Knowing the ideal hot tub temperature will set apart an uncomfortable and ineffective spa experience from a truly relaxing one. And more so, prevents a life-threatening situation from occurring. Whether it is for hydrotherapy, relaxation, massage, or just pure pleasure, immersing oneself in a hot tub to relieve stress, pain, or feel good has been a popular trend over the years.
According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the ideal hot tub temperature is 102 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the average temperature range for hot tubs is between 100oF and 104oF for healthy adults, and 100oF – 102oF for pregnant women.
The perfect hot tub temperature can only be more specific depending on the purpose of use, time, or user’s preference. Also, age and user’s health condition are determining factors for the best hot tub temperature.
What is a comfortable temperature for a hot tub?
A temperature where you do not feel like you are gradually being cooked or the water temperature seems not to drop now and then is a comfortable temperature for your hot tub. Most users of hot tubs find temperatures between 100oF – 102oF to be very comfortable. However, comfortable Spa temperature is likely to change depending on the time of the year.
Ideal hot tub temperature in degree Celsius
If you happen to be using the Celsius temperature unit. The ideal hot tub temperature falls within 37oC – 40oC. Depending on what season of the year, what time of the day, and personal preference; the precise ideal temperature is bound to vary.
Is 40 degrees hot enough for a hot tub? Yes.
A temperature of 40oC is hot enough for a hot tub. This is equivalent to 100oF, which is 4 degrees Fahrenheit below the recommended maximum limit of 104oF. Any temperature above 40oC is more than hot enough for a hot tub and considered unsafe by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). So try to keep it below 40 degrees Celsius whenever you use your hot tub.
Is 110 degrees too hot for hot tub? Yes
The recommended hot tub temperature maximum limit by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Above that, there is the certainty of having damages to health and skin. Hot tubs are built with an inbuilt limiter installed to prevent the water temperature from exceeding the recommended limit. But some older models can be adjusted to be above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. But why risk it?
Exposure to temperatures as high as 109.4oF for a long time causes burns and damages to the skin. Higher temperatures require lesser time exposure to cause severe burns – from minutes to as low as milliseconds. So, it is highly advisable to keep your hot tub temperature within the upper recommended limit of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
What temperature is too cold for hot tub? Temperature below 78.8oF
While the general hot tub temperature range is between 90oF – 104oF – going below is possible. Temperatures below the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) limit of 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit are considered too cold and harmful. Soaking in such a cold tub increases the body’s hypothermia rate, which is the loss of body heat.
The majority of hot tubs today have installed safety limiters for high temperatures as well as low temperatures to prevent water from exceeding the recommended temperatures.
What is the minimum temperature for hot tub? 80 degrees Fahrenheit
The safe minimum hot tub temperature as regards human health is 78.8F. Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
To prevent your tub from freezing in cold months and deteriorating over time, 80F is the recommended minimum temperature.
Good hot tub temperature for kids
Before thinking about a good hot tub temperature for kids, you have to consider if hot tubs are safe for kids. A box-shaped bucket reaching up 36 – 42 inches high, filled with warm water to a depth of about 31 – 36 inches, is no doubt not a safe playing space for kids. But nothing beats having a fun experience with your family in your free time. Especially, relaxing in your hot tub with your kid playfully splashing water over you.
If your kid is 5 years or below, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), recommends a “do not try this” action. This is based on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) pool and spa report indicating children under the age of 5 constituted 75% of fatal drowning and 76% of non-fatal drowning injuries.
Now, if your kid is old enough and you feel it is safe enough for your kid to splash with you, then you can go ahead to adjust to the best hot tub temperature for your kid. The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) recommends that good hot tub temperature for kids is at 98 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly below.
however, you should note that children do not dissipate much heat as adults do. So, you need to consider the following safety points:
- It is advisable to limit soak time to 5 minutes.
- Also, try as much as possible to limit full-body immersions for your kid.
- Let them sit on something to raise them high. They should be dangling their legs in the water than standing fully in it. That way, they can stay a little longer in the hot tub; say 10 – 15 minutes.
- Give them water to drink at regular intervals to prevent dehydration.
- And always use the hot tub safety cover when not in use, to prevent kids from entering without supervision.
Hot tub temperature in summer
During summer, the overall temperature of an area or region is bound to be at its highest. So, soaking oneself in warm water is not a comfortable option when there is heat. But at the right timing and temperature, one can still achieve relaxation in hot tubs during the hot summer season.
The best hot tub temperature in summer is from 95 degrees Fahrenheit down to 85 degrees Fahrenheit or even below, depending on the temperature at the time of the day. This temperature range is ideally below the average normal body temperature of 97 – 99 degrees Fahrenheit. And thus, a cooling effect on the body is guaranteed and chances of relaxation are greatly increased.
To have a more precise hot tub temperature in the summer season, the time of the day has to be considered. Temperature varies at different times of the day. It is hotter during the day, especially within noon when the Sun is high up; but cold during night time. So depending on what time of the day you need a soak, the hot tub temperature is lowered or increased within the ideal hot tub temperature range in summer.
Hot tub temperature in winter
If you would ask me, I think hot tubs were made for winter. What an experience to be able to relax in the open, with almost nothing on, during the cold days of winter and still feel warm. A very unique feeling indeed. But then, you have to get the temperature right, or the experience you are looking forward to would turn to something else. So, what is the right hot tub temperature during winter?
First, what do you need to consider when choosing the desired temperature, and how do you know the best temperature?
Your average normal body temperature during winter is 98.6oF (or like I said earlier, within the temperature range of 97oF – 99oF). This temperature range is higher than the average winter temperature range of about 33.2oF. Remember, the temperature can vary, depending on what location/city you find yourself in. An ideal Spa temperature should be warmer than your normal average body temperature. And thus, a good hot tub temperature in winter should be between 100oF to 104oF.
It is good to note that the body regulation system of the human body, works based on what it perceives to be the temperature outside the body. If this data is wrong, then surely the actions taken by your body to regulate your body temperature are going to be a wrong course of action. So, limit your soak time, 30 minutes at best for winter, even if you are feeling way too good already. Simply put, you have to help your body to help you.
Hot tub temperature and bacteria
So much fun, breathtaking relaxation experiences, and more, but at the expense of what? At the expense of exposure to harmful microorganisms, if your hot tub is not properly managed. Without proper hot tub care, your most cherished hot tub could become a relaxation center for microbes (viruses, bacteria, and fungi). Most microbes thrive on wet and warm surfaces, which make your hot tub a good habitat if not well taken care of.
The most common and harmful of these bacteria is Legionella. Legionella is a bacteria that can cause a severe type of lung infection called Legionnaires’ disease. It can also cause Pontiac fever, which is a milder illness without lung infection. There are also some chlorine-resistant microorganisms like the Cryptosporidium parasite (known simply as Crypto) which causes increased chances of contracting diseases.
These health hazards can be reduced through regular cleaning and water care system. So whether you are using a saltwater care system or chlorine-based system; remember some microorganisms are resistant to this treatment. So always clean and keep your hot tub covered when not in use to prevent them from entering in the first instance.
Best temperature for hot tub when not in use
The state of your hot tub before, during, and after use is very important to the life of the hot tub and your health as well. Even when leaving your home for vacation or during inactive use of your hot tub, you need to plan for your hot tub. In addition to the water chemistry of your hot tub, the temperature of your hot tub during inactive use is equally important.
Of course, you are not going to leave your hot tub on for a long period of inactivity. I believe the best practice is to always turn it off.
But if you are going to be using your hot tub regularly at near time intervals, as a daily morning-and-night kind of routine, turning off your hot tub is not a good idea. The next time you turn it on, it is going to consume a lot of power and time heating the water to get to your desired running temperature.
Moreover, you do not want to be kept waiting when all you want to do at that moment is soak in the hot tub. So, it is best when your hot tub is not in use, to leave it on and drop the temperature by 5 degrees below the current running temperature. That way, it quickly gets to the desired temperature without consuming much power. That is energy-saving at its best.
Also during winter, water in your hot tub pipes can freeze when not in use due to very cold outside temperatures, and increase the chances of your tub pipes bursting or not functioning efficiently.
Is it going to be a long while before your next hot tub use? Going out of town or off for a vacation? Then turn it off completely and unplug from the power source. And of course, be sure to drain out water from the tub and pipes especially during winter. Remember freezing pipes?
Conclusion
An ideal hot tub temperature is not a single temperature, but a range and series of temperatures you find to suit individual fancy at varying times. These varying conditions can be health conditions, weather conditions, etc. Pregnant women are not advised to soak at certain periods into pregnancy to prevent health hazards to the fetus. So it is best to take note of what works best for you or whoever is sharing the tub with you at a particular time.
