Many potential hot tub owners are reticent about taking the plunge because they don’t know what operating one will do to their electricity bill. A huge rise in monthly expenses would be the opposite of soothing and relaxing. So, how much does it cost to operate a hot tub? While most hot tub owners will typically see a rise of about $25 to $50 per month in their electricity bill, the actual cost will depend on several variables. Really what it comes down to is how much power does a hot tub use. In this article we’ll go over some of the factors that will influence the answer to this question.
What Components Influence How Much Power A Hot Tub Uses?
It only stands to reason that any hot tub component that requires electricity will be a consumer of power. But not all components consume power equally. Your mood lighting or stereo system may provide the biggest wow factor when it comes to showing off your hot tub to your friends, but the biggest energy hogs on the hot tub are well hidden and rarely thought about by the casual user. The component with the biggest influence on how much electricity your hot tub uses is the water heater. It takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of water by a single degree – never mind getting it up to the top temperature 40 degrees Celsius. After the water heater, it’s the water pump that’s the next biggest consumer of power. The water pump enables the filtration system to do its job while also providing the much coveted massaging action. Since both of these components are pretty much integral to the definition of a hot tub, you can’t really save energy by getting rid of them. You’ll have to use some other strategies which we’ll cover below.
Electrical Differences in Hot Tubs
Electrically speaking, there are two different types of hot tubs on the market. 110 Volt hot tubs are typically referred to as plug and play models as they get their power by plugging them into a standard, three pronged electrical outlets. The more powerful models are known as hardwired hot tubs. These require the installation of a GFCI protected 220 Volt circuit to which the hot tub is connected by a ticketed electrician. And while plug and play models generally use less than half the power of the hardwired hot tubs, their reduced power means that you can’t run the water heater and the jets on high at the same time. For those who use their hot tubs for short periods of time only this isn’t much of a drawback. However, if you plan on having all day hot tub parties with full massage capabilities, you’ll be better off investing in a hardwired hot tub.
Reducing the Amount of Power Used By A Hot Tub
As mentioned above, there are some strategies that you can employ to reduce the amount of power used by your hot tub. Because the water heater is the main consumer of electricity, most tips are related to conserving water heat. But general care and maintenance that makes your hot tub run smoothly will also play a role in reducing the waste of power.
Invest in A Hot Tub Cover
Placing a properly fitted and insulated cover on the hot tub when it isn’t being used will drastically reduce the amount of heat lost from the water – especially in cold weather. And that doesn’t even acknowledge the job a cover does in reducing the amount of dirt and debris that end up in the water. A good hot tub cover will pay for itself in no time flat.
If you want to learn more about how much energy does a hot tub use, download a free buyer’s guide below today, or visit us at our London hot tub store.