How to use a Lay-Z-Spa in winter

One of the greatest advantages of owning a Lay-Z-Spa is that it is an inflatable hot tub and you can pack it away and easily set it up again when convenient. But what if you don’t want to pack it down after summer? Can you use an inflatable hot tub in winter? Yes - and it's great!

Using your Lay-Z-Spa in winter is undeniably the most rewarding time to do so. The contrast of the cold outside air against the luxurious 40°C heat of the water is pure bliss and it has benefits to health and wellbeing too. People have been using natural hot springs in the winter months for thousands of years and owning a hot tub means that you can reap the benefits of this in your own home. With Freeze Shield™ as standard with all our new models, it is now easier than ever to use your Lay-Z-Spa in winter.

How often will you use your Lay-Z-Spa in winter?

There are different ways of setting up and maintaining your inflatable hot tub for effective use during the colder months. Follow our steps below on how to setup your Lay-Z-Spa for use all year round. If you’re not planning on regularly using your hot tub in winter, our advice is that it is probably best to pack it away.

Frequent use

If you are going to make the most of your Lay-Z-Spa this winter then you’ll want to keep your water heated. Some users leave theirs on at 40°C all the time and others drop it down and turn it up a few hours before use.

Infrequent use

If you are only going to occasionally use your Lay-Z-Spa throughout the winter months it might be best to turn off the heat.  Keep your chemicals topped up, lid on and Freeze Shield™ will ensure your water and pump don’t freeze. Set your desired temperature a day or two before you plan on using it and the rapid heating system will heat your water.

Setting up a Lay-Z-Spa to use in winter

If it is 10°C or less outside, keep everything indoors at room temperature for at least 2 hours prior to setup. Next, inflate the liner indoors, then take it to your desired position outside. To save on heating up time, fill with water from the hot tap (ensure the water is no hotter than 40°C and that you have added a thin layer of cold water to the spa first), and attach the pump.

If you can, set up your Lay-Z-Spa on a raised platform, like decking or decking tiles, to keep it off the cold hard floor which will suck the heat out from the base. We also recommend you insulate the base with one of the Lay-Z-Spa floor mats.

Position your hot tub in a sheltered location preferably with a cover or a roof. This reduces wind chill and protects from the elements. Many year-round Lay-Z-spa users tend to place their hot tub in a customised shed or solid gazebo or sometimes build fully custom surrounds. Get inspiration from our Pinterest board.

Using A Lay-Z-Spa in winter

If you don’t have a pump with Freeze Shield™, leave your pump on at a slightly lower temperature (or 40°C, it's up top you) and have the filter on. This will maintain a constant temperature and is the most energy-efficient way of keeping the Lay-Z-Spa running. Simply increase the temperature before you want to use your Lay-Z-Spa.

Keep the top cover and inflatable lid on your hot tub to hold that heat in. Some users add insulation to the outside of their Lay-Z-Spa. You can get a Lay-Z-Spa thermal cover that easily fits over your hot tub and will help prevent heat loss.

Once you are set up and ready to use your inflatable hot tub in winter, you can find more useful tips and advice in our Looking After Your Lay-Z-Spa in Winter blog. You may also be thinking about energy costs, we are the most energy-efficient hot tub brand, but there's always more you could be doing. Have a look at our 10 Ways To Reduce Hot Tub Running Costs blog.