Owning a hot tub has numerous benefits. Whenever you need to relax, relieve muscle stiffness, or just spend quality time with your loved ones, you’ve got just the place to do it. Unfortunately, these benefits also come at a cost, and quite literally.
Your hot tub uses electricity, which means your monthly utility bills will increase. But this is far from the only cost of a hot tub. There’s also the cost of the water you use, the water care, cleaning, and repairs.
So, how much does it cost to run a hot tub when you factor in all these expenses? You’ll find out in this article.
Electricity Costs of Running a Hot Tub
Let’s start with the electricity costs of running a hot tub. After all, they’re typically the most significant portion of the overall bill.
Factors Affecting Electricity Costs
No two households will have the same electricity bills. That’s because the cost of electricity depends on numerous factors. For your overall household, some of these factors are the local utility rates, the size of your home, and its energy efficiency.
The same factors influence the cost of running a hot tub. The monthly cost isn’t set in stone. Instead, it hinges on a few factors.
Size and Model
This factor is probably the least surprising. After all, it only makes sense that the larger your hot tub is, the more electricity it generally uses.
It’s similar to owning a pool. Let’s say you own an Olympic-sized pool. You’ll obviously need more electricity to heat the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water these pools hold. A lovely little backyard pool, on the other hand, will need much less energy to heat and circulate the water.
Now, your hot tub probably won’t come anywhere close to an Olympic-size pool in terms of size. However, a seven-person hot tub will still use up more energy than one that fits only one to two people.
Besides needing more electricity to heat the water, bigger models also require more energy to maintain the target temperature. So, keep this factor in mind when choosing the ideal hot tub for your needs. You want it to be spacious enough to fit all your loved ones, clients, or guests. However, it’s also important to balance size with energy efficiency.
Frequency of Use
If you lead a stressful lifestyle – or just like to enjoy yourself – your hot tub might be running non-stop. The same goes for hot tubs used in commercial settings. While there’s nothing wrong with soaking all your troubles away on a daily basis, you’ll need to pay more for the privilege.
Of course, the more you use your hot tub, the more energy you spend. Again, this energy is required to heat the water, circulate it, and keep it warm for you.
Conversely, this means that you can save money on your electricity bills by using your hot tub less. However, this doesn’t mean you should turn off your hot tub when you’re not using it. Constantly turning the hot tub on and off can actually use up more energy than letting it run constantly. The key is adjusting the heating (and filtration) schedule to save energy when you aren’t actively using the hot tub.
Heating Elements
By now, it’s clear that the longer it takes your hot tub to heat up, the more energy you will require. However, this heating time doesn’t solely depend on the size of your hot tub and its frequency of use. It also depends on the hot tub itself. Or, to be precise, it depends on the efficiency of its heating elements.
If you purchase a hot tub with a high-quality heating system, it will be able to heat the water faster. This also means it will use less energy overall.
Average Monthly Cost for Electricity
On average, your hot tub will use anywhere between 1,500 watts and 6,000 watts of electricity monthly. And that’s just for the heaters. The hot tub pump can add another 1,500 watts to the total tally.
Now, let’s turn these watts into dollars.
The average energy cost of running a hot tub is between £16 and £40 per month. Obviously, this is quite a wide range. However – as you’ve already seen – there are just too many different factors at play.
Besides the ones already covered in this article, your local utility rates and climate can also affect how much you’ll end up paying for electricity.
High-energy models – like the ones with lots of hot tub accessories and features – can spend twice as much as a regular hot tub. Especially if you use them regularly.
Water Usage and Maintenance Costs
As mentioned, energy costs aren’t the only expenses you must worry about when owning a hot tub. The two other categories you should pay close attention to are water usage and maintenance.
Filling and Draining Frequency
In order to keep your hot tub operating correctly, you must keep the water inside clean and balanced. For the most part, this involves treating the water adequately. However, it also involves occasionally draining the entire hot tub and refilling it.
The exact frequency of cleaning depends on how you use your hot tub – how often, how many people use it, and how well you maintain it in the meantime. However, most experts recommend draining your hot tub once every three to four months at the minimum.
Water Treatment and Chemicals
Every hot tub will need regular treatment with chemicals like chlorine, bromine, and pH balancers. Purchasing these chemicals will add to your total bill. However, using high-quality chemicals – and using them regularly – will also reduce the need for frequent draining. In other words, it will save you money in the long run.
That’s not to mention that quality water treatments prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, keeping your hot tub hygienic and safe to use.
Average Monthly Cost for Water and Chemicals
Now that we’ve covered different aspects that incur monthly costs, let’s finally answer the titular question – how much does a hot tub cost to run in total?
As we’ve stated, the electricity costs can run between £16 and £40 per month.
As for water, you’ll need anywhere between £1 and £40 to refill your hot tub. It all depends on the size of your unit, as well as the source of the water. Municipal water is the most affordable option. But remember – you only need to refill your hot tub every three to four months. This means that a hypothetical monthly refill will cost you around £13 at most.
Then, you’ve got the crucial chemicals. These will cost you between £8 and £16 per month, depending on how often you treat your water.
When you add up all the costs, you get an average range of £24 to £69 per month for a healthy hot tub.
However, this is just where the monthly costs end. Every year, you’ll also need to spend between £14 and £48 for filters. Deep cleaning on a quarterly basis will set you back between £170 and £300 per clean for a pro job. If you prefer a DIY approach, you’ll need to spend roughly £80 on cleaning supplies, but you can use them more than once.
Tips to Reduce Hot Tub Operating Costs
As you can see, the cost of operating a hot tub can quickly add up. That’s why any tips to reduce these costs are always welcome. Here are a few.
Energy-Efficient Practices
Energy costs make up for most of the hot tub operating costs. So, by reducing these costs first, you can make a significant dent in the overall expense. And you can do so by using a high-quality, well-insulated hot tub cover to retain the heat, keeping the temperature a few degrees lower, and scheduling heating times to avoid unnecessary energy use.
Water-Saving Techniques
After electricity, water costs can set you back quite a bit. That is, of course, if you aren’t mindful about your water usage. The key to reducing your water costs is limiting frequent draining. You can do so by treating the water properly and regularly.
Installing a filtration system can also go a long way towards keeping your hot tub water clean as long as possible. But it’s also important not to get just any filtration system. Remember – they use electricity too, so you’ll want to opt for a high-quality, energy-efficient system. Otherwise, you’re just adding to your overall costs.
Additional Cost-Saving Tips
Here are a few more cost-saving tips to ease your mind about owning a hot tub.
Invest in an Energy-Efficient Hot Tub Model
By now, it’s obvious that energy efficiency should be your No. 1 priority. This also applies to choosing the hot tub model to purchase. Now, these hot tubs might cost more upfront. However, the long-term cost savings will make any initial investment well worth it.
You’ll recognize an energy-efficient hot tub model by a few characteristics.
This model will have quality insulation to keep the heat inside the tub. This means that the hot tub will spend less energy to reheat the water. You should also look for a model with a variable-speed pump. This type of pump will only provide the needed power. Nothing more, nothing less. And finally, some newer models feature energy-efficient heaters that naturally operate with less electricity. That’s the trifecta of energy efficiency in hot tubs.
Regular Maintenance to Avoid Repairs
Maintaining a hot tub regularly isn’t exactly an inexpensive task. However, compared to repairing a broken tub, it’s pocket change.
So, make sure to regularly inspect the seals and the cover. This will help you avoid leaks (and the costly repairs that come with them). You should also clean or replace the filters as recommended – or as needed. Other key parts you must pay attention to include the pump(s) and the heating elements. Avoid straining these by keeping the water levels in your hot tub consistent.
As you can see, you can do a lot for your hot tub on your own. However, this doesn’t mean professional help isn’t needed. By scheduling routine inspections of your hot tub, you should catch any potential issues early on.
FAQ on Hot Tub Operating Costs
How Much Electricity Does a Hot Tub Use Monthly?
A hot tube uses between 1,500 watts and 6,000 watts of electricity monthly. The exact amount depends on various factors, including the tub size, the heater voltage, and the frequency of use.
What Temperature Is the Most Cost-Effective?
The ideal temperature is between 37.8 degrees Celsius and 38.9 degrees Celsius. But that’s only when you’re using the hot tub. When you aren’t, make sure to lower the temperature.
How Often Should I Change the Water?
You should change the hot tub water every three to four months in most cases. However, if you use the hot tub frequently and live in a warmer climate, you’ll need more frequent water changes.
Luxury on a Budget
If you aren’t careful, the cost to run a hot tub can quickly skyrocket. But let’s be honest – this applies to virtually any appliance you own. However, few of the other appliances will make you feel as good as a cosy hot tub. So, take all the steps necessary – and follow all the tips from this article – to enjoy the ultimate relaxation without overspending. A good place to start is Wellis, your one-stop shop for luxury on a budget.