In California, more so than any other US state, owning a hot tub is a way of life. When you think about hot tubs, it's easy to envision a group of folks enjoying the experience on a beautiful California evening up in the hills overlooking San Francisco or Los Angeles.

The reason California and hot tubs seem to go together is, first of all, because it's true that many Californians own them. But beyond that, it also has to do with attitude. A lot of people have a perception about the people in California (especially around the big cities) that includes a laid-back attitude and enjoying a good party. Well, "laid-back" and "party" certainly describe the hot tub experience!

California is, of course, a big state that extends North-to-South. This means that residents of that state can literally go from heavy snow and frigid temperatures at one end to 100 degrees and desert at the other end - all in the same day. This unique climatic situation makes for different hot tub maintenance regimens.

In the Northern and mountainous regions of California, where colder weather sets in, hot tub owners have to guard against freezes. It's actually recommended that owners NOT drain their tubs during the coldest times of the year, for two reasons. First, residual water in the system will freeze much easier than a full tub, and that may lead to expensive damage. Second, what better time to use and enjoy your hot tub than when it's cold?