How much does it cost to heat your hot tub? (Part 1)
As energy prices in the UK are rising, so too will the costs of running your hot tub. Energy prices have risen more that 25% in the last year and are currently around 25p/kWh.
Costs:
The costs of running your hot tub will differ depending on the specification of the hot tub, the quality of insulation, and the efficiency of the pumps and heaters used. A standard cheaper 4-5 person hot tub with a capacity of 1200L, a 2kW heating system, and 30W pump will cost around £844.48 per year to heat. That does not include the cost of the hot tub or any other maintenance costs. This cost figure comes from estimating the hot tub heater and pump to be running for 8 hours a day, for 4 days a week. Which totals 3377.92kWh per year, and at 25p/kWh the cost of £844.48 is reached.
Ways to reduce running costs:
A good quality hot tub will cost you less to run in the long term (around £530/year), as it will come with better insulation and more efficient hardware.
Insulation has been mentioned above, however it is very important! If you can reduce unwanted heat loss from the hot tub whilst it is not being used, you will be saving pennies per day and pounds per week. A good groundsheet, hot tub lid and cover will make all the difference.
The location of your hot tub is also of importance - a sheltered area away from the wind can help maintain temperature whilst in use and on standby.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but keeping your hot tub running on stand-by to maintain its temperature is a lot more energy efficient than switching it on and off before and after uses. It takes much more energy to heat water from a low temperature to a high temperature, as opposed to maintaining the water at a high temperature - provided the hot tub is well insulated.
Whilst the hot tub is not being used, ensure that the jets are switched off. This will save you pumping power and, most importantly, it will reduce the hot tub being cooled down by the air bubbles produced by the jet.
The best and most sustainable way to reduce the heating costs of your hot tub is using SolarisKit’s Solar collectors coupled with our new custom solar controller, which only switches the pump on when there is enough energy from the sun to heat your hot tub. For more information on this cost saving system feel free to read the following blog article: SolarisKit’s Solar Hot Tub Heating Solution *LINK*
