How To Make Sure Your Hot Tub Is Always Safe To Use

If you’re lucky enough to own a hot tub, you won’t need me to tell you what a great investment it was, but do you know enough about safety when maintaining and using your tub?

Hot tubs are a fun and relaxing addition to any home, but in the wrong hands, they can also be dangerous. Whether you’ve just bought a hot tub and want to know how to install it correctly, to maintenance, and safety tips when using it, check out our Hot Tub and Spa Maintenance tips to make sure you always get the most out of your hot-tubbing experience:

Ensure your hot tub is safe to use

Before using your hot tub, you must take the time to check the sanitiser levels so that you can be sure the water inside it is safe and clean to use. Should you find that sanitiser levels are not high enough, you can add chlorine or bromine to the water, as per the manufacturers guidelines.

You should also routinely check the levels of PH and Total Alkalinity (TA), and adjust them using chemicals recommended in the user’s manual.

Additionally, get your hot tub serviced regularly to keep it in great condition for longer; protecting your investment and your tub time!

Get the temperature right

With a maximum temperature of 40⁰C and a minimum temperature of 26⁰C, it’s recommended that when using your hot tub for the first time, you begin with your own body temperature. The average body temperature of a normal person is around 37⁰C, and it’s worth remembering that this will go down when people get into the tub.

Don’t neglect the right chemicals

It’s easy for bacteria to grow in a hot tub if you don’t keep it topped up with the right chemicals, and you should watch out for water that has turned green, cloudy or foamy. If you have sensitive skin, you can try using bromine instead of chlorine, and if you don’t like the chemical smell they can leave behind, you can buy oxygen sanitisers.

Take care when entering your tub after chemicals have been added

Getting into your hot tub too soon after chemicals have been added can be harmful to your skin, and you should check with the user’s manual or the company you bought the tub from, before entering the water after the addition of any chemicals. Make sure that all of the chemicals added have thoroughly dissolved before getting in, and always test the chlorine levels.

Always think about hygiene

Regular maintenance of the water in your hot tub is essential if you’re to prevent the spread of infection, and keep the water free from bacteria. If you have recently been unwell (or are still unwell), or have an open wound or similar infection or sickness, it’s best to avoid using the hot tub until you are free of symptoms. You should also shower before using the tub, to avoid perfume and lotions affecting the water purity.

Keep the tub water clean

Regardless of how often you use your hot tub, keeping it clean between uses is the best way to stay safe, and help your tub live longer, too. Test the water periodically (or as per the users’ manual), clean the tub thoroughly (as often as recommended by the manufacturer), and maintain the cleanliness of both the tub and the water at all times to keep everyone using it, safe and happy.

For a hot tub deep clean, it’s best to hire a specialist company to carry it out, and while the frequency of this type of clean is dependent on how often you use the tub and how well you maintain it in between uses, most hot tub manufacturers recommend you do so at least every three months, while performing routine cleaning every month.