Hot tubs? How Do You Know It Is Safe? (how many, kids, to)

[SunnyKayak]

I have stayed at few hotels, visited a few friends , stayed at few beach rentals that have hot tubs but how do I know it safe to get in that recirculated water?

Do you test the P.H level? What am I looking for to tell it is safe on one of those test kits?

Should I carry a bag of 4 n 1 shock with me before entering to apply?

[AksarbeN]

I’m been in hot water before for this but I don’t think I’d enjoy a hot tub unless I knew that it was properly cared for. I would think that most larger hotels with pools and tubs would have professional services taking care of them, but there’s no guarantee.

Dead fish, green moss and cigarette butts floating on top of the water is usually a give-a-way.

[delusianne]

This seems to have all the information, from scary to practical - how a public hot tub is cleaned to how to clean a hotel-room one yourself.

http://www.aerias.com/DesktopModules...eid=2&subid=19

Aksarben may be on to something, too.

[Roaddog]

Don't worry about the stuff you see floating on top be worried about the kid who just pee'd or pooped in the tub, or the coupke who just had sex. A test kit won't help, you could test the chlorine level but it's not an instant killer. i guess you could use shock and swim, I only got in one hot tub at a motel, the water smelt funny.

Here's what you look for, the amount of traffic in and out of the tub, High traffic Highly contaminated water, Low traffic lower contamination, No traffic good to go .

[nitram]

The only 100% sure fire way to be "safe" to wrap yourself up in a Spa-Profilactic.

[happynoodleboycey]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

Here's what you look for, the amount of traffic in and out of the tub, High traffic Highly contaminated water, Low traffic lower contamination, No traffic good to go .

Actually if there was no traffic at all I think I'd be more concerned than if there was some. I'd start wondering whether everyone else knew something that I didn't.

[wisconsin woman]

As an electrician, I know how they are wired. If they are done professionally, it should be no problem. But most people dont want to spend the few extra bucks for safety and you have no idea how many "Billy Bob's" come into my store every day, asking how to wire a spa, what materials do they need, etc etc. Those are people I wouldnt want to go to one of their backyard bar b ques and sit in their hot tubs.
But actually, in a public pool, hot tub, at the lakes, river and beach...do people REALLY have any clue whats in that dirty water???? Kinda makes it unappealing, and takes away from the fun of going when you see stuff floating around in the water where ever you go.
Yikes!!!

[AksarbeN]

Hot Tubes are off my list of fun things to think about doing thanks to all the information that has been provided. Normally we give these things some thought and then just pass it off as “well they surely have taken care of the problem” but the reality is that no one has stepped up to the plate in most cases of public pools and hot tubes.

I can’t tell you how many times in the past that I’ve seen small kids in a public pool with diapers on and mom watching over him or her.

It’s not what you see that will harm you, it’s what you DIDN’T see before you got there that’s a problem!