Is it Safe to Use a Hot Tub in a Thunder Storm?

One of the great joys of hot tubbing is using your hot tub all the year round in a variety of weathers and temperatures. Sitting in a gloriously warm hot tub in the snow or in the dark is wonderful but, have you ever wondered if it’s a good idea to use your hot tub in a thunderstorm or not?

So, is it safe to use a hot tub in a thunderstorm? No, it definitely is not safe to use a hot tub during a thunderstorm as there is a serious risk of electrocution. Water is a good conductor of electricity. A lightning strike to a hot tub would concentrate the electrical charge and you would get a serious electrical shock.

In the U.S between 10 and 20 people per year suffer from injuries caused by a combination of lightning strikes and domestic water usage. There seems to be a number of misunderstandings about how safe it is to be around water during storms and people are unwittingly putting themselves at risk of electrocution on a daily basis.

Can you get struck by lightning in a hot tub?

There are a number of safe places to be during a thunderstorm and I can categorically guarantee to you that being in your hot tub isn’t one of them! It might sound vaguely romantic to be wallowing in the lovely hot water watching a lightning display and listening to the thunder rumbling around but, if there is even the faintest inkling of a storm nearby then the best advice is to get out of the water and to stay out. Lightning can even strike up to 10 miles away from the actual storm centre so if there is even a storm just brewing or rumbling around in the distance you should consider not being in your hot tub.

This even applies to hot tubs that are inside as even if lightning strikes in the vicinity it can potentially travel through electrical lines and plumbing. Bear in mind that water is an excellent conductor of electricity and that if an electrical charge comes into contact with any water that you are in then it will pass to your body as well!

But, hang on a minute. Why is it that water and electricity are such a bad mix? Surely water is wet and insulates from electricity?

You might have thought this to be the case and actually distilled water doesn’t conduct electricity and is a good insulator. However, natural water is full of minerals which are dissolved into it and they are responsible for conducting the electricity. The minerals are responsible for turning pure water, which is an insulator, into an electrolyte.

So, yes, you can definitely be hit by lightning whilst in a hot tub and, whilst a hot tub doesn’t “attract” the lightning to it, it will conduct the electricity very well once it is hit causing electrocution to anyone in the water. On balance, lightning is normally attracted to the tallest thing in the vicinity so, if you are out in the open in a hot tub and sitting up in it then you could possibly be hit before the hot tub itself. However, the chances are that, if you are in your hot tub in your garden during a lightning strike that a tree or the house would be more likely to be hit than the hot tub. This wouldn’t be great either as you would then be at risk of being hit by falling wood or masonry. Have you ever tried to run away from anything whilst in the a hot tub? Of course, it’s not possible and you are a bit of a sitting duck!

The same problem occurs if you are under a canopy or some other structure in your hot tub. The risk comes from the structure being hit and falling onto you or, a lightning strike nearby conducting electricity through the mains supply or pipework. Have you ever heard about not being on the telephone or in the shower during a storm? This is why!

What are the chances of being hit by lightning in my hot tub?

Lightning strikes the USA 25 million times per year  (phew that’s a lot!) and the odds of being hit in your lifetime are apparently about 1 in 12,000, the odds of being hit this year are 1 in 960,000. Just to put this in context the odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot are 1 in 292 million and the odds of being hit by a falling satellite 1 in 21 trillion! I’m not sure if that helps but I guess it all really depends on how risk-averse you are. If you go out into thunderstorms and stand on open hilltops you are probably more likely to get hit by lightning than someone who stays indoors and avoids electrical apparatus and plumbing! I guess being in a hot tub in a storm is somewhere in the middle of that continuum!

However, that facts are that most people who are affected by lightning strikes aren’t actually hit by a bolt of lightning. Instead, they suffer through conduction when the ground nearby or some similar object is hit. The electricity travels to them and through them and damages them this way. In fact, the most common injury from lightning isn’t from burning but is brain damage caused by exposure to really strong currents of electricity.

By the way, what’s actually the safest place to be in a storm?

Well, we have established that being in your hot tub certainly isn’t the safest place to be, being anywhere near single tall buildings or trees, out in the open or even on the end of a telephone or using the plumbing in your house aren’t a great idea. So, where is the safest place in a thunderstorm?

You might be surprised to hear that being hit by lightning in a plane isn’t really a big deal. Aeroplanes are designed to cope with high currents like this and there isn’t anywhere for the current to go to so it doesn’t cause too many problems. Cars are also safe, not because of the rubber tyres but because they are essentially a metal cage (a Faraday cage) which means that if they are hit the current travels around the cage and rather than doing any damage cancels itself out. Faraday cages are used in all sorts of contexts where protection from electromagnetic radiation is needed. If do use the car for protection then do not touch any metal parts of the car and keep the windows closed. If a car is hit by lightning it will usually burst a tyre or two and damage the electrical system but the occupants should be kept safe.

The very best place to be during a storm is inside a building. Most buildings will have multiple ways for the lightning to get down to earth such as cables and wiring and metal plumbing pipes. If you are in a building it can be a good idea to avoid using anything electrical and plumbing wise whilst the storm is raging. This means that having a shower, washing up, using a computer, shaving, using a corded phone etc etc should be avoided if you want to take every precaution. If you really feel the need to take it a step further then the safest place is in the centre of the room away from the walls and away from electrical sockets or pipes as lightning has been known to travel into houses and jump across pipes/cables on it’s journey to earth.

Outbuildings, sheds, bus shelters etc etc do not offer any real protection against lightning as there isn’t any path to earth included in such buildings and you are essentially as exposed as if you were just outside. This is why a hot tub in a summerhouse or under a gazebo isn’t any safer than one out in the open during an electrical storm.

Preparing a hot tub for a major storm

If you know that a major storm is on it’s way there are a few things that you can do to prepare your hot tub and hopefully prevent any damage.

Turn off the power – If you can actually disconnect the hot tub from the electrical supply this would be best. Unplug it if you can or trip the circuit breaker if you have one. The most likely cause of damage is due to a power surge when electrical equipment nearby get struck by lightning. A strong power surge can jump even a switch in the off position so complete disconnection from the supply is the safest option to prevent damage.

Check and top up the chemicals – It’s good idea to add extra chlorine or bromine to the water just in case any dirty storm water gets into the hot tub. This will help to keep the water clean.

Cover the hot tub – Use the normal thermal cover for the hot tub and make sure that it is correctly fitted and then securely fastened down. You could tie it down or cover with sheets of plywood and weigh it down with bricks or similar.

Cover with a tarpaulin or winter cover – Next cover the whole hot tub and thermal cover with a large tarpaulin or winter cover and, most importantly lash it down. There may well be high winds during the storm and any loose fabric will act like a kite and just catch the wind and blow away.

Prepare the surrounding area – If you have shades or umbrellas, towel rails or patio furniture then, if possible get them inside to prevent wind damage. If you can’t get them inside then put them as low down and as close to the house as you can, again if you can weigh them down or tie them down this is a good idea.

Can you use a hot tub in the rain?

Hot tubbing in the rain is actually rather a pleasant experience! I’m not suggesting torrential downpour and howling gale types of rain but, if there’s a refreshing drizzle of cold water on your face as the rest of your body is luxuriously warm then it can be lovely!

In many ways, the worst part of hot tubbing in the rain is the thought of getting outside and into the tub in the first place. Hopefully, your hot tub won’t be positioned too far away from a door so you won’t get too wet but having an umbrella on hand or a hat can be a good idea. It’s also OK to wear a hat actually in the hot tub. It will keep your head dry if you prefer it that way and also help to keep you warm. Think carefully about using warm slippers and a thick well-padded robe and getting out of the hot tub won’t be too uncomfortable either.

And, one of the best things to do is to take in a mug of lovely hot chocolate with you! I have to admit to one of my favourite after cold hot tub treats is a snifter of some good quality whisky as well. Any warming spirit will do the trick though and it’s a lovely way to finish a relaxing hot tub session. It’s not a great idea to drink alcohol whilst actually in the hot tub but best to save that treat for when you get out!

A few more hot tub safety tips!

So, whilst we are on the theme of safety here are a few more tips to help keep your hot tubbing activities safe and enjoyable!

Consider not using the hot tub alone – Relaxing in your hot tub with friends and family is one of life’s great joys but, let’s face it, there are sometimes when a bit of peace an quiet is equally as enticing! However, if you have been drinking, have a medical condition, high or low blood pressure or you are on medication it might be wise to only go into the hot tub when someone else is around. Similarly, if you are a little unsteady on your feet getting in and out of the hot tub can be particularly hazardous and it’s good to have someone on hand in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Remember electrical safety – It’s tempting to run an extension lead from the house to the hot tub so that you can plug in the portable TV or have music on but, with the best will in the world, it’s not a particularly safe idea. We all know that water and electricity don’t mix and there are plenty of battery operated alternatives available so be safe and choose them instead.

Use plastic, not glass – Glasses get dropped and, particularly when wet hands are involved, it’s really easy for things to slip and break. Broken glass and soft warm, wet feet and hands really do not mix well so it’s always a better idea to use plastic instead. Remember that if you get any glass broken near the hot tub where there is the possibility that it has entered into the hot tub you will need to drain it down and check for shards of broken glass. So much hassle can be saved by using plastic and avoiding glass altogether.

Avoid alcohol and drugs – If you are under the influence of either alcohol or drugs then you are very likely to be unsteady on your feet. You may well probably be feeling a little reckless and overconfident as well which significantly increases the chances of you slipping getting in or out of the hot tub and hurting yourself. It can be extremely painful if you land awkwardly (I’ve done it a couple of times stone cold sober!) and you could potentially do some real damage to yourself if you were unlucky.

You are also at increased risk of a heart attack whilst under the influence and your body may well be struggling to keep your core temperature down as well. This all increases your chances of maybe passing out whilst in the water which could, in the very worst case scenario lead to drowning!

Keep a close eye on the water temperature – You can easily overheat and become ill in a hot tub so it’s important that you keep a close eye on the temperature. Sometimes your body may not tell you particularly clearly that it’s too hot and you will be putting uneccessary strain on it, particularly your heart, to keep you cool. If you don’t trust the temperature gauge on the hot tub itself then a floating thermometer is a great idea. Some of them even connect to an app on your phone so that you can keep a close eye on the temperature even when you’re not in the vicinity of your hot tub.

Well, that was a cheerful post, wasn’t it! I guess it all comes down to using your common sense a bit and deciding as to how risk averse you are. Personally, I don’t really avoid using anything if there’s a thunderstorm and I have never sat in the middle of the room in case lightning careers down the pipeworks! I would avoid going out in open spaces though! They do say that lightning never strikes twice, I’m not sure how reassuring or true that is but I have experienced a very, very near miss whilst driving in a thunderstorm. I was completely unhurt and the car was fine but the noise, smell and intensity of the light was pretty incredible – surely that can’t happen to me again!?

Andrew Hind

This post was created by Andrew. Enjoyer of hot tub soaking, fine cheese, music and photography.