If you’re considering purchasing a hot tub, you may be worried about the prospect of your electricity bill going through the roof. Such concerns are understandable as maintaining a warm temperature in a hot tub historically required a lot of energy. However, these days, if you’re planning on purchasing a new hot tub, we’ve got fantastic news for you: in recent years, manufacturers have rapidly improved hot tub energy efficiency, and therefore the difference in your monthly electric bill is likely to be far less than you first anticipated. Here at The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company we’ve put together a guide on just how cost-effective running a hot tub can be as well as provided details to explain the water costs when filling a hot tub and the yearly chemical costs.

What’s the energy consumption of a hot tub?

Many factors influence the total expense of any large-ticket item. A hot tub’s overall cost is calculated by its height, efficiency, style, and location, while the amount of energy it uses is determined by:

• The cost of energy per kilowatt in your location
• Your location’s climate
• The size of your hot tub
• How well your hot tub is insulated
• Whether your hot tub has a custom-fitting cover      

What contributes to the energy consumption of a hot tub?

Water replacement – The replacement of spa water is part of routine cleaning. Some hot tubs require you to drain and refill the hot tub two to three times each year. After refilling, the water will need to be heated again, contributing to a slight rise in your next energy bill.  

Taking good care of your hot tub –Make sure you’re using a high-quality, well-fitting insulated cover as well as cleaning the filters regularly. Both of which will significantly reduce your hot tub’s electrical consumption.

Frequency of use – It may sound obvious but, the upkeep cost of a hot tub is affected by how much it is used – the more frequently you use it, the more energy it will consume. More uses mean more heat loss, putting more pressure on the hot tub’s internal systems, resulting in higher energy consumption.

When I’m not using my hot tub, should I turn it off?

No, you shouldn’t turn off your hot tub – even when you’re not using it. It’s not cost-effective to turn it off between uses. You’ll save more energy by maintaining your hot tub at your desired temperature rather than reheating it for each and every use. Even if you only use your hot tub once a week, you should still keep it running continuously. If you go away on holiday for more than 2 weeks, you may want to lower the water temperature to around 30 degrees Celsius, but otherwise, keep the hot tub running normally.

If you are smart with the way you look after your hot tub, providing it with the proper care and maintenance whilst following this advice, the upkeep of a hot tub can be very cost-effective. The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company have a wide range of hot tubs available that can cater to every need and budget.