How much does it cost to run a hot tub?

Besides inquiring about features and installation procedures, one of the most common hot tub questions asked by many people looking to invest in this type of at-home spa system revolves around hot tub energy costs – specifically, how much does it cost to run a hot tub?

And if we’re being honest, it’s a fair question. After all, it’s hard to imagine this sort of heated relaxation bath not adding costs to your monthly energy bills, and you’ll almost certainly notice a slight increase in your outgoings due to the associated energy needed to heat a hot tub properly.

But exactly how much does it cost to run a hot tub, and is there a way to keep your hot tub energy costs low so that your bills stay well within your budget? For example, air-source heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular trend in the hot tub world as a more efficient hot water heating method that works all year round.

Regardless, if you’re thinking about buying a hot tub in the near future, and you want to know more about the average cost of running a hot tub, take a look at our guide below for all the essential details.

 

Is it expensive to run a hot tub?

When it comes to discussing the expenses around running a hot tub, asking whether or not it’s expensive to run this sort of spa system is not really the right question. Rather, you should consider how much it will cost you specifically to heat your hot tub, and will the resulting increase in your household bills still be within your budget?

No matter which way you look at it, investing in a hot tub will increase your home’s running costs. But how much these will increase by will be dependant on numerous factors, such as:

• The kWh price of your current energy provider.
• How often you use your hot tub.
• Your hot tub’s size.
• How often you fill your tub with fresh water.
• The efficiency of your hot tub’s heater.
• How often you need to heat your hot tub water from scratch.
• How often you need to buy new hot tub chemicals.
• The associated price of having your hot tub serviced yearly.

Indeed, as you can see above, the costs around heating and using a hot tub are not just restricted to energy prices, and there are many other areas of hot tub ownership that you’ll need to account for when calculating how much it will cost you to run your hot tub.

 

How much does it cost to run a hot tub per month?

Generally speaking, we here at The Wellness Co. find that our hot tubs use between 6.5kw and 8kw per day, meaning that running your hot tub for a few hours will likely cost you anywhere from £1.70 to £2.50.

Thus, if you were to use your hot tub every day for a month, you would spend roughly £25 to £37.5 on the cost of energy. However, in most cases, hot tub owners do not use their hot tubs every day, and in many cases, your associated energy costs will be lower than these prices.

 

How much does it cost to heat a hot tub per year?

Assuming you were to run your hot tub every day for an entire year, you could expect to spend between £400 and £500 over the course of those 12 months for the energy required to heat and run its systems.

 

What is the average cost of running a hot tub?

As we’ve already touched on, there is far more associated with the cost of running a hot tub than heating alone. Both water sanitisation and hot tub servicing will also form a key part of your hot tub running budget, further increasing the overall cost of using your hot tub year-round.

In terms of water and sanitisation expenses, most hot tub owners can expect to pay between £250-£300 on water refills and purchasing the required hot tub chemicals needed to maintain your hot tub’s water chemistry, while a yearly hot tub service and regular maintenance typically costs £200-£500 – depending on what needs doing.

 

How can you reduce the average cost of running a hot tub?

So, now that you have a greater understanding of just how much it could cost you to run your new hot tub, you’re probably wondering if there’s anything you can do to help lower these costs. And while you won’t be able to eliminate them entirely, doing some or all of the following is a great way to reduce your hot tub bills:

• Invest in insulation – although more expensive at face value, high-end hot tubs tend to have much better insulation, which in turn means better heat retention during and outside hot tub use. In other words, you’ll spend less time heating your water, thus saving money on the cost of heating a hot tub.
• Buy a cover – in the same way in-built hot tub insulation can keep the heat in, so too can a good hot tub cover. The majority of a hot tub’s heat is lost via evaporation and water exposure, so a shield your tub with a thick, insulated top will prevent this from happening.
• Do regular maintenance – while not directly related to reducing your hot tub’s energy bills, a good hot tub maintenance routine is essential for keeping your hot tub in working order, which in turn means cheaper yearly check-ups and less money spent on replacement parts down the line.
• Switch energy providers – regardless of how you operate your hot tub, the main factor impacting your energy price will be your energy provider. So, if you’re finding their tariffs too steep, it’s always worth shopping around to see if you can find a cheaper alternative.
• Leave your hot tub on – this might sound counterintuitive given the topic of this article, but seeing as reheating your hot tub’s water is often the most expensive part of operating a hot tub, if you plan to use your at-home spa system multiple days in a row, leaving running between uses to maintain water temperature will actually make your hot tub more energy efficient.

 

Investing in an air-source heat pump

While all of the methods we’ve discussed above are viable ways to keep your hot tub costs low, if you’re really committed to keeping energy costs to a minimum, then you might want to consider investing in an air-source heat pump.

Air source heat pumps work by extracting natural heat from the outside air and directing it over an evaporator coil and through a heat exchanger system to increase the temperature of your hot tub’s water. As a result, they’re much cheaper to run than a standard hot tub heater.

In fact, based on our own testing we found that a good air source heat pump uses around 3.36kWh, compared to a standard heater’s 7kWh, meaning a hot tub operating with an air source heat pump will cost just £0.85 per day compared to the average £1.70 – that’s a saving of 50%!

 

Save on your hot tub’s running cost with The Wellness Co.

With all of that covered, you should hopefully now have a much better idea of how much it costs to run a hot tub, and what you can do to save much on these costs once your new hot tub is installed.

Of course, if you want to make sure you’re hot tub is as energy-efficient as possible before installation, then why not take a look at our range of air-source heat pumps at the same time as browsing our hot tubs and swim spas?

Perfect for helping you save energy, our air source heat pumps are relatively inexpensive to install and will start saving you money in no time. Get in touch today to find out more from our experts, and don’t forget to book a visit to our showroom for a first-hand experience of how these heaters operate.