A hot tub is a fantastic place for loved ones to gather and relax. However, parents and guardians must ensure their kids' safety around these spas. Here is some advice to protect your family and promote pleasant experiences.

How to Promote Hot Tub Safety

1. Cover When Not in Use

When no one is in it, cover the hot tub and use child safety locks to prevent anyone from falling in. This protects children and pets from injury or drowning. Plus, covers promote heat retention so that the spa is ready when you want to use it. You can also remove any steps up to the tub so that small kids can’t access the water.

2. Supervise Swimming 

As your kids grow, it may be tempting to leave them alone in the spa for a moment. However, it can only take a second for something to go wrong. If you need to leave the area, have the children get out of the water and wait until you come back. Make it a game; have them count down from 10 while you run to grab a towel or accomplish whatever you need to do.

3. Stay On Top of Maintenance 

Hot tubs require regular bacteria tests to ensure the chemical balance is sanitary and safe for your family to enjoy the water. Perform this maintenance yourself or hire professionals to handle it for you.

Check the circulation schedule daily and clean the filters every week to promote excellent clarity. Test the pH level every week—it should be between 7.4 and 7.6 to offer the least acidic, clearest water. Also, assess alkalinity, which is optimal between 125 ppm and 150 ppm, to limit cloudiness. You should also drain the tub every three to four months to scrub any buildup and prevent bacteria growth.

4. Store Chemicals Out of Reach

Hot tub owners have chemicals like pH increaser and decreaser, chlorine or bromine, and alkalinity increasers. Keep these potentially harmful substances on high shelves or locked away to prevent little ones from ingesting or touching them. Ventilate the storage area and keep the lids on the containers to avoid spills and vapor buildup. Call poison control if you are concerned that a child has come into contact with the chemicals.

Homeowners interested in hot tub maintenance and repairs should contact Aquarian Pools and Spas in Clermont County, OH. The expert team has been in business for more than 36 years, and their showroom features 9,500 square feet of swimming pool and spa accessories and outdoor furniture. Call the Loveland-area company at (513) 576-9771 or visit the website for information on their wide variety of Cal Spas® and swim spas.