Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: amy2421 on December 16, 2015, 01:29:23 pm

Title: Water temperature
Post by: amy2421 on December 16, 2015, 01:29:23 pm
We don't like our tub too crazy hot, so we've had it set at 100 since we got it at the beginning of October and it generally varies between 99 and 100.

I noticed last night that it felt too cool, it was very cold outside, so I considered bumping it up a bit.

Do most people run the same temp year-round or do you find that you like it a bit warmer when the air temperature is colder?

(We're also considering running it at 80 in the summer to use it like a pool.)
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: av8r on December 16, 2015, 05:43:29 pm
99 when it's 60 outside even at night feels too warm.

I've bumped ours to 100 and 101 a few times when the night temps were below freezing and while it felt great, it also made me get out sooner so I'm going to stick with 99.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Topline Mike on December 16, 2015, 05:54:49 pm
103° for our hot tub.  Last night it was very windy, and the water temp dropped to 100.  Too cold for me, had to get out.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Hottubguy on December 16, 2015, 06:17:19 pm
99 when it's 60 outside even at night feels too warm.

I've bumped ours to 100 and 101 a few times when the night temps were below freezing and while it felt great, it also made me get out sooner so I'm going to stick with 99.

You are the same as me. I keep mine at 100 any warmer is too much for me
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Tman122 on December 16, 2015, 07:07:33 pm
I liked 101-102
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: richierich on December 16, 2015, 09:15:25 pm
102 seems to work for me year round.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: jbequer on December 16, 2015, 09:23:19 pm
98 for my wife and I, any hotter and we get uncomfortable. We go in for about an hour or so.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Quickbeam on December 16, 2015, 10:53:26 pm
98 for my wife and I, any hotter and we get uncomfortable. We go in for about an hour or so.

Wow, that's actually colder than body temperature. I wouldn't last long in water at that temperature. We have been keeping our tub at between 101 and 102 degrees.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: chem geek on December 16, 2015, 11:50:10 pm
Because your body generates heat, you actually need to be soaking in lower than body temperature if you want to be in "balance" -- at 98.6ºF water temperature, you would eventually overheat though it would take a while.  This link (http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/studies-explore-effects-of-various-water-immersion-techniques-on-recovery) says the following:

Quote
... water is considered thermoneutral when body temperature can be maintained when immersed for 1 h (35 °C). Thus, depending on the amount of subcutaneous fat, body temperature can be maintained for 1 h in water between 30 °C and 34 °C. Indeed, no alteration in body temperature is noted for subjects immersed in water at temperatures between 33 °C and 35 °C.

In Fahrenheit, that thermoneutral temperature is 91.4ºF to 95ªF.  It is not body temperature (98.6ºF).
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: amy2421 on December 17, 2015, 12:14:15 am
Thanks for all the replies!

We have our tub wired to 60 amps so we can run both pumps and the heater at the same time. So I'm thinking of maintaining the temp at 100 as we've been doing, but bumping it up to 101 while we're using it so that the water is heating up while we're in the tub instead of dropping in temperature. The way the Jacuzzi heater works, it will drop 1 degree (down to 99) without coming on so essentially during use on a cold night it would have to touch 98 for the heater to come on if we didn't turn up the setpoint temp to 101.

Does anyone drop the temp to the minimum to use it like a heated pool in the summer? (On our tub the minimum is 80).
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Topline Mike on December 17, 2015, 12:30:14 am
I have a Jacuzzi J375 Amy.  When the wind blows on a cold night here in WI, the water temp will drop, and there's nothing you can do about it.  Heater will be pumping hot water, and it still drops.  That's what our tub does anyhow.

Never considered dropping tub below 100, even in the heat.  It's a Hot Tub, after all!
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: amy2421 on December 17, 2015, 01:20:25 am
I have a Jacuzzi J375 Amy.  When the wind blows on a cold night here in WI, the water temp will drop, and there's nothing you can do about it.  Heater will be pumping hot water, and it still drops.  That's what our tub does anyhow.

Never considered dropping tub below 100, even in the heat.  It's a Hot Tub, after all!

Do you have the SmartSeal insulation? Not sure if it makes as big a difference as they say, but we got it on ours (in Canada). It seemed like the dealer ordered almost everything with it on.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Quickbeam on December 17, 2015, 01:58:56 am
Because your body generates heat, you actually need to be soaking in lower than body temperature if you want to be in "balance" -- at 98.6ºF water temperature, you would eventually overheat though it would take a while.  This link (http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/studies-explore-effects-of-various-water-immersion-techniques-on-recovery) says the following:

Quote
... water is considered thermoneutral when body temperature can be maintained when immersed for 1 h (35 °C). Thus, depending on the amount of subcutaneous fat, body temperature can be maintained for 1 h in water between 30 °C and 34 °C. Indeed, no alteration in body temperature is noted for subjects immersed in water at temperatures between 33 °C and 35 °C.

In Fahrenheit, that thermoneutral temperature is 91.4ºF to 95ªF.  It is not body temperature (98.6ºF).

Fascinating. I have never heard of this before. Thanks Chem Geek!
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: jbequer on December 17, 2015, 09:58:16 am
After reading this post , last night i tried to go to 100, it felt like i was in a sauna, it was almost difficult to breath. Definitely not for me, i want to be confutable and not be sweating in water. The best temp for me is between 96 and 98.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: mikemohn on December 17, 2015, 10:09:22 am
Ours stays at 100.  I turned it up to 104 the other night and it was a little warm for me.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: n.one.one on December 17, 2015, 10:11:27 am
I would assume that everyone is different in terms of both sensitivity to heat and also simply what they prefer.
I have always enjoyed 103/104 for about a 20 minute soak.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Quickbeam on December 17, 2015, 11:16:17 am
After reading this post , last night i tried to go to 100, it felt like i was in a sauna, it was almost difficult to breath. Definitely not for me, i want to be confutable and not be sweating in water. The best temp for me is between 96 and 98.

I understand that we all have different bodies, and different sensitivities, etc. It just sounds a little strange to me that you would get that kind of reaction to water at 100 degrees. Have you checked what the set temperature on your tub is reading to what the actual temperature in the tub is (by using a good thermometer)? It's just a suggestion, as I know at one time the set temperature on our tub was reading differently than what the water temperature actually was.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: sore muscles on December 17, 2015, 11:52:33 am
My tub stays at 104 for a 20-30 min. soak/massage. Really helps relax my body much better and faster.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: jbequer on December 17, 2015, 12:22:30 pm
I did check the temp when I got it, it was dead on about 7 months ago. I've been in other tubs that have been 100 or more and started to sweat in there, not comfortable at all for me. My wife is the same, after 98 she gets red and flushed, doesn't like it. Like I said , at 97 or 98 it's perfect for us.
We've had friends over they feel pretty comfortable at these temps too.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: wmccall on December 17, 2015, 12:39:30 pm
We don't like our tub too crazy hot, so we've had it set at 100 since we got it at the beginning of October and it generally varies between 99 and 100.

I noticed last night that it felt too cool, it was very cold outside, so I considered bumping it up a bit.

Do most people run the same temp year-round or do you find that you like it a bit warmer when the air temperature is colder?

(We're also considering running it at 80 in the summer to use it like a pool.)

Where do you call home?  I can see people in Texas leaving their tubs at 100 all year long.  If you live far enough north to be familar with the term WINDCHILL FACTOR  then be aware 100 isn't going to keep you warm long when the outside air is 20F with a bit of a wind.     Our normal summer temp is 102 (its rarely about 80F at night and we go into an airconditioned house afterwards.       

Part of it is also how long you want to spend in your tub.   If my muscles are really achy for some reason I want 104 to relax.  In the summer when its warm you can't stay in a 104 tub very long.    When its 0F I can comfortably stay in a 104 tub 30 minutes.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: amy2421 on December 17, 2015, 03:59:55 pm
Where do you call home?  I can see people in Texas leaving their tubs at 100 all year long.  If you live far enough north to be familar with the term WINDCHILL FACTOR  then be aware 100 isn't going to keep you warm long when the outside air is 20F with a bit of a wind.     Our normal summer temp is 102 (its rarely about 80F at night and we go into an airconditioned house afterwards.       

Part of it is also how long you want to spend in your tub.   If my muscles are really achy for some reason I want 104 to relax.  In the summer when its warm you can't stay in a 104 tub very long.    When its 0F I can comfortably stay in a 104 tub 30 minutes.

We're in Canada, specifically near Toronto, Ontario. Sadly we are VERY familiar with windchill! :) LOL!
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: wmccall on December 17, 2015, 04:05:38 pm
I did check the temp when I got it, it was dead on about 7 months ago. I've been in other tubs that have been 100 or more and started to sweat in there, not comfortable at all for me. My wife is the same, after 98 she gets red and flushed, doesn't like it. Like I said , at 97 or 98 it's perfect for us.
We've had friends over they feel pretty comfortable at these temps too.

It can be worth checking again.  My Sundance is 3 years old now. The only problem I had was with the temp sensor.  If you turn  your tub down to 98 or 99 it should feel pretty nuetral when you put your hand in.     When I did this it felt still hot. The service guy said it was 105 and replaced the sensor.     BTW, this happened right after the neighbor kids poured some white liquid into my tub, but Sundance honored the warranty.

Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: jbequer on December 17, 2015, 04:28:16 pm
Yeah, 98 feels like a warm tub, not hot. It's felt the same since I got it.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: mrpenguin on March 17, 2016, 10:40:29 pm
We're in South Florida.   The dealer questioned and warned we would not get any therapeutic help having our tub under 100.  We usually keep it at 96.  When "winter" comes and the outside temperature drops below 50, we might bump it as high as 98/99, but that is it.  Like a few others, it is just too hot.   We enjoy just sitting in there relaxing, even with the jets off.  It is just too hot if we have it over 100 - we'd hardly use it.  Only a few times have we bumped it up because we were really sore and wanted to see.   It is just too hot for us.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Dr. Spa™ Ret. on March 18, 2016, 01:24:33 am
Relaxation IS therapeutic!
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: im45us on March 18, 2016, 05:55:38 am
Always 104 in winter. Maybe 102 in the summer. Live in Mass.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Compatico on March 21, 2016, 11:03:42 pm
I did check the temp when I got it, it was dead on about 7 months ago. I've been in other tubs that have been 100 or more and started to sweat in there,
That's what I want in my hot tub - the heat. We keep it at 104 in the winter and 102 in the summer. We sweat in the tub which is exactly what helps to get rid of toxins. Saunas are hot for a reason, so is our tub.  :)
Quote
not comfortable at all for me. My wife is the same, after 98 she gets red and flushed, doesn't like it. Like I said , at 97 or 98 it's perfect for us.
We've had friends over they feel pretty comfortable at these temps too.
Everyone is different...at first my wife didn't like anything over 100 saying it was too hot and her showers are not as hot as mine. But after a while she got used to the 104 in winter and now prefers it. It's more relaxing to get out and feel warm and cozy after a soak.

YMMV.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: TLWR on March 24, 2016, 07:50:55 pm
we keep ours at 97 and often sit in it until the timer kicks off at an hour. 98 is too warm to be enjoyable for us.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Compatico on March 26, 2016, 02:47:23 am
we keep ours at 97 and often sit in it until the timer kicks off at an hour. 98 is too warm to be enjoyable for us.
Everyone is different...and tolerances vary from person to person. I know this from health and safety programs.
Having said that, I like the heat for therapeutic value. My wife didn't like it at first, but has become accustomed to the fact that to get therapeutic benefit, you need the heat to be above normal body temp - it's like the natural immune system raising the body temp to fight a virus. She's a nurse so she knows the value of therapy from heat. But she just didn't like sweating that much in a tub thinking it was "dirty". And to be honest it is kinda dirty, but that's what a tub is intended to do...sweat out toxins and let the heat relax the muscles. Hence the need for sanitizers to keep the water clean.

The Romans knew the value of hot water...and a few thousand years before that water heated with fired rocks was used to relax...it's not new.
Heat is good...lots of heat is gooder.  ;D
My point is simple...the high level of heat is therapeutic and near 98' or body temp, is not hot enough to be beneficial. It's more comfortable, but it's not therapeutic.

Typically our soaks are 2-3 cycles of 20 mins (timer limit) at 102-104' with a brief cool down in between so we don't overheat ourselves. We bring out bottles of water to sip as we know we're going to sweat a lot. After a long day at work and having to come home to more work, a 20 mins soak at 102-104' before bed is awesome and very relaxing.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: bud16415 on April 05, 2016, 11:10:19 am
We live on the great lakes in Pa and summers hit 100f a few times per season and winters reach -30f. We have been in the tub at -20 and you need it 103 at least with a winter hat on to make up for the heat loss in your head. When the temp outside is around freezing 101 is fine and in the summer 98,99 is fine 100,101 if you want a sweat :P.

Our Caldara has a summer setting that keeps the heat off all day so you can use it like a pool and the heat kicks on at evening for a night soak. That is a very nice feature.   :)
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: wmccall on April 05, 2016, 11:54:40 am
106 all through the worst part of winter, but I suspect that is more like 105 if I took out an accurate temperature.  It will get turned down to 102 for the summer.
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: Hydrotherapy Guru on May 22, 2016, 10:09:44 pm
I wonder how accurate the temperature readings are? 100 is too cool for me!
Title: Re: Water temperature
Post by: wmccall on May 23, 2016, 07:21:26 am
I wonder how accurate the temperature readings are? 100 is too cool for me!

Part of it is the surrounding air temp and wind.  In anything above body temp the body needs to cool down and in a hot tub that occurs via breathing and the skin above the water.  If its 10F outside I can stay in 104 degree water for an hour. If its 80F outside, not quite as long.