When it comes to major additions to your property such as a swim spa, potential owners can get quite nervous about how much they will cost to run. There’s a good reason for that. A swim spa will obviously increase the amount of water usage around your home. It will also need electricity to heat the water and generate the current to swim against. If you’ve never owned one before it’s only natural to ask yourself the question, “How much electricity does a swim spa use?” We’ve come up with an article that will go over the various elements of the swim spa that affect the cost of operation as well as give some suggestions on how to keep the costs as low as possible.
Swim Spa Electricity Consumption
There are many different aspects of swim spa use that contribute to the consumption of electricity. We’ll break these down to make them easier to identify.
How Much Swimming Will You Do?
The amount you use your swim spa for swimming will dictate how much the current generator is working. Generating a current to swim against is one of the largest uses of electricity when it comes to operating a swim spa. If you swim every day your electrical use will obviously be higher than if you rarely use it.
How Much Hot Tubbing Will You Do?
The second largest use of electricity will result from heating the water. Because the comfortable temperature for a hot tub can be as much as 15 degrees Celsius higher than when it’s used for swimming, the more you use your swim spa as a hot tub, the more it will cost.
How Big Is Your Swim Spa?
The larger your swim spa, the more energy that will be required to heat the water and generate a current. That said, you should ensure you get a swim spa of a size that meets your needs. Getting a swim spa that’s too small just to save some money on your electricity bill will only cause you grief.
What Type of Climate Do You Have?
Where you live and the type of weather and temperatures you experience will play a role in how much electricity you need to keep the water at a reasonable temperature. Unlike a swimming pool, it’s possible to run a swim spa all year round – even if you experience harsh winters. That said, the colder it gets, the more it will cost to control your water temperature.
How Insulated Is Your Swim Spa?
How well your swim spa is insulated will also determine how much electricity is needed to maintain the correct water temperature. Inground swim spas will benefit from the natural insulation provided by the ground it’s embedded in. For above ground swim spas, insulation around the cabinet and plumbing will reduce the amount of heat lost to the environment. You should also cover the swim spa with a well-fitting, insulated cover when it’s not in use to prevent heat escaping.
How to Minimize Electricity Usage
Although it may seem implausible, the fact is that you will use less electricity if you keep your water heater constantly running than if you turn it off each time after you finish using the swim spa. It takes much more electricity to heat up cold water than it does to keep warm water at a consistent temperature. The only time it makes sense to turn off the water heater completely is if you don’t plan on using it for more than a few weeks. If you’re away for shorter periods of time and want to save some money, simply turn down the thermometer a few degrees rather than turning it off completely. If you need to turn off your swim spa during the winter, it’s important to drain the tub entirely. Allowing the water to freeze can cause irreparable damage.
To learn more about the benefits of owning a swim spa, download a free buyer’s guide below today, or visit us at our London swim spa store.