Dear Dream Maker Spas,

We’re going out of town for a week, and a friend’s college-aged son will be staying at the house to care for the pets and plants while we’re away. We installed a hot tub since the last time he watched the house for us. Is it okay to give him a set of rules for the hot tub, or am I being crazy? After all, he is a smart person, and we already trust him with our home and our pets.

Sincerely,
Overthinking in Ontario

Dear Overthinking,

The hot tub may be a fun new perk for your house sitter, making his stay more enjoyable and guaranteeing a “yes” the next time you need a house sitter.

It’s definitely okay to give him some rules about the hot tub! As a hot tub owner you did your research and have a lot of information about spas. We can’t assume that your house sitter comes equipped with the same knowledge about hot tubs.

Set some simple rules for his health and safety and to protect your spa:
1) The cover needs to stay on (and locked) unless you’re using the spa – this helps keep the water hot, saves energy, and offers a layer of protection.
2) Rinse off before getting in the water — detergent and soap residue can make the water foamy and mess with the water chemistry or filter
3) If leaves/pollen/pine needles fall into the spa, skim when you’re done with your soak.
4) Don’t drink and soak — drinking before or while soaking is very dangerous. It can cause drowsiness and dizziness and could even lead to drowning
5) Limit soak time — a 15-20 minute soak will help you relax. Staying in too long can dehydrate you and could lead to overheating

Finally, unless your house sitter does know a thing or two about hot tubs, we’d recommend telling him to not try adjusting the water’s chemical balance. Without very specific instructions, your well-intentioned house sitter could throw off the water’s balance by adding wrong quantities of chemicals.

You may have your own “house rules” for the spa that you want to include, but these simple ones cover the bases of keeping your house sitter (and your spa) safe. After all, it’s not about him being a smart person; it’s about you being smart enough to give him the information he needs.

Have fun on your trip!