What is the perfect water temperature for hot tubs in the UK?
There are few things in life that really come close to the relaxing feeling of getting into the warm and soothing water of a hot tub, especially in the United Kingdom with our unreliable weather! After a stressful day at work or when you’ve got sore muscles and joints, submerging your whole body underwater feels incredibly soothing and wonderfully de-stressing!
However, there is a surprising amount of debate over the perfect water temperature for hot tubs that are installed in the UK. Some like to crank it up to the maximum and almost boil in the water, while others prefer a more comfortable and cool temperature. UK climactic conditions, whether hot, cold or damp, can influence the decision to an extent!
Standard temperatures
The vast majority of hot tub control systems will go to a maximum of 40º Celsius. But at the other end of the scale, freeze protection will usually kick in and initiate the hot tub’s pumps and blowers when the temperature goes below 7º C, as this prevents the water from freezing.
Therefore, these are generally the boundaries that your preferential hot tub temperature can fall between. Most hot tubs in the UK will likely be delivered and installed with the temperature set at 38º C, as this is nice and warm yet comfortable enough to get in at. This is naturally because it is similar to the normal temperature of the human body.
Feeling hot hot hot
For safety reasons, hot tubs cannot go any hotter than 40º C. However, this is usually plenty hot enough for the average user. On colder days and nights when your hot tub is set at this level, the water temperature will typically drop a couple of degrees within an hour because of the outdoor conditions.
But if for any reason your hot tub exceeds the maximum temperature, it is not fit for use and should be avoided. The last thing you would want to do would be to have your guests skin scalded when they were hoping for a nice relaxing bathe!
Using a hot tub in excess of 40º C can be dangerous, so you should ask for help from someone who can provide advice on how to fix the problem or come out and perform a repair themself.
Cooling down
Even though they are called hot tubs, these pools of water are perfect for cooling down in the summer as well. As long as it is kept clean and sanitised, there is no reason why you can’t chill out in the summer sun surrounded by satisfyingly cool water as you would in a swimming pool for instance.
What’s more, people with tight muscles or those who have just completed some vigorous exercise often prefer to bathe in a cold tub anyway. Professional athletes frequently take ice baths after their sporting activity, as this can prevent soreness and help muscles to recover faster, keeping them in tip top condition and ready for their next physical trial!
Health precautions
People with health concerns such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are advised to consult a doctor in regards to the safest hot tub temperature. They may even give you a time restriction as well.
Pregnant women also need to be very careful in a hot tub, as extended periods of time in overly warm water can lead to problems with the baby. Most recommend that temperatures do not exceed 38º C and sessions should be restricted to 20 minutes. But again, speaking to a doctor or medical professional is advisable.
When thinking about Hot tubs, either in the UK or further afield, there is some useful information on the website at Hot Spring World – click here for more information.