Many people worry about making their hot tub too hot. And excessive heat can be dangerous, causing overheating or burns. But safety is just one piece of the puzzle. Learn about the remaining ones in this guide.
Why Is Hot Tub Temperature Important?
A good hot tub temperature goes beyond just feeling comfortable. Here’s why you should pay special attention to this number.
Relaxation
The ideal hot tub temperature will be just hot enough to make your body feel weightless and relaxed, without overwhelming your senses. This perfect level of warmth will help your muscles loosen up and your mind unwind.
Safety
People always ask – how hot are hot tubs? And the truth is, they can get much hotter than most realize. That’s why most hot tub manufacturers have a factory-set maximum temperature for their models. Go higher, and you risk overheating and even burning your skin.
Health Benefits
Relaxation alone is reason enough to use hot tubs regularly. However, most people enjoy indoor and outdoor hot tubs for their health benefits. But here’s the trick. Most of these benefits come from improved circulation. And this boost is your body’s natural response to the rising heat. This means that if you want to reap all the health benefits the hot tub offers, you must get the temperature just right.
The Ideal Hot Tub Temperature
All this talk about the importance of hot tub temperature leads us to the big question – what should a hot tub temperature be? The answer is a range – 37 to 40 degrees Celsius. For many users, the lower end of that range – 37 degrees Celsius – is the sweet spot.
Of course, it all depends on your personal preferences. Some people can simply tolerate heat better and don’t mind cranking it up closer to 40 degrees Celsius. Others, however, shouldn’t do that even if they can handle the heat. For certain individuals, such as those with heart conditions or pregnant women, staying at the lower end of the range is safest.
But here’s a guideline that applies to everyone. You should never cross the 40-degree Celsius mark. The British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) deemed this temperature the upper limit for safe hot tub use.
Guidelines for Minimum and Maximum Temperature
As mentioned, the BISHTA doesn’t recommend using a hot tub warmer than 40 degrees Celsius. This is the absolute maximum you should consider. And even at 40 degrees, you should be careful how long you stay in the hot tub. Staying for too long or spending time in water that’s too hot can lead to overheating, dehydration, and dizziness. It’s always best to listen to your body, but this time you should listen to the experts, too.
As for the minimum hot tub temperature, it should be around 26 degrees Celsius. Now, this temperature doesn’t exactly scream “hot tub.” However, it will be ideal for those looking for a gentler soak or using the hot tub in warmer weather.
Factors Influencing Ideal Temperature
The temperature plays a key role in maximising the therapeutic results of using a hot tub. Get this temperature right, and you can expect a whole host of health and wellness benefits.
Enhances Relaxation
The gentle heat. The massaging jets. The white noise. They all work together to turn your hot tub into the ultimate relaxation experience. Essentially, you get two treatments at once – heat therapy and hydrotherapy. The heat will ease muscle tension, while the jets will target pressure points. Put these together, and you get a stress-reducing spa treatment right in your home.
Improves Circulation
Let us explain what happens when you enter a hot tub. Your body temperature rises, triggering a response. This response is twofold – you start to sweat and your blood vessels dilate. This second part allows more blood to flow through your body, improving circulation. And that’s where the magic starts. Improved circulation is great for your cardiovascular health in and of itself. However, it will also help bring oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, helping them recover.
Ease Muscle Pain and Stiffness
As more blood reaches your soft tissue and muscles, they relax and loosen up. The buoyancy of warm water also helps relieve the tension in your muscles, with the jets practically massaging away the soreness. This makes the hot tub perfect for anyone leading an active lifestyle – whether through exercises or a physically demanding job.
Supports Joint Health
In water, you feel weightless. This significantly reduces the pressure on your joints. Add the healing heat into the mix, and you’ll see why people with chronic pain often turn to hot tubs for relief. People with arthritis, in particular, can immensely benefit from the combination of buoyancy and warmth. These benefits are recognised by the Versus Arthritis.
Boost Immune Function
You might not feel your core temperature rising, but your body certainly does. In fact, it perceives it as a threat – a mild fever. That’s why it activates its natural defences against infections. Since there’s no infection to fight, all this process does is give your immune system a boost. It essentially prepares it to respond better in the future.
Enhances Sleep Quality
A 2017 research project found that as many as 16 million U.K. adults suffer from sleepless nights. A whopping 31% of these nights are reportedly caused by insomnia. Such a consistent lack of sleep can adversely impact your physical and mental health. Soaking in a hot tub before sleep may help with this. It will help your body relax and prepare for sleep. And not just any sleep – deep, restful, and continuous sleep.
Promotes Detoxification
The heat from the hot tub makes you sweat and opens up your pores. This, in turn, helps remove toxins from your body. Combine the hot tub with other wellness routines – like massaging and light exercise – and you’ll amplify these benefits.
Mental Health Benefits
Your body will love the heat from a hot tub. But so will your mind. The combination of hydrotherapy and heat therapy will calm your mind, reducing anxiety and promoting mindfulness. It’s like having a meditation session but with an added bonus of warm water and – let’s be honest – bubbles.
Skin Health
Your skin is just another organ that benefits from the improved blood flow in a hot tub. As your skin gets fed regularly, it will start to glow more and look more youthful. Combine regular hot tub use with proper hydration, and your skin health should be at an all-time high.
Hot Tub Temperature: Seasonal Adjustments
Most manufacturers recommend setting your hot tub to a specific temperature and leaving it there for consistency. This will help reduce energy costs, as the hot tub won’t have to work hard to heat up every time you use it. That’s not to mention the added benefit of prolonging your hot tub’s life span. However, there are times when you should adjust this default temperature – seasonal changes.
So, what temp should a hot tub be in the winter? Just slightly higher than your usual setting for some cosy warmth. As you can probably guess, it’s the opposite in the summer – a cooler setting should give you a refreshing soak. As for the remaining two seasons – spring and autumn – you should try to match the outdoor conditions.
Tips and Benefits for Maintaining the Right Hot Tub Temperature
This guide has already answered your most burning question – what temp should a hot tub be? Now, let’s see how you can reach this ideal temperature.
- Invest in a reliable thermometer for accurate readings.
- Purchase a hot tub with proper insulation to minimise heat loss.
- Use a hot tub cover to preserve the heat inside the hot tub.
- Check the hot tub temperature regularly to avoid fluctuations.
Following these tips won’t be only beneficial to your health. Your hot tub – and your wallet – will thank you, too.
How to Avoid the Common Mistakes
So, you’ve got the answer to your question – what temperature should a hot tub be? However, this doesn’t mean you can’t still make mistakes. Read about the most common mistakes people make, so you can know how to avoid them.
Setting the Temperature Too High
A relaxing hot tub soak isn’t the time to push your body to its limits. Introducing too much heat can only cause dizziness, dehydration, and even burns. So, you should always stick to the recommended maximum of 40 degrees Celsius.
Setting the Temperature Too Low
It’s not called a cold tub, now is it? It’s understandable to fear extreme heat, but setting the hot tub temperature too low also won’t do you any good. You won’t experience the therapeutic benefits and you’ll just feel uncomfortable. To avoid this, you should keep your temperature above 26 degrees Celsius.
Neglecting Seasonal Adjustments
Bathing in 38-degree Celsius water sounds like a great idea. Well, at least until it’s 38 degrees Celsius outside. Adjusting your hot tub temperature by 2 to 4 degrees based on outdoor conditions will spare you the discomfort.
Not Using a Reliable Thermometer
Scientists. Meteorologists. Medical professionals. Those are some individuals who might be able to tell the temperature by simply feeling the air or water. The rest of us will need a thermometer. A high-quality, accurate one at that. Otherwise, you might create unsafe conditions for yourself.
Improving Maintenance of the Heating System
If your hot tub doesn’t work properly, you can’t expect it to maintain a regular temperature. That’s why you should take good care of your heat pump and other heating elements. This includes scheduling regular servicing.
Overlooking Insulation Needs
Once you reach the ideal hot tub temperature, you’ll want to keep it that way. Hot tub insulation will help you with this. This insulation should be both built-in and reinforced with a quality hot tub cover.
Failing to Consider User Demographics
You might have no issue tolerating high hot tub temperatures. But the same doesn’t necessarily apply to other users. Children, elderly people, and pregnant women will likely need a lower temperature. So, keep the users in mind when adjusting the temperature.
Adjusting the Temperature Too Quickly
For you, it might just be a few degrees. But for your hot tub, this can be immense stress. So, you should avoid making any temperature changes too quickly – drastic or not. Hot tubs are designed to heat up gradually, so you should respect that process.
Healing Heat
Getting the hot tub temperature just right can be nothing but beneficial. For your body, for your mind, and for the hot tub itself. You can help yourself reach this temperature easily by investing in a hot tub model with advanced temperature control features. Wellis can help you with this. With our premium hot tubs, you’ll have no trouble reaching – and maintaining – your ideal hot tub temperature. Throw some hot tub accessories into the mix, and make your soak the highlight of every day.