February 9th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

Frequently Asked Questions

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted, more than ever, the need to adopt sanitary cleaning regimes to minimise the spread of the virus. With covid-19’s main method of transmission being droplets, hot tub and pool owner may naturally be concerned about the safety of their units or whether they should even use them at all.

The following FAQs should cover all the concerns that you may have around this topic:

Is it safe to use my hot tub or pool during the pandemic?

The simple answer here is yes, it is. However, that does come with some conditions as the safety of your hot tub or pool is completely dependent on proper maintenance. That means regularly monitoring water levels and adjusting as necessary. The sanitiser in the water will kill coronaviruses, as it does other viruses and bacteria such as legionella. However, this doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind while you’re in the tub. COVID is predominantly spread through respiratory droplets breathed out by infected people, so hygienic water won’t keep you safe if you’re sharing the tub with an infected person. You should be very careful about who you share your hot tub with.

It's also worth pointing out that chlorinated water won’t kill the COVID-19 virus if it’s already in your body, and it won’t help cure you. However, it may help alleviate some symptoms such as aching muscles, and it might give you a bit of a mental lift when you need it most. As long as you’re not putting anyone at risk, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use your hot tub and it may actually prove beneficial for you.

Should I add more sanitiser?

You may think that if it’s the sanitiser in the water that is keeping it safe, maybe I should add extra to be doubly safe? This may seem logical, but it is not necessary. The recommended levels have always been enough to kill viruses and they continue to be so. In actual fact, adding extra chlorine or bromine won’t offer extra protection (you can’t kill the virus ‘deader’) but is likely to cause eye and skin irritation, which is counterproductive.

Can I deep clean my pool or hot tub?

Yes, you can, and you should. ‘Shocking’ your water is something that you should be doing periodically anyway to remove contaminants, kill bacteria, and remove the waste that comes from sanitiser being used up. While some think of this as a treatment for water that has become contaminated, it’s actually a really useful exercise to maintain safe water as a periodic extra cleaning process. If you’re not in the habit of shocking your water, now is the time to start.

What about surfaces outside of the water?

While everything within the water is sanitary (provided you keep up with your chlorine dosing), anything outside of the water is a potential area for the virus to live, should it be touched by someone who is positive (and remember, some people can have it but be asymptomatic). This is best practice anyway but make sure you take extra care to clean all surfaces outside of the water including handrails, headrests, control panels, and covers.

Can I share a hot tub with people outside my bubble?

This will be down to whatever government guidelines are in effect at the time but certainly, at the time of writing, you should not be sharing your hot tub with anyone outside your bubble (it’s impossible to social distance in a hot tub!). Pay close attention to the government guidance for both the nation and for your area specifically. Even if the government guidance gives you the green light to invite your friends over, think about the risks carefully before you do so.

Will hot tub usage alleviate symptoms of covid?

You should absolutely not expect your pool or hot tub to cure you if you have tested positive for covid-19, or indeed if you feel unwell for any reason. While chlorine will kill viruses in the water, it cannot help you if you are infected and sharing a hot tub only increases risk to other users.

How often should I check my hot tub or pool?

This really depends on how often you are using them. During the winter, you may not be using them as regularly as you would in the summer so every few weeks may be sufficient (if it is very infrequent, it’s worth checking before you use again to make sure levels haven’t deteriorated in the meantime). If you are using them regularly then you should also be checking them regularly. Weekly would not be excessive.

Hot tub and pool best practice

What this really highlights is the importance of a diligent maintenance regime. This has always been true but the case for it has never been clearer.