Is Your Hot Tub in the Path of a Hurricane or Tropical Storm?
Your hot tub is probably the least of your worries if your area is threatened by a hurricane or tropical storm. But whether you are evacuating or staying put there are a few chores to add to your list if you own a hot tub. At the top of the list is electrical:
Hurricane Hot Tub Electrical Chores
If you are evacuating you are probably already shutting off your main breaker to the house. Be sure to include the hot tub breaker at the main panel as well. (In fact, a good practice is to turn all circuit breakers off.) When you return and your power is restored, you don’t want the hot tub to come on just because you’ve turned on the main breaker.
If you are not evacuating, always, turn off the breaker to your hot tub. If you loose power completely, when it is restored, you do not want your hot tub to come on without your observation. There are often intermittent power outages and surges during a storm. You really don’t want to put your hot tub through those electrical surges and voltage drops. Turning off the breaker is the thing to do.
Starting Your Hot Tub After the Hurricane
Before the hot tub is energized after a storm you will want to inspect it for damage, and signs of flooding before you energize. You also will want to observe it’s start up procedures. If you believe your hot tub equipment area has been flooded, Do not energize the hot tub circuit at all. You can usually tell this by the debris line or water line in the equipment area. If there are signs that pump motors or control systems have been underwater DO NOT ENERGIZE. The equipment is most likely ruined and will have to be replaced.
Don’t energize your hot tub If the area around the hot tub still has standing water. You want to be sure that the area is dry before attempting a start up. Electrical shock can occur if there are problems with the hot tub equipment. Again, check for water levels at the equipment area before attempting a start up.
Protecting Your Hot Tub BEFORE the storm.
First of all.. do not drain your hot tub! In fact, leave it full. You want the weight of it. It may overflow but that’s better than it blowing over. Cover it tightly with your hot tub cover. Don’t just rely on the the locking straps. Reinforce the locking straps on the spa cover with additional ratcheting straps to hold it in place. These straps should be placed length and width and possibly doubled up. You want to try and keep wind from getting under the spa cover. If you have a tarp or an over cover, be sure it is tightly strapped down around the outside edge. Hot tub covers easily become giant flying objects that can damage your home or your neighbors home. Tie it down tight! If for any reason you can not secure your hot tub cover, Your best bet would be to bring it inside so it does not become a hazard if it blows off.
Hot Tub Water Chemistry Before the storm
It can’t hurt to add a little chlorine bleach or granular sodium dichlor to the tub before you leave. This is not critical as the tub may need to be drained after the storm but it is a supply of water that you may be grateful to have as a fresh water source for flushing toilets etc. upon your return.
Protecting Your Hot Tub From Windblown Debris
The standard practice of picking up all objects from your yard is important when trying to protect your hot tub. Obviously, in the worst case scenarios there will be flying debris in the air no matter what you do at your own property. But even though a hurricane may threaten you, you never really know where exactly it’s going to come ashore. The Hurricane Flags can be flying for your area and you may fear a direct hit, but 10 miles can make huge difference in the severity of a hurricane over your house! You always want to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. There is nothing you can do about the 100 year old oak tree that succumbs to the hurricane forces and lands on your hot tub. But, you can keep your trash cans, lawn furniture potted plants etc from battering your house or hot tub in a more minor storm event.
Prayers and Best Wishes to all Readers!
I know you wouldn’t be here at all, if you weren’t being threatened by a hurricane. My best wishes to you. Please let me know your experiences of the storm.. As a Florida native, I’ve prepared for 12 storms in my life, and never experienced a direct hit. I’ve had power outages, wind and rain, trees down but never serious damage. I pray your experience is the same!
Beclecto
