Steam rising off warm water on a frosty night is the best part of owning a hot tub. It is also when a tub costs the most to run, and when a cheap air wall shows its limits. Plan for winter before you buy, and the tub stays useful from October to April.
The wall decides your winter
Heat leaves a tub through the lid, the wall and the floor. You control the lid and the floor. The wall you choose when you buy.
| Wall type in our data | Examples | What the maker claims |
|---|---|---|
| Foam wall | Lay-Z-Spa Toronto, Carrara, Stockholm; Wave Tahoe 4, Garda 6 | Up to 60 % more efficient |
| Frame with insulation layer | MSpa Denver, Aero Plus (TempXcel) | Insulation between shell and liner |
| Inflatable with insulated liner | Lay-Z-Spa Rome, New York, Santorini, Maldives, San Francisco | Up to 40 % more efficient |
| Plain inflatable wall | Lay-Z-Spa Miami, Paris; Intex PureSpa range | No insulation claim |
Those percentages are the makers' own claims, not our measurements. Still, the direction is clear: solid foam holds heat far better than air.
Our winter picks
- Lay-Z-Spa Toronto (£700): foam wall, heater in the wall, app control, 190 cm across. The top score on the site at 7.5.
- Lay-Z-Spa Carrara (£725): the same foam wall and heater in a 170 cm tub. 4.5 stars from 36 reviews.
- Wave Garda 6 (£1,210): square foam tub, 1,100 litres. Wave quotes about £2 a day to hold 40 °C.
- MSpa Denver (£1,230): a frame tub with a TempXcel layer and water jets.
On a budget, the Wave Pacific 4 (£400) and Wave Atlantic 6 (£570) both have a heater in the wall and a FrostFree mode. The Atlantic 6 comes in an EnergySave bundle with a PU-insulated foam core, thermal cover and floor mat.
Stopping the water from freezing
Frozen water in the pump, heater or pipes can split them. Ice in the tub itself puts strain on the liner.
- Keep the tub running. A heated tub with its pump cycling will not freeze.
- Use a freeze-protect mode if your tub has one. Wave's FrostFree mode runs the heater when the water nears freezing.
- Do not switch off and leave it full during a cold spell. If you must switch off, drain it fully.
Cutting the winter bill
- Lid on and strapped down every time. Most heat escapes through the top.
- Clear snow off the lid so it does not sag and let heat out.
- A thick mat under the tub. Cold ground draws heat out all day.
- Block the wind. A fence, screen or hedge on the windward side.
- Hold a steady temperature instead of letting it drop and reheating. Reheating 1,000 litres from 5 °C to 38 °C takes 38.3 kWh before any losses. See how long a hot tub takes to heat.
- Heat on off-peak electricity with app control. See the best wifi hot tubs.
- Drop a few degrees when you go away for a weekend.
Our running costs guide shows the sums.
Getting in and out safely
- Ice on the steps and the path catches more people than the water does. Grit the route and put down a non-slip mat.
- Have a towel and dressing gown within arm's reach. The walk back is the cold part.
- Keep sessions sensible. Hot water and cold air feel great together, which makes it easy to stay in too long. Get out if you feel light-headed.
- Skip alcohol in the tub. Heat and alcohol both lower your blood pressure.
Water care in winter
Warm water still needs sanitiser in winter, even if you use the tub less. Keep testing two or three times a week. Leave the lid open briefly after shocking, then close it. See hot tub chemicals for beginners.
When to pack it away
If you will not use the tub for several weeks, drain it fully, dry every part and store an inflatable indoors. Damp rolled-up liners grow mould, and frost damages a wet pump. Foam-wall and frame tubs usually stay up all year; follow the maker's manual for draining.
Quick answers
Is a plain inflatable usable in winter? Yes, but it costs more to keep warm and heats slowly from cold. Fine for the odd weekend, expensive for every night.
What temperature should I keep it at? Many owners hold 37 to 38 °C and lift it a degree or two before use. Lower holds cost less.
Does a heater in the wall help? It removes the pump box from the patio, so less heat escapes from exposed pipes, and it is one less thing to cover.
For more on the base and the spot, read hot tub base options and inflatable, foam or frame.
