Who doesn’t love a relaxing soak in a hot tub? The warm water and powerful jets can instantly soothe even the hardest days. But when not used properly, hot tubs can transition from a place of peace to one of potential danger. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep you and your family safe.
Water safety is essential for every hot tub and swim spa owner.
In honor of May’s designation as water safety month, we want to share four tips to keep you enjoying your hot tub all year long with complete peace of mind in regards to your family’s safety.
4 Hot Tub Safety Tips
When thinking about your hot tub, it’s important to remember the four T’s of safety: temperature, time, test, and top.
Temperature of the Water
Understandably, high temperatures are one of the leading triggers of health incidents that occur in hot tubs. It is advised to keep the water no warmer than 104 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid increased risk of heat stroke.
Any hot tub used by children should be heated no higher than 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and children younger than five-years-old should completely avoid the hot tub.
One of the easiest ways to monitor this risk is simply a floating thermometer or one affixed to the side of the hot tub. By having an actual temperature gauge, you can confirm that the heat setting actually matches the temperature of the water.
Time in the Tub
Another common mistake people make when using hot tubs is spending far too much time in them! Hot tub sessions should generally be limited between fifteen minutes and half an hour. Children over the age of five are advised to soak for only five to ten minutes at a time, as their bodies cannot regulate temperature as well as adults.
Many hot tub models come with jet timers that can also be used to indicate how long you’ve been in the tub. Additionally, there’s always the option of a phone or watch alarm to let you know when you need to take a break.
Test the Water Quality
Hot tubs use substances like chlorine, bromine, shock, and pH balancers to keep the water clean and safe. However, these chemicals must be kept within a particular range. Too low and they’re not doing their job, which is to protect you from harmful germs, bacteria, and potential infection.
By keeping them too high, however, you’re putting any user of the hot tub at risk. Exposure to elevated chemicals can cause skin reactions or even lung issues if inhaled over extended periods of time.
That’s why it’s important to routinely test your water quality. There are at home kits, and many pool supply stores offer low or no-cost testing if you bring in a sample.
It’s also important to routinely test hot tub equipment. Improperly functioning drains or pumps have the potential to suck in body parts or even trap smaller children below the water’s surface. That’s why a secure drain cover is an absolute must and should be routinely checked for any vulnerabilities.
The Top is Secure
A major safety concern for any body of water is the potential for someone, especially a young child, to fall in. That’s why it’s important for a hot tub to always remain covered and secured when not in use. Other measures like cover locks can also be installed. Some homeowners may elect to have alarms, such a door ding, when a door near the hot tub opens to alert them.
Hot Tub Safety Recap
Tragically, preventable injuries and fatalities occur in pools and hot tubs every year, which is why spreading awareness during Water Safety Month is so vital. Anyone responsible for a hot tub or similar should always remember their four T’s: temperature, time, test, and top. By adhering to these simple yet effective safety protocols, your family can reap the benefits for the lifetime of the hot tub without constant worry of illness or injury.
Bring Home Luxury with a Hot Tub or Swim Spa
Start the summer season in comfort and luxury with a relaxing hot tub or swim spa right at home. With two convenient locations in Rochester Hills and Macomb, The Hot Tub Store makes it easy to browse a wide selection of Master Spas hot tubs and swim spas designed for relaxation, wellness, and family enjoyment.
As Michigan’s leading luxury swim spa retailer, our knowledgeable sales professionals are here to help you find the perfect model for your home, lifestyle, and budget. Visit The Hot Tub Store today or contact us to learn more!