Spa technicians carry special tools to circulate warm water into the block of ice, though homeowners may have to make do with cruder tools. Chip a pit into the center of the ice with an ice pick or shovel and pour in a kettle of steaming water. Remove the water when it cools with a bucket, a handheld pump or a wet/dry vacuum. A typical hot tub contains 300 gallons of water, so this process is time-consuming. If sunny weather in the forecast, wrap your tub with a solar pool to capture heat. At dusk, remove any liquid from the tub so it doesn't refreeze.
- Once water is removed from the basin of the tub, thaw and drain the internal pipes. Open the drain valve at the lowest point in the hot tub's plumbing. Your space heater may have heated the pipes enough so the water will drain; if not, use a heat gun. Some commercial heat guns get hot enough to melt the PVC pipe in your tub, so don't focus the heat on a single spot. Start from the drain valve and move slowly up the lines. Open pipe joints with a pair of pipe wrenches to facilitate drainage. Ice shouldn't harm the pump or heater, but open the junctions to and from the units to let them drain. Use your wet/dry vac to blow air through spa jets to drive out moisture.
- When you're confident you've removed all ice, it's time to check for damage. PVC pipes are likely to crack when frozen and must be replaced or patched. Check your pump by switching it on for a few seconds to listen for activity. Cracks in the body of the hot tub must be patched from both sides with an epoxy or fiberglass resin. After a visual inspection, begin refilling the tub to check for leaks. Huge leaks will be immediately visible. Track down smaller leaks by adding a dark food coloring to the water.