Does It Hurt to Leave a Hot Tub Empty for a While?

If you're thinking about draining your hot tub and leaving it empty for an extended period, you may be wondering if it can cause any damage.

The short answer is yes. While leaving a hot tub empty for a day or two during maintenance is perfectly fine, leaving it empty for weeks or months is generally not recommended, especially in areas that experience freezing temperatures or extreme heat.

Seals and Gaskets Can Dry Out

Many of the rubber seals and gaskets inside your spa are designed to stay lubricated by water. When a spa sits empty for long periods, these components can dry out, harden, and eventually begin leaking once the spa is filled again.

The Shell Can Become Stressed

The water inside your hot tub doesn't just provide relaxation—it also helps support the shell.

When left empty for long periods, especially during hot summer months, the shell can be exposed to excessive heat. Over time, this may contribute to stress, warping, or even delamination in some situations.

Pumps Can Seize

Even after draining a hot tub, a small amount of water often remains inside the pump's wet end.

If that water sits for an extended period, corrosion can develop around the impeller and pump housing. We've seen pumps become locked up after sitting unused for long periods, requiring repair or replacement before the spa can be used again.

Water Left in the Plumbing Can Cause Problems

Draining a hot tub doesn't always remove all of the water from the plumbing.

If water remains trapped inside the pipes, it can become stagnant over time, allowing biofilm, mold, or mildew to develop within the plumbing system.

Freezing Temperatures Can Cause Extensive Damage

If you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, leaving a hot tub empty without properly winterizing it can become a very expensive mistake.

Water left inside the plumbing can freeze, expand, and crack pipes, manifolds, pumps, heaters, and other components. These repairs are often extensive and, in some cases, may cost more than the spa is worth.

However, leaving a hot tub empty for an extended period is generally not recommended.

The Bottom Line

Leaving a hot tub empty for an extended period is generally not worth the risk.

Whether it's dried seals, stressed shells, seized pumps, or freeze damage, long periods without water can lead to costly repairs.

If you won't be using your spa for a while, it's usually best to either:

Keep it filled, balanced, and circulating, or

Have it properly winterized if it will remain out of service during freezing weather.

Taking the proper steps now can help prevent expensive repairs later and keep your hot tub ready when you're ready to enjoy it again.

From Our Experience in the Field

Over the years, we've seen this happen many times. A homeowner drains their hot tub at the beginning of summer or decides they'll "fill it back up later." Months go by, and when they're finally ready to use it again, the spa has developed leaks, seized pumps, or other problems that require repairs before it can be used.

Here in Los Angeles, we're fortunate that freezing temperatures are rarely a concern. However, our hot summers can still take a toll on a spa that's left empty for extended periods. We regularly see dried seals, leaking plumbing, and other issues that could have been avoided.

What Can You Do Instead?

During the Summer

If you don't want to use your spa because the water is too hot, simply lower the temperature to 85°F–90°F and enjoy it as a cool-off tub. Just because your hot tub can heat to 104°F doesn't mean it has to stay there. Lowering the temperature lets you continue enjoying your spa during the warmer months.

If You Won't Be Using It at All

If you don't plan on using your spa during the summer or winter, set the temperature to around 80°F and allow the spa to continue running.

During the summer, the heater will rarely turn on because the water is already warm. During the winter, maintaining 80°F helps prevent the water from freezing and causing damage. Continue testing and balancing the water as you normally would, but maintenance is usually easier since no one is using the spa.

If Your Spa Is Waiting for Repairs

If your spa has stopped working and you're waiting for parts or repairs, we generally recommend keeping the spa filled until the repair begins.

If the repair requires the spa to remain drained overnight or for a few days, consider adding about 1 inch of water to the bottom of the spa or on the seats and keep the cover closed. As temperatures rise during the day, some of that moisture can condense inside the spa and help keep the shell, seals, and gaskets from drying out.

While this isn't a guaranteed way to prevent seals and gaskets from drying out, we've found it's often better than leaving the spa completely empty.