This is a great question, and believe me, you’re not the only one to ask it. Hot tub users have been asking this question since using a hot tub has been a thing.
“At what temperature should I keep my hot tub?”
“Is it better to lower the temperature after each use, or best to leave the tub at the temperature I prefer?”
“Should I turn it down when I go on vacation?”
All great questions! Let’s see if we can answer them.
Best Temperature
The best temperature to keep your hot tub is the temperature you prefer. (I know, that’s not surprising). Most hot tub users keep their hot tubs between 99°F to 102°F. That being said, many other users, and I’m one of them, prefer the maximum 104°F. Do not let these numbers fool you! If you’re walking around in the summer on a hot day, if we’re talking about ambient air the difference between 99°F and 104°F is negligible. But believe me, when you’re completely submerged in water you’re going to feel that difference!
Temperature Recommendations
If you’re just starting out, we always recommend a starting point of 101°F or 102°F. If you find these temperatures too hot, you might find 99°F or 100°F perfect. If you find these temps too cool, 104° should be just right for you. If you prefer to sit in a hot tub that is hotter than 104°F, I’ve got some bad news for you. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has determined that 104°F is the hottest temperature any hot tub can get to. There are a couple hot tubs out there that get up to 105°F and 106°F. To find those you’ll have to call your local hot tub dealers to see if they have them. You’ll also need to start saving money TODAY! They ain’t cheap!
(All drinks pictured with these AI models are N/A. Don’t drink alcohol when hot tubbing.)
Keep The Same Temperature, Or Leave It?
Now we’re talking about energy efficiency. I can’t count the number of times people have asked me about this. I always keep my hot tub at the temperature I want to use it, because when I want to use my hot tub, I want to use my hot tub! Some people use their hot tubs at 102°F, then turn the hot tub down to 95°F or even 90°F. Which is better?
Keeping your hot tub at the same temperature all the time is better. Always turning the temperature up and down and up and down causes more wear and tear on your equipment. It means more work for your heater element and also causes unneeded stress on your circuit board. I don’t know if you’ve ever needed to have your hot tub repaired, but hot tub repairs are expensive. The companies that build hot tub electronics and the companies that build hot tubs build them to maintain temperatures.
The exception to this rule is going on vacation. If you’re only leaving for the weekend, I wouldn’t bother dropping the temperature. If you’re leaving for a week or more, turning the temperature down could save you a few bucks.
Summer: Make Your Hot Tub A Cool Tub
The opposite of all of this is making your hot tub cool in the summer! Most modern hot tubs can be set as low as 80°F. What we recommend is turning your breaker off, draining about 12” of water, then filling your tub back up with your garden hose. When you turn the tub back on, set the temperature down to 80°. Keep in mind that when you’re just sitting in water, 80° can be pretty cold! You might find 85°F or even 90°F more comfortable. As an example, when I lived in Phoenix and it was 115°F outside, sitting in 97° water was very comfortable!
The main thing to remember when doing this is that it’s still a hot tub. It’s going to heat up again. Even if you don’t turn the heat up, the hot tub still needs to filter twice a day. When your tub is filtering there’s a motor running. The ambient heat of that motor running will slowly heat your hot tub back up. No worries though! Just turn the breaker off, drain that 12” of water and fill back up, and you’ll be right back into your cool tub!
To wrap up, and this should go without saying, if you have any heath issues at all be sure to consult your doctor before using a hot tub. If you have questions about what temperature to set your hot tub for children, again, check with your doctor! When I worked for a national hot tub company, at least a couple of times a year people would call or email to ask about hot tub safety concerns about their small children. Just to clarify, people were asking an hourly employee at a hot tub company about safety advice for their small children. Yikes, that’s bad parenting! Check with your doctor.
Thanks for reading!
Hot Tub Mark