Your Wave Spa Winter Guide: Covers, Water Levels & Maintenance

Winter-Proofing Your Wave Spa: Stop Pooling Water and Master Your Maintenance

Winter can be the absolute best time to own a Wave Spa. There is nothing quite like sinking into those warm, bubbling waters while the air around you is crisp and cold. But as the weather turns, your spa needs a little extra care to keep it running efficiently and safely.

One of the biggest winter challenges isn't just the temperature; it's the weather. Rain, sleet, and snow can quickly become a major problem for your spa cover, leading to damage and extra work for you.

Here are our essential winter tips, focusing on the simple solution to that annoying pooled water.

The Problem: Water Pooling on Your Cover

When rain or melting snow lands on the flat surface of your spa cover, it has nowhere to go. It gathers in the middle, creating a heavy pool. This pooled water does two very bad things:

1. It puts immense strain on your cover, causing it to sag, stretch, and eventually break or tear.
2. It creates a pocket of icy cold water that sits on top of your spa, actively working against your heater and costing you more in energy bills.

Scrambling to clear this heavy, icy water off your cover before you get in is no one's idea of relaxation.

The Simple Fix: The Inflatable Cover

The single best solution to this problem is an inflatable spa cover.

This isn't a replacement for your main insulated cover. Instead, it is a separate inflatable cushion that you place on the water underneath your main cover.

Its job is simple: it creates a dome shape, or a high point, right in the centre of your spa. When you place your main cover on top, it is no longer flat. It now has a slight, gentle slope from the centre down to the edges.

With this slope, any rain, sleet, or melting snow that lands on top simply runs off the sides and onto the ground. It cannot pool in the middle. This small addition protects your main cover from damage, keeps your spa insulated, and saves you a major winter headache.

Why Size and Shape Are So Important

You cannot just use any inflatable cover. Getting the right fit is essential for it to work properly.

• Get the Right Shape: Wave Spas come in different shapes. If you have a round spa, like the Atlantic, you must use a round inflatable cover. If you have a square model, like the Pacific, you need a square inflatable cover. Using a round cover in a square spa will leave the corners unsupported, allowing water to pool there instead.
• Get the Right Size: The inflatable cover needs to be correctly sized for your spa's dimensions. If it's too small, it won't create a high enough dome to be effective. If it's too large, it may not fit properly under the cover, potentially creating gaps at the edge where heat can escape. Always choose the cover that is designed to match your specific Wave Spa model.

  

  More Essential Winter Maintenance Habits

  A happy winter spa is about more than just the cover. Keep these habits up to ensure your spa is always ready for you.

  1. Manage Your Water Level

  This is perhaps the most critical winter tip. Your spa's heater and filtration system can only work if the water is above the minimum fill line.

  1. Check it often: Check your water level every few days.
  2. Keep it topped up: If the water level drops too low, the heater and pump may cut out or, in freezing temperatures, fail completely, leading to frozen pipes and catastrophic damage.
  3. Watch for high levels: After heavy rain or snow, your water level might be too high. This can dilute your chemicals and throw off your water balance. Drain a little water if it gets above the maximum fill line.

  2. Keep Your Filters Clean

  Your heater's efficiency depends on good water flow. In winter, your heater is working hard, and a dirty, clogged filter makes its job almost impossible. It restricts flow, forces the pump to strain, and can even cause the heater to cut out. Rinse your filter cartridges every couple of days if you are using the spa regularly.

  3. Stay on Top of Water Chemistry

  It may be cold, but your water still needs to be balanced. Test your sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) and pH levels regularly. Balanced water is not just for hygiene; it also protects your spa's components, especially the heater, from corrosion or scale build-up, ensuring it lasts for many winters to come.

  By paying a little attention to your spa's cover and its core maintenance, you can ensure it remains a reliable source of warmth and relaxation all winter long.