As more and more people have been looking at improving their homes and gardens than ever before one of the more recent areas of growth has been in the sale of garden hot tubs and Jacuzzis. And, what better way to relax than a hot soak in the tub after a long day at work? If you’re considering having a hot tub installed, the good news is that an organisation called BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association) exists so that the main dealers and manufacturers maintain the highest standards. It also promotes the importance of them, explaining the safety of the equipment to would-be customers in the proper manner. Therefore, make sure you only buy from a BISHTA registered company in order to keep both you and your hot tub safe.
Maintaining the Water Balance and Sanitizer
Hot tubs should be checked regularly to make sure that the pH balance of the water is correct and that it’s free of any harmful micro-organisms. Your hot tub dealer can fully explain what that entails. Make sure you follow all the instructions when it comes to using chemicals and cleaning materials and be sure to store them away securely, out of direct sunlight and away from children.
Safe Soaking
It might seem bliss to spend all evening in a hot tub but it’s not recommended. Experts advise that you should only soak in a temperature of around 100-104F and for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. The temperature should be a few degrees less for children and only a 10 minute soak is recommended. If you suffer from heart disease, irregular blood pressure (low or high), diabetes or any other serious illness or if you’re pregnant, you should consult with your GP before using a hot tub. Most hot tubs will be designed not to exceed the maximum temperature anyway and will often contain a digital readout thermometer, but if yours doesn’t, get hold of a normal thermometer so you can make a regular check of the temperature.
Keeping Children Safe
Whilst there is nothing stopping you bringing your children in with you, even infants and toddlers; introduce them to a hot tub slowly so that they don’t become overcome with fear. It’s also imperative not to leave children of any age in a hot tub unless supervised by an adult. It only takes a few seconds to drown, remember.
Risk of Drowning
As hot tubs use drain suction pumps, be careful that you keep your hair tied up or at least out of the way of the drain outlets as it could be sucked into the pump which could put you at severe risk of drowning. To prevent this, keep your head above the water level or keep your hair under a swim cap and make sure that you tell your children never to play with their heads underwater in a hot tub too. Also, be sure that there is a power cut off switch which can turn off the hot tub quickly in case of any accident which might arise.
Electrical Devices
Do not use any electrical device in or near a hot tub and if you need to use one when you get out, e.g. a hair dryer, make sure that you have fully dried yourself off first. Also, don’t keep any electrical device close to a tub where it might accidentally be knocked over and fall in. A CD player is a good example here as you’ll no doubt have thought of relaxing whilst listening to some music but, if you do that, keep the player well away from the tub. If it was to be knocked over and fell into the tub, you could end up being electrocuted.
When Not In Use
If you’re not using your tub, cover it up with a proper cover designed for the tub and make sure the cover is secured and locked. Not only will this keep garden debris from blowing into the water but will keep younger children away from it and, perhaps, falling into it. Also, some children are very inquisitive and persistent so make sure that any safety straps keeping the cover in place are tightly secured and couldn’t be loosened by a child.
Safety Steps
You’re possibly more likely to come to grief getting in or out of the tub as opposed to once you’re in it so you may wish to consider getting safety steps and a hand rail fitted.
Also, it’s a good idea to situate your tub on a non-slip surface or you can buy special matting to prevent you slipping over when you get in or out. A hand rail upon which to keep your towels is also a good idea. For added safety, you should consider having some exterior lighting system fitted nearby, if you intend on using the tub at night.
Hot tubs and Jacuzzis can be reasonably priced these days, although they can be as expensive and luxurious as you want them to be. That said, they’ve become very popular and many people now see them as the perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day at work.
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