So this is our first winter with our stand alone tub. The other night temps dropped into the lower 20s with a lot of wind, and I noticed a few things.
First off, the cover got rather brittle, with the plastic clips not wanting to work so great.
Second, the tub has to work rather hard to maintain temp. It runs non stop if it's below freezing outside, and if it's windy out, the temp drops even with the heater running. We've been experimenting with just opening half the cover. That seems to help. Also, we leave it at 104, as hot as it goes.
Third, and this is the most disconcerting, water freezing on the steps and the concrete pad that the tub sits on. We are often drinking alcohol we are using the tub, and I'm worried about when me or others step out onto a glass-like sheet of ice getting out of the tub. It's quit slippery.
We don't want to use sand or salt, cause we don't want it tracked into the tub or house. I've considered getting rubber mats like what you'd find in a restaurant kitchen, but wont those just fill with water as well, and then freeze to the ground? Do ya'll put towels down?
How to you guys deal with the ice?
First off, the cover got rather brittle, with the plastic clips not wanting to work so great.
Second, the tub has to work rather hard to maintain temp. It runs non stop if it's below freezing outside, and if it's windy out, the temp drops even with the heater running. We've been experimenting with just opening half the cover. That seems to help. Also, we leave it at 104, as hot as it goes.
Third, and this is the most disconcerting, water freezing on the steps and the concrete pad that the tub sits on. We are often drinking alcohol we are using the tub, and I'm worried about when me or others step out onto a glass-like sheet of ice getting out of the tub. It's quit slippery.
We don't want to use sand or salt, cause we don't want it tracked into the tub or house. I've considered getting rubber mats like what you'd find in a restaurant kitchen, but wont those just fill with water as well, and then freeze to the ground? Do ya'll put towels down?
How to you guys deal with the ice?