Why Does My Hot Tub Burn My Eyes?

Have you ever noticed an annoying itching and burning sensation in your eyes whilst you are in your hot tub? It’s actually quite a common problem to find that your hot tub burns your eyes but why does it happen and what can you do to prevent the problem? I decided to do some research and this is what I found out:

So, why does my hot tub burn my eyes? The most likely cause of burning eyes in your hot tub is that the PH levels are incorrect. It may also be due to a build-up of chloramines in the hot tub as the chlorine reacts with perspiration, oils and urine. Proper water maintenance will help to eliminate the burning eye problem.

What happens if my hot tub PH is too high?

Itchy skin and burning eyes are very common problems if the PH level of the water in your hot tub is too high. This isn’t really surprising when you realize that a high PH level means that the water in your hot tub is too acidic. Basically you are sitting in a tub of acid and this will, of course, have adverse effects on your skin and eyes.

High PH levels can also cause problems for the hot tub itself in that it can lead to an increased build-up of calcium and scale which can be damaging for the moving parts of the hot tub. Your pump may start to get clogged up with scale and your jets become blocked. This means that the pump has to work harder to overcome more resistance and so uses more energy and is also likely to wear out more quickly.

Your hot tub heating element may also start to scale up if your H levels are too high which means that it will take much more energy to heat up the water. Again the hot tub will become more expensive to run and the heating element lifespan might well be shortened.

In terms of the water itself, high PH levels can lead to cloudy and dull water and, most importantly if the PH level isn’t correct your sanitizer won’t work as efficiently. This will mean that you need to use more to keep the sanitization up to a safe level and again, this will lead to more expense.

What causes PH to rise in a hot tub?

PH levels are closely related to the total alkalinity of a hot tub and, if the total alkalinity is too high the PH will follow as well. Even if you get your PH levels perfectly balances one day it is possible that by the next your PH levels will have gone up.

Why is this?

Hot tubs are obviously warm and they have a lot of moving bubbles. This means that they generate carbon dioxide very easily and it is this that causes the PH levels to go up on an almost constant basis. To a certain extent the more the water is churned around by the jets the more it is exposed to the air and the higher the PH levels go.

How can I balance the PH in my hot tub?

This is why it is vitally important to check your PH levels on a daily basis. In fact, having the PH levels correctly balanced really is hot tub maintenance 101 and you need to learn how to do it!

Very often you will find that once you are on top of your PH levels then many other problems with your hot tub water will go away. Luckily it’s not difficult to test and adjust your PH, you just need to get into the habit of doing it.

Wash and dry your hands – Firstly it is a good idea to wash and dry your hands so that there isn’t any risk of contaminating the test strip with sweat, oils, water or dirt from your hands.

Remove a test strip and dip – Test strips should be kept in a watertight container and when you remove them try to hold them by the edges only. You then need to do a quick dip of the test strip into the hot tub water.

Take the reading – The next step is to compare the color the test strip has changed to with the color chart on the side of the packet. This will tell you what the current PH of the water is. The correct PH level should be between 7.2 and 7.8.

Adjust as needed – You now need to add adjustment chemicals to get the PH level to where it should be. Read the side of the packet for directions as to quantities to use.

Once you have added the adjuster chemical you will need to wait for a while for the water to adjust and for the chemical to be absorbed before testing again. If the water is still not within the correct range then adjust again. Keep on going until the PH is within the correct range.

If you have just filled your hot tub or your PH levels are a long way out then this might well be a very long process. It takes time for the water to rebalance as you add the adjustment chemicals and you may need several attempts.

It can be a good idea to keep a notebook of reading and amount of chemical added as you will, over time, start to notice recurring patterns. This will help to save time in the future as you will get to know exactly how much adjustment chemical to add to get the desired result rather than initially relying on trial and error.

Can chlorine cause itchy eyes?

Chlorine can also cause itchy eyes as well as dried out and irritated skin. The chlorine strips away the protective lubricating tear film which leaves the eye vulnerable to all the dirt and debris in the water. It also becomes vulnerable to picking up infections as well and, even though this is a less common problem in hot tubs than swimming pools (due to the fact that the eye isn’t submerged in the water), this can be a problem.

How can I prevent my eyes getting itchy in a hot tub?

Check your PH levels regularly – Having high PH levels is one of the most likely reasons for burning eyes so make sure that you check and adjust your PH levels on a daily basis. With practice, this is a quick and easy process and it will also solve a lot of other water problems as well.

Shock the hot tub regularly and check for chloramines – You should shock your hot tub after each use and certainly after a period of heavy usage. If you do this after use, it allows time for the shock to dissipate and avoids the risk of getting into an over-chlorinated hot tub at your next soak.

Don’t go under the water -It sounds obvious but hot tubs are not designed for underwater swimming! Keep your head above water all of the time to avoid the water getting into your eyes.

Try to avoid splashing water into the eyes – It also stands to reason that the more water you get into your eyes the more likely they are to start burning. Try to avoid splashing water into your eyes if at all possible and also avoid rubbing your eyes if you can.

Shower straight after getting out of the hot tub – It’s always a good policy to shower when you get out of the hot tub to make sure that any bacteria you may have picked up is washed away. This is also good for your eyes as the clean water will replace any water from the hot tub.

Wear goggles or glasses – If your eyes are extremely sensitive to the water and you are still having problems then you might want to consider wearing goggles or glasses. Glasses shouldn’t be too much of a hindrance to wear in the hot tub and will prevent splashing and some water vapor from getting to your eyes.

Avoid wearing contact lenses in the hot tub – You shouldn’t wear contact lenses in a hot tub as it increases the risk of eye infection. They can also make it more likely that the water will irritate your eyes if water gets behind them. Either do not wear contact lenses at all or wear glasses instead.

Splash your eyes with cool fresh water and apply lubricating drops -If you do get burning eyes then get out of the hot tub, try not to rub them and start by splashing your face and eyes in cool clean water. Follow this up by applying lubricating eye drops which should help to ease the irritation. The temptation to rub your eyes will probably be strong but try to avoid this as it can just work the irritating water into the eye further, dry your eyes out and make matters worse.