This remains a puzzling question for most hot tub owners or users. Most want to know how long one can stay in a hot tub without experiencing side effects.
When the water temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the recommended time to soak in a hot tub is 20–30 minutes.
In the course of this article, I will be clearly explaining all you need to know about this topic. Hopefully, all your questions will be answered.
Is 95 degrees OK for a hot tub?
To answer this question, you will need to factor in some variables. Age is one of them. The other is present weather conditions.
- Age: Different age groups and present health status can determine if staying in a pool at 95 °F (35 °C) will be okay. For children under 12, their cases are quite peculiar. Kids don’t sweat enough, so it isn’t advisable for them to dip in pools at high temperatures. With this in mind, 95°F is perfect for them. Other age groups shouldn’t find this a problem either.
- Weather conditions: The climatic conditions at any particular time can greatly affect what temperature to set it at.
During the summer, the air is warmer and you want a dip that can cool your body down. For this reason, a temperature of 95°F(35°C) is quite okay. This is below the normal body temperature. Due to this, entering water at that temperature can lower your body temperature by some degrees. This creates a cooling effect.
On the other hand, during the winter, there is a contrast. Winter temperatures can be quite low. As a result of this, you don’t want to go into water that is below your body temperature. Your body temperature normally ranges between 97.7°F (36.5°C) and 99.5°F (37.5°C). Hence, you will want to get into water that is a bit warmer. 95°F isn’t.
How long can you stay in a hot tub at 99 degrees?
99°F is very close to your body temperature. Due to this fact, it means you can remain in your hot tub for as long as you feel comfortable. The recommended time is 15–45 minutes in one stretch.
Your body perspires to lose heat and cool itself off. If temperatures are higher than this, this process can become quite difficult. You will find yourself requiring more water intake. Now, if your body can’t get enough water, it will have no choice but to trap the heat. This can raise your internal body temperature. In a short time, you begin to experience dehydration.
Can you keep the hot tub at 90 degrees?
Yes, it is very possible. Most hot tubs have a range of 85°F to 104°F. Because of this, you can turn down your tub’s temperature to 90 °F. This temperature is greatly preferred for summertime use.
As you must know, temperatures during the summer can be high, and you just need that perfect way to cool off. So, dipping in water that is 9 degrees below your body temperature will do wonders. In addition to this, during the summer, the tub will not experience any adverse effects.
During the winter, this doesn’t happen to be the case. In fact, it is the opposite. Naturally, you would want to dip in warmer waters, and 90°F is really not it. After a cold day, you want to experience a soothing and relaxing dip.
Entering water that is 9 degrees below your body temperature might not be it. Also, keeping your hot tub at this temperature during the winter is not wise. Water at this temperature can easily freeze over. This is because all it takes is some consistent low temperatures and your hot tub could be turned to ice.
What happens if you stay in a hot tub for too long?
Soaking in your spa or hot tub has lots of therapeutic and health benefits. After a long day, it could be the event that provides the soothing and relaxing effect you require; it could be what relieves stiffness and stress in your joints; or it could simply be what you need to warm yourself up after a very cold day.
But as with most things, moderation is key. When you soak in your pool for so long, you can begin to experience some adverse effects.
- Dehydration: When your body experiences heat, the body’s natural reaction is vasodilation in the blood vessels. For the uninitiated, vasodilation refers to widening blood vessels, especially those near the surface of the skin. The reason it does this is to expose more blood to the surface and, in the process, lose heat as it flows. This process continues till equilibrium is reached. In addition, another body response is sweating. This one, you should already be very familiar with. As you sweat, the water carries heat from the body. When it evaporates, this heat is lost and the body should cool. In a situation where your body is constantly under heat, you will begin to sweat just to get it to cool down. A point will be reached where the fluids in your body will get so depleted that dehydration sets in.
- Light-headedness: Due to the fact that your body is losing a lot of water, your blood pressure can drop considerably. When blood pressure drops, your heart can’t pump blood as well as it should. This means that organs like your brain don’t get enough blood supply. Another reason for this is that your heart begins to pump blood to your torso and extremities, because this is where heat can be lost faster. When this happens, light-headedness and drowsiness can set in. People have been known to faint after being in the hot tub for so long. This can lead to drowning and even, in some cases, death. This is why it is never advisable to stay in the tub for very long stretches.
- Nausea: Staying in the pool for so long can also cause nausea and stomach upset. This is because the brain is no longer getting enough blood. This can cause the centers responsible for appetite and feeding to malfunction. In addition, low blood pressure means that the tissues of the stomach are not getting enough energy to work.
Can you stay in a hot tub for 2 hours?
This is not really recommended due to some of the adverse effects discussed earlier. As a healthy adult, you could stay in a tub longer without experiencing most of those effects in that time frame. Though, you would do well to break that into intervals of 45 minutes.
However, if you have any underlying health conditions like heart disease or cardiovascular issues, you shouldn’t stay in the pool for more than 20 minutes at a stretch.
How long is too long in a hot tub?
You can stay in a spa as long as you feel comfortable. However, a rule of thumb is to soak for a 15–45 minute interval. This will prevent any adverse effects from occurring.
At what temperature should I keep my hot tub in the summer?
The majority of tub owners prefer to keep their tubs between 99°F and 102°F. However, during the summertime, you can lower yours to 85°F and you will be good to go.
What temperature should a hot tub be in the winter?
During the winter, higher temperatures are strongly recommended. Set your tub’s temperature to range between 97 °F and 104 °F. This is because the air is colder and you definitely want a warm bath. Also, this reduces the risk of your water freezing over in the pipes or tub when the weather gets really cold.
Is it OK to go in a hot tub every day?
Yes, it is. Hot tubs come with so many benefits, such as stress relief, physical and mental relaxation, and relief from stiff joints, etc. These benefits are better appreciated in the long term when the dips in the hit tub are more consistent.
Can you get hypothermia in a hot tub?
Yes, you can. However, this is dependent on whether the surrounding environment is quite cold. Though rare in the summer, this can very possibly happen in the winter. When you soak in a hot tub for a very long time, your body can overheat.
As a result, your body does its best to lose that heat, predominantly by vasodilation and sweating. When you get out of the tub, your body temperature will drop dramatically as the sweat evaporates. If this is during very cold weather, your body temperature can drop even farther, and you could be in trouble.
Can you fall asleep in a hot tub?
Yes, you can. As explained earlier, a prolonged stay in the pool can cause less blood to flow to the brain. When this happens, the brain begins to shut down. If the center responsible for alertness shuts down, you can begin to feel drowsy and eventually fall asleep.
