Owning a hot tub can be expensive, and these days everyone is looking for ways to cut costs as prices soar. So, knowing some ways to lower your electricity bills when it comes to heating the hot tub and retaining it is key to being more cost-effective with your energy bills.
A hot tub user can spend $25 a month on heating a hot tub, but there are a few ways to lower those costs further. A good cover, lowering the thermostat when away and for use, and creating a windbreak are a few ways to maintain lower heating bills since that is the main electrical cost.
Heating a hot tub can become expensive when you don’t take certain precautions to keep those electrical bills down. Something as simple as having a good cover or lowering the temperature when you are away are solid and verified ways to help keep your energy bills down.
What is the Most Economical Way to Run a Hot Tub?
Saving money wherever you can is vital to lower your bills in all areas. Owning and running a hot tub can make your electricity bill skyrocket, but with a few tips, you can help minimize the damage.
Have a Good Cover
The best way to lower your electricity bills with your hot tub is to invest in a good quality cover. Having a cheap cover, or none allows that heat that costs so much to rise into the air and go to waste. Investing in a quality cover like a deluxe or extreme cover can help retain that heat and reduce costs.
You also want to check the cover hinge regularly. The hinge is the weak spot on the cover where most of the heat will escape, so making sure it is still intact and has two stoppers on either side is critical.
In colder climates, you can invest further and get a full-length steam stopper upgrade that helps keep your hot tub even more insulated.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking for a good cover is the fit. One too small will allow the heat to escape from the sides. While one too big does the same thing, but because there is too much overhang. You want the cover to fit snuggly and cover the entire hot tub.
Lower the Thermostat
Lowering your hot tub thermostat can be another way to help reduce your bills. If you turn it down by a few degrees, you won’t notice a difference, but the cost to heat the hot tub will go down.
Going from 104 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit can have quite an effect on your energy bills.
Set up a Wind Block
Creating a windbreak with a fence, foliage, or privacy screens can help keep the wind off of you and the hot tub and therefore keep heat loss to a minimum. The breeze will significantly cool the hot tub; let’s face it, being in the wind while in the hot tub is not enjoyable.
Another way to reduce bills is to install some solar panels. While your hot tub might not be able to run off them solely, it can help reduce some of the pressure on your electricity bills.
Lower the Thermostat When Away
We already talked about lowering your thermostat while you are using the hot tub, but lowering it further when you know you will be away or not using the hot tub for some time is a great way to minimize your energy costs.
During the summer, you can turn it off completely, but in the winter, you need to maintain a degree of heat to prevent the hot tub from freezing and causing a whole host of issues.
Heat at Off-Peak Times
If you plan on using the hot tub that day, try heating it during off-peak hours. Peak hours are when most people use electricity, so the cost is higher. Off-peak hours are usually between 11 pm and 7 am when no one is using their electricity, so it’s cheaper.
Restricting your hot tub heating time between 11 pm and 7 am can help you save money and still enjoy your soak at those higher temperatures.
How Much Electricity Does a Hot Tub Use a Month?
The average hot tub uses a 240-volt heating system, about 7.5 kilowatts. First, however, you need to use math to estimate the total electricity it uses.
First, figure out how many hours the hot tub is used each month. Then multiply that number by 7.5. For example, 10 hours x 7.5 = 75 kW hours per month.
The average U.S. electricity per kilowatt hour is roughly .13 cents. So 75kWh x .13 cents is around $10—or $1 per usage hour.
On average, hot tub owners use about $25 worth of electricity a month to maintain and enjoy their hot tubs. Still, it all depends on the material of your hot tub, the temperature it is kept at, your location, and the quality of your cover.
Is it Cheaper to Leave a Hot Tub on All the Time?
Some people are under the impression that turning the hot tub off when not in use will save them money rather than maintaining its hot temperature. This is wrong, as keeping it on is cheaper.
Once the hot tub has reached your preferred temperature, it only has to use a small amount of electricity to keep it there. This is because most of its heating costs come from getting to temperature rather than maintaining it.
This is especially true in the summer when ambient temperature and the hotter climate help maintain that heat. It can be a bit trickier in the winter, but the insulation of your hot tub and the cover can help retain its temperature. Still, turning off your hot tub in the winter can take hours to reheat and cost an abundance to do so.
What Part of a Hot Tub Uses the Most Electricity?
The heater is the costliest part of the hot tub regarding electricity. The added LED lights, music, or other features on the hot tub don’t stand against the electricity usage of the heater since it is responsible for maintaining at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This feat can be rather large in the winter.
It is easier to maintain heat during the summer since the ambient temperature isn’t so different. Still, when the weather gets colder, the heater is tested to maintain that steaming temperature that hot tubs are famous for.
