If you’re thinking of buying a hot tub, you may be concerned about how much your electric bill will increase. Such worries are understandable; after all, hot tubs used to require a great deal of power to maintain a constant high temperature. If you’re purchasing a new hot tub, though, there’s good news: In recent years, spa manufacturers have exponentially improved hot tub energy efficiency, and thus the change in your monthly electric bill is likely to be much less than you fear. Here, we’ll address some of your most frequently-asked questions about how much your electric bill is likely to increase when you add a new hot tub to your home.
For any large-ticket item, many variables factor into the overall cost. The total cost of a hot tub depends upon its size, quality, design, and location, while the amount of energy your hot tub uses depends upon the following:
The cost of energy per kilowatt in your location
Your location’s climate
The size of your hot tub
How well your hot tub is insulated
Whether your hot tub has a well-made, custom-fitting cover.
In general, owners of hot tubs from Hot Spring® Spas report an increase in their electric bill of just $10 to $20 per month.
WHAT AFFECTS A HOT TUB’S ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION?
Frequency of use drives the cost to operate a hot tub up or down. The more use a hot tub receives, the more energy it requires. More use means more heat loss, which forces the hot tub’s system and components to work harder.
Taking good care of your tub by using a high-quality, well-fitting insulated cover and cleaning the filters regularly will reduce your hot tub’s electrical consumption.
Heating up your water adds more to your monthly electric bill than maintaining the water at a constant high temperature. After you heat up your new hot tub for the first time, your next electric bill will be slightly higher than it will be in subsequent months.
Spa water replacement is part of normal maintenance. With an EverFresh® water care system, you’ll need to drain and refill the hot tub two to three times each year. After refilling your spa, the water will need to be heated, which will cause a small increase in your next electric bill
The latest Hot Spring innovation to offset the reheating costs is the FreshWater™ salt water system. With proper care, this system will keep your water clean and fresh for up to a year.