How can I make my hot tub hotter?
You can make your hot tub hotter by setting the temperature to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and allowing the pumps to run throughout the day. Adding a water heater will also increase the temperature of the water rapidly. Keep your hot tub cover on while heating. It should only take 1-2 hours to reach its maximum range after the water is above 72 degrees.
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If you own a hot tub, you’d agree that the best way to end a hectic day is by taking a soak in the perfectly heated hot tub. But new hot tub owners might struggle on how to make a hot tub hotter in their first few weeks.
And sometimes, even experienced hot tub owners can face challenges setting the proper temperatures for their unit.
The correct temperatures on your equipment with the bubbling and jetting water are the reasons we fall into deep relaxation and absolute bliss when soaking. Therefore, knowing how to set the appropriate temperatures is very critical.
In this article, I’ll talk more about how to make your hot tub hotter.
Let’s get started!
How To Make a Hot Tub Hotter
You can make your hot tub hotter by setting the temperature to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and allowing the pumps to run throughout the day. Running the pumps will add circulation and ambient heat. Keeping your hot tub cover on while heating your spa is essential, especially in the wintertime. It should only take a few hours to reach its maximum range after the water is above 72 degrees.
But if the hot tub has snow on the cover, it might tend to heat at a slower rate than you’d expect. You may also need to clear any snow around the hot tub when making the hot tub water hotter.
Your hot tub water temperatures will also increase faster if you have turned on your jets for circulation. Filtration increases the efficiency and speed of heating of the hot tub. Dirty filters will usually resist the flow of water in your hot tub components.
I have found that making a hot tub hotter is not just about setting a higher temperature. This is because failing to address some of the aspects we have identified here might never get you temperature changes even after hours of heating.
Therefore, I encourage you to ensure that the suitable parameters prevail and that nothing inhibits the efficiency of making your hot tub hotter.
Your preferred soaking temperature can be slightly different from what someone else might choose. Therefore, when raising the temperatures, the factor to bear in mind is how you personally like the water.
There are other factors that should guide your decision on the correct water temperatures, like the safety and welfare of other people who might need to use the equipment—for example, factor in the chances that your kids might want to bath alongside you. Then, determine the temperature that would be most appropriate for you all.
Another important factor you don’t want to forget is your monthly energy bills. The higher you maintain the hot tub water temperatures, the higher the bills are likely to be.
We encourage you to factor in these aspects when heating your hot tub.
Having noted that, we shall now look at detailed explanations on making a hot tub hotter.
Can I Make My Hot Tub Hotter Than 104?
It is possible to raise the temperature hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, but due to potential hyperthermia, it’s not recommended. By adding a water heater and running the pumps all the time, the water temperature will exceed 104 degrees. Raising the temperature above 104 could also cause problems with internal hardware components.
Have you ever thought about the optimum temperatures you can soak in a hot tub? Research has shown that you can bath comfortably in a hot tub as long as the water temperature does not exceed 104 degrees.
Most people prefer to bath in cooler temperatures, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as these are the temperatures that give you fulfillment.
However, other people might be tempted to set higher temperatures, especially when they don’t know if exceeding the allowable temperatures of 104 can be fixed.
But can you make a hot tub hotter than 104 degrees? Most hot tubs are designed to reach a maximum temperature of 104 degrees. Therefore, you cannot make the hot tub hotter than 104 degrees as the maximum temperatures for such models. However, by adding a water heater or running the pumps all the time, the water temperature can quickly rise above 104 degrees.
The recommended soaking temperatures for an adult should not exceed 104 degrees. Experts warn against bathing in higher temperatures than your body because you might suffer heatstroke and severe health consequences as a result.
I recommend a digital floating thermometer for your hot tub for more accurate temperature readings.
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Learn MoreDoes Hot Tub Heat Up Faster With Jets On?
Yes, a hot tub heats up faster when the jets are turned on. This is because heat will circulate with the water circulation causing more ambient temperatures inside the spa. Conversely, if you heat a hot tub with the jets off, some cold water will likely be trapped in the pipes, resulting in heat not being distributed evenly.
But you’ll notice that the circulating water forces the cold water into the hot tub from the pipes, where it mixes with the warmer water. The process repeats itself until the desired temperature is reached, creating a significant difference in reducing the heating time.
Another method that experts recommend is placing a cover on your hot tub when you initiate heating. The cover will minimize heat loss to the atmosphere, especially when it is in the winter season.
If you still have trouble heating your hot tub, you may need to check if your heater is working correctly.
Why Do Hot Tubs Only Go To 104 Degrees?
Hot tubs go for only 104 degrees because this is the maximum temperature most are designed to reach. After the hot tub reaches 104 degrees, it becomes unhealthy for most people to spend large amounts of time sitting in the spa. Also, the hardware components of the hot tub are at risk of overheating and not working correctly.
If you have used a hot tub for some time, you might have noticed that you’ll never set a hot tub to temperatures higher than 104 degrees. In fact, most people will usually prefer to bathe at between 97 and 100 degrees.
For adults, 100 degrees is considered the ideal temperature for bathing. However, you should be extra cautious with your hot tub water temperatures when it comes to kids.
A hot tub temperature that exceeds 104 degrees could be costly to run because it might increase the electricity bills by a large margin.
It might also be risky because one might accidentally or unintentionally set higher and unsafe levels that would cause drowsiness or heatstroke.
For these reasons, hot tubs only go up to 104 degrees because this is the maximum that any adult can soak safely, and there would be no point exceeding that level.
What Is A Good Hot Tub Temperature? (102 – 104)
A good hot tub temperature is between 102 and 104 degrees. Since the ideal temperature for an adult to soak is 100 degrees, offsetting the temperatures upward by a small margin is intended to cater for the cold winter air that might strip the heat from the hot tub. However, this temperature is usually typical for setting during the winter months.
It is also important to note that temperatures in the range of 102 to 104 are good for a hot tub because they allow you to use the hot tub without exceeding your body temperatures. Exceeding these temperatures will make the hot tub uncomfortable.
Experts also emphasize that you must avoid spending too much time in the hot tub when set at the maximum temperature of 104 degrees. Ideally, 10 to 15 minutes would be sufficient.
Experts have also found the risk of heatstroke if the hot tub temperatures exceeded 104 by a single unit. Therefore, 105 degrees or higher is unsafe for you.
Keep yourself from complications characterized by feeling nauseated, disorientation and confusion by setting your hot tub temperatures between 102 and 104 degrees.
How Fast Does A Hot Tub Lose Heat?
A well-insulated hot tub will typically lose one degree of temperature after using it for about half an hour. If your heater goes out for some reason in winter or when you experience a power outage, the hot tub temperatures can be maintained for up to 2 or 3 days. However, your unit ought to be well-insulated and protected against the extreme weather elements outside.
Nevertheless, the rate of heat loss from your hot tub is primarily determined by the quality of your insulation materials. Specifically, heat loss will mostly occur from the surface of your unit. If it has poor insulation, it will easily lose heat to the surroundings.
The rate of heat loss in winter is also different from summer when the hot tub is in use.
You might also find differences in the rate of heat loss across different hot tub models, but these are usually because of the differences in the quality of the insulation materials.
Why Is My Hot Tub Hotter Than The Setting?
Your hot tub might be hotter than the setting because of a malfunctioning sensor or temperature gauge. High amounts of filtration will also cause the hot tub water to be warmer. If the hot tub is constantly heating due to the cold weather, the water will feel warmer than usual.
If you suspect that something is not right, address the problem immediately. Start by turning the temperature gauge at lower levels to see if the hot tub cools. You can also try adding cold water if the temperatures keep on getting higher.
If you cannot troubleshoot and resolve the problem on your own, I advise you to call a technician to inspect the hot tub and fix the problem for you.
Some Things To Consider When Heating A Hot Tub
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Cover
Your hot tub comes with properly insulated sides to keep the water heated inside the hot tub at all times. However, the top of your hot tub will usually be open and might act as a significant heat loss area if the hot tub is inappropriately covered.
We always recommend buying a high-quality and durable hot tub cover to help trap heat within your hot tub. You should also check for the aging signs of your hot tub cover for immediate replacement when the signs of wear are identified.
For the best protection against the sun in the summer I recommend the ULTCOVER Waterproof square cover to protect your hot tub.
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Outside Temperature
It would be best to consider the outside temperatures when heating your hot tub because it can affect the rate of heating the hot tub.
Specifically, your hot tub will heat faster in summer or if you have placed it indoors where the surrounding temperatures are relatively higher. But in winter, heating your hot tub water might take a little longer because the outside temperatures are colder.
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Condition Of The Hot Tub
The condition of your hot tub will also determine the ease of heating the water. Components like the jets, the heater, filters, and circulation pumps play a critical role when you’re heating the water.
If any components are not functioning correctly, your hot tub will heat slowly or fail to heat up thoroughly.
We always recommend regular inspection and maintenance or replacement of your hot tub components. The practice ensures that your hot tub remains in suitable working condition all the time.
But if you neglect these maintenance practices, there is a possibility of experiencing trouble raising your hot tub water temperatures.
How To Make a Hot Tub Hotter: Conclusion
If you have been wondering how to make a hot tub hotter, you have seen that you only need to set the temperatures higher than its current setting.
If the water does not heat as fast as you would like, turn on the jets, and you will notice a difference. You may also need to consider the hot tub cover, the surrounding temperatures, and the condition of your hot tub if you want to maintain high efficiency in heating your hot tub.
You cannot set your hot tub higher than 104 degrees because this is the maximum safe temperature provided for most hot tubs. But even if your hot tub allows you to set higher temperatures, do not exceed between 102 and 104 degrees.
You might notice that your hot tub loses 1 degree of heat when you bathe for half an hour in winter. But the rate of heat loss might be higher if your unit is not well-insulated.
I hope you found this article on making your hot tub hotter helpful.
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James Brockbank
Stop wasting time and money with hot tub maintenance and confusing water chemistry! Get Instant access to this easy-to-use book and video course so you can spend less time cleaning and more time soaking.
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