Water Temperature
There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in a warm hot tub at the end of a long day. But everyone seems to like a different temperature for their water. Some like it almost scalding while others prefer it luke warm.
Whatever the case, it will take a little bit of experimenting on your part to achieve just the right temperature.
Safety is a top concern. Many of today’s modern hot tubs come with a limiter that prevents the temperature from getting higher than the CDC’s recommended 104 degrees F. It’s best to keep a separate thermometer, too, just to confirm what the hot tub itself is saying – before you get in.
Why Does Temperature Matter?
Health issues can arise with temperatures that are too high.
When your body temperature gets higher than 103°F, you could develop hyperthermia, with symptoms including:
- Heat rash
- Heat stroke
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
This risk is compounded for seniors, small children, pregnant women, and anyone with a chronic illness. Even if you’re in the best of health, it’s not advisable to spend a long time in hot water. Talk to your doctor before using a hot tub, especially if you have high blood pressure, any kind of heart condition, diabetes, or think you could be pregnant.
Can Kids Use the Hot Tub?
Because small children don’t have the same tolerance for heat as adults do, the CDC says kids under five should not use hot tubs. Older kids shouldn’t stay in longer than five minutes and should not fully immerse. Have a timer nearby to make sure no one goes over the limit.
Getting the Perfect Temperature
It may take a few adjustments before you reach your optimal temperature. Start off with your normal body temperature of 98.6, then slowly increase till you feel comfortable.
You may wonder if you should put the heater lower when not in use, to save money on energy. But this can actually use up more energy and cost you more. When you have to reheat the tub each time, this burns energy and strains your unit. It’s best to keep it at a consistent temperature for best results. You can, however, lower it if you’re headed on vacation, for instance.
Advantages of a Low Temperature
- Safer for kids, seniors, and pregnant women.
- Ability to use hot tub to cool down on hot summer days.
Drawbacks
- The water could freeze in winter.
- You can’t get the same stress-reducing effects with cooler temperatures.
- Can’t use the unit on cooler nights.
In the end, you need to achieve a good balance of comfort, safety, and energy usage when achieving the optimal hot tub temperature.
Got more questions about hot tub temperature? Get in touch with Central Jersey Pools now.