Can you use a hot tub during a heatwave?
Whenever the temperature climbs, we get the same question from customers across Staffordshire and Cheshire: “Should I just turn the hot tub off until it cools down?” It’s an understandable thought — nobody wants to sit in a bubbling hot bath when it’s already 28°C outside. But the truth is, a hot tub doesn’t have to sit idle all summer. Used the right way, it’s just as enjoyable in a heatwave as it is on a frosty January evening.
Here’s why the “hot tubs are just for winter” myth doesn’t hold up, and how to get the most from yours when the sun’s out.
Myth: A Hot Tub Is Only Good for Cold Weather
It’s easy to assume a hot tub is a strictly seasonal luxury, but that’s simply not how they’re designed to work. Every spa has a fully adjustable thermostat, which means you’re never locked into a piping hot soak. Turn the temperature down to a cooler, more refreshing setting and the whole experience changes — the water becomes a pleasant place to cool off rather than warm up, while you still get the benefit of the jets, the buoyancy and the general sense of relaxation a hot tub provides.
In other words, the “hot” in hot tub is a setting, not a rule.
Myth: Running It in Summer Costs More
Another common assumption is that running a hot tub through a heatwave will send energy bills soaring. Actually, the opposite tends to be true. Warmer air and stronger sunshine mean your heater has far less work to do to maintain a lower temperature, so it runs less often than it would in the depths of winter. The pump and filtration system tick along exactly as normal, keeping the water clean and ready whenever you fancy a dip.
If you know you won’t be using the tub for a stretch of hot days, dropping the temperature down further still will ease the load on the equipment even more, and it’ll come back up to your preferred setting quickly whenever you’re ready to use it again.
What You Should Keep an Eye On
Using your hot tub through a heatwave is absolutely fine, but there are a few extra things worth checking during hot, sunny spells:
- Sanitiser levels. Sunshine and warmer water both use up chlorine or bromine faster, so test a little more frequently than you would the rest of the year.
- pH balance. Heat can nudge pH upward, which reduces how effectively your sanitiser works even when levels look okay.
- Water level. Evaporation speeds up in the heat, especially with the cover off, so top up regularly to protect your pump.
- The cover. Keeping it on between uses stops the water heating up further in direct sun and helps hold your chosen temperature.
A Cooler Soak, Sensibly Done
If you’re using the tub specifically to cool down, a little common sense goes a long way. Keep soak times shorter than you might in winter, stay hydrated throughout, and try to avoid the hottest part of the day if you’re particularly sensitive to the sun. Children especially should be supervised closely and encouraged to drink plenty of water, since they overheat much faster than adults.
So, Yes — Fire It Up (Or Rather, Turn It Down)
A heatwave isn’t a reason to switch your hot tub off and wait for autumn. With the temperature adjusted, it becomes a genuinely refreshing spot to unwind on even the warmest days, and you’ll likely find it costs you less to run than usual too.
If you’d like advice on getting the temperature and water chemistry right for your particular spa, or you’re considering adding a hot tub, swim spa or sauna to your home, the team at Hot Tubs Staffordshire is always happy to help. Based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, we’ve been supplying and supporting spas across Staffordshire and Cheshire for over 50 years.
Get in touch with our friendly team today, or visit our showroom to see our full range of hot tubs, swim spas and wellness products.
