Legionella Testing for Hot Tubs
Is your hot tub water safe? Our hot tub Legionella testing kit gives owners, holiday let hosts, hotels, and leisure businesses a simple way to find out. Take a sample, send it to our lab, get UKAS accredited certified results. It's that straightforward.
Why Test Your Hot Tub for Legionella bacteria?
| Reason | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Safety | Identifies whether Legionella is present |
| Water management | Backs up your existing maintenance routine |
| Peace of mind | Reassurance, especially after a period of low/no use |
| Record keeping | A dated, documented, certified result |
| Business responsibility | Supports compliance for commercial operators |
Why Can Legionella bacteria be a Concern in Hot Tubs?
Warm water. Constant circulation. A fine mist/aerosol every time it's used. Sound familiar? These are exactly the conditions that let Legionella bacteria multiply and spread.
Hot tubs can be a particular concern because they use warm, often aerated water and produce aerosols that can be breathed in by anyone using or standing close to the tub. If Legionella bacteria are present in the water, these tiny droplets can carry the bacteria into the air, creating a potential route for exposure.
- Warm temperatures (20-50° Celsius) are ideal for bacterial growth
- Spray and aerosols/mists are inhaled easily, transmitting the legionella bacteria to the lungs
- Testing should be part of your cleaning and water management procedures
- Testing doesn't replace good hygiene practices: it tells you whether they're actually working or not.
Regular Legionella testing can help identify whether bacteria are present in hot tub water, providing an important part of a wider approach to your water hygiene and management routine.
Hot Tub Legionella Testing vs Routine Water Testing
Keeping your chlorine levels topped up isn't the same as testing for Legionella. So, what's the difference?
| Feature | Routine Water Testing | Hot Tub Legionella Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Monitors general water quality | Tests specifically for Legionella |
| What's tested | Chemical levels - disinfectant, pH | Presence of Legionella bacteria |
| Method | On-site strips or meters | Laboratory analysis |
| Result | Guides daily treatment | Laboratory confirmed results |
| Certification | Depends on provider | Available where applicable |
Who Should Consider Hot Tub Legionella Testing?
Does my hot tub need a Legionella test?
If you're responsible for a hot tub used by people other than yourself (guests etc), the answer is probably yes.
Private owners - for peace of mind, especially after your tub's been switched off or unused for a while.
Businesses and commercial operators, including:
- Airbnb and holiday-let hosts
- Hotels and guest accommodation
- Holiday parks
- Spas and leisure facilities
- Gyms and health clubs
- Any commercial premises with a hot tub
→ Running a hotel or leisure facility? Visit our Hotels & Leisure page.
How Hot Tub Legionella Testing Works
Four steps. No lab coat required!
- Order your testing kit
- Collect your sample - clear instructions included
- Post it back using the prepaid packaging
- Receive your results and certification within 14 days
Not sure about a step? Support is on hand throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If water systems aren't properly managed, hot tubs can create perfect conditions for Legionella bacteria to breed and grow. The aerosol then produced by operating the hot tub can enable Legionella bacteria to enter human lungs and cause a potentially fatal case of Legionnaires disease. Testing for Legionella bacteria in hot tubs should, therefore, be taken extremely seriously.
The appropriate frequency of Legionella testing depends on the type of hot tub, how it is used, the people exposed and the level of risk identified through a suitable water safety risk assessment. Higher-risk environments, such as commercial spas, accommodations providers (like Airbnb hosts) and facilities used by vulnerable people, may require more frequent monitoring and testing.
If you operate a hot tub where people could be exposed to contaminated water aerosols, Legionella testing can form part of a wider water safety and assessment approach. Testing can provide evidence of whether Legionella was detected in the water sample at the time it was taken, but it shouldn't replace regular cleaning, disinfection, temperature control, and maintenance.
Yes. Domestic hot tub water can be sampled and submitted for Legionella laboratory testing. Testing may be particularly relevant where a hot tub is used regularly, shared by multiple people or there are concerns about water quality or maintenance.
Yes. Commercial hot tubs and spa pools can be tested for Legionella. Businesses operating hot tubs should consider Legionella testing as part of their wider water hygiene management and risk assessment procedures.
Smartwater Testing's Legionella Testing Kit includes a sterile water sample bottle and clear instructions for collecting your hot tub water sample. Once you have followed the instructions and collected your sample, contact us to arrange free courier collection, or use the Freepost return option provided with your kit. Samples should be returned as soon as possible and must reach the laboratory within the required timeframe for testing.
Once your hot tub water sample has been received by the laboratory, the Legionella testing process takes approximately 14 days from receipt of your sample to receiving your results and/or certificate. Legionella samples are cultured in a UKAS accredited laboratory for around 10 days as part of the testing process, so the laboratory testing cannot be expedited.
Yes. We offer Legionella testing kits for hot tubs, allowing you to collect a water sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis. The kit includes the equipment and instructions needed to collect your sample, which can then be returned to us for testing at a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
Once your sample has been tested, you will receive either a laboratory report (if Legionella bacteria is detected) or a certificate (if no Legionella is detected). This will provide you with the documentation you need to show the test results of the water sample(s) provided.