With lockdowns, closure of public facilities and self-isolation orders, people have become much more interested in getting their exercise done at home. For those who love swimming, access to the local swimming pool may not even be currently possible. And being in the middle of winter, installing a full size outdoor pool doesn’t provide an immediate solution to the problem. However, swim spas can be used throughout the year and require a lot less space than a full sized swimming pool. They’re also much cheaper than a full sized swimming pool. But how much cheaper are they? If you’re generating a water current powerful enough to swim against, how much electricity does a swim spa use? To give you a general idea of the electrical needs of a swim spa, we’ve put together this list of considerations.
How Much Electricity Does A Swim Spa Use?
Answering this question isn’t completely straightforward because of all the variables involved. What may be true in one locality may not be true in another. And the way in which a single person uses a swim spa can be very different compared to how a large family uses one. The biggest factor that dictates the amount of electricity used is the amount the swim spa gets used. If you compare a swim spa in a commercial gym that’s running for 18 hours a day, it will obviously use more electricity than a backyard swim spa that gets used a couple of times a week. Only you can tell how much your swim spa will actually get used and therefore how much electricity gets used.
Size
Bigger swim spas will generally use more electricity. There’s more water that needs to be pumped and heated – the two operations that require the most power. That being said, some of the larger swim spas on the market have an additional tank that acts as a hot tub. If you use the hot tub regularly and need to keep it running at maximum temperature, you’ll be using more electricity than a swim spa that doesn’t have this feature. On the other hand, if you’re using the main swim spa tank as a hot tub – which many people with smaller tanks choose to do – you may find yourself using more electricity than someone with a much larger swim spa.
Peak Electricity Consumption Hours
In an attempt to modify people’s electrical usages, many municipalities have introduced peak electricity consumption hours. Ultimately this means that electricity is more expensive when more people are using it. If you operate power intensive appliances during off peak hours, you’ll end up paying less. If you live in an area with this type of electrical billing, you might want to schedule your swimming sessions to reduce your bills. You may not actually be using less electricity, but you’ll be paying less for it.
Winter Use
Swim spas are unique in that they allow you to swim outdoors in the middle of winter. Full sized swimming pools have too much water to be able to keep it heated enough to avoid freezing. Swim spas, on the other hand, are small enough that the water temperature can be maintained at whatever level you consider comfortable. But of course, you’ll end up using a lot more electricity when you run your swim spa in colder weather. The climate you live in will play a major role in your electricity consumption.
Maintaining Water Temperature
If reducing the amount of electricity, you’re using is a major concern, it’s much more efficient to keep your water heater running. It may sound counterintuitive but heating the water up every time you want to use the swim spa requires much more energy than maintaining a constant temperature. If you won’t be using the swim spa for several weeks, it may make sense to turn off the heater. But if your swim spa is getting used regularly, keeping the water temperature consistent will use less electricity.
To learn more about swim spa energy use, download a free buyer’s guide below today, or visit us at our London swim spa store.