With the cost of energy in the UK and Europe increasing at a rate not seen before, some hot tub owners are growing increasingly concerned about the cost of keeping their hot tubs running, especially as we move into the colder winter months.
We are seeing an increased amount of incoming emails and phone calls asking if it is possible to reduce the cost of keeping their spa running, rather than having to drain it for the winter. We know that the majority of hot tub owners enjoy and benefit from using their hot tub more in the winter, especially those who suffer with joint pain and arthritis, so wanted to share some good news with some tips about how you can reduce the cost of heating and maintaining your spa moving forward.
In this blog we will explore what can be done to help reduce energy usage in your hot tub, firstly without having to invest any money at all, and then by suggesting investments that can help short, medium and long term, and allow you the peace of mind to continue to enjoy your favourite little luxury ongoing.
- Adjust the temperature your spa is set to.
The first and simplest way to reduce your hot tub running costs, without having to invest any money, is to reduce the set temperature of your spa water. Just as with your central heating in the home, reducing the temperature by just one or two degrees will reduce your hot tub running costs. You should also consider, if you are not using the spa for a week or two at a time, try turning the temperature right down to the minimum setting and then turning it back up when you are ready to start using the spa again, rather than maintaining it at your normal favoured temperature. Customers with an Air Source heat Pump fitted to their spas will be able to remove and add heat very quickly.
- Check you are using the correct filter cycles for your usage and reduce if possible.
It is worth checking your spas settings for filter cycles to ensure you are not running them for longer than is necessary. With average use for a family of 4, most hot tubs require 2 x 2hr filter cycles in a 24hr period, depending on the filtration and purification system the spa is equipped with. However if your usage has decreased or some members of the household aren’t using the spa for as long or as frequently, try shortening the filter cycle. This will mean that the spas pumps will not be activated for as long automatically each day and reduce energy consumption. Hot tubs with 24hr circulation pumps installed may not actually require this to run all day every day to maintain good water quality. Try adjusting this if possible but remember to increase again if usage increases. Different hot tubs will have different filter designs and different purification systems, so be sure to check your owners manual and check in with your hot tub retailer for advice and to help adjust the settings correctly.
- Turn off air controllers.
Make sure that when not in use, that all air controllers are turned off. Aeration of the water will inject cooler air into the main body of water which can drive the overall temperature down, which in turn leads to the heater needing to kick in to bring the temperature back up to the temperature you have it set to.
- Consider the positioning of your hot tub and how exposed it is to the elements.
If your hot tub is quite exposed to the elements, consider either moving it to an area of the garden which is more sheltered from wind, rain and snow, or moving potted plants or fencing to provide more of a shield. Although spas are designed for outdoors and can cope with the rigours of a harsh winter, the more sheltered the spa is from wind chill in particular the more efficient it will be to run. Shelters such as gazebos, pergolas and log cabins also protect hot tubs from the elements and prolong the life of the hot tubs insulating cover etc.
- Maintain good water quality.
Maintaining the quality of the water in a hot tub is good practise as it will also protect the spas components and ultimately can prolong their life. A consistently balanced pH between 7.2 and 7.8 will ensure that chlorine is working effectively at killing off bacteria and also that the water is not scale forming. Unbalanced pH will make the water corrosive as well as unpleasant to bath in, and will ultimately lead to deterioration of jets and other spa components, which in turn leads to costly repairs and replacements.
Hard water areas require a weekly dose of Scale control (ScaleAway) which prevents scale build up on heater elements and also in any moving parts such as the wet ends of pumps. Keeping scale at bay can save money on costly repairs and keep everything working at its most efficient. A heater element covered in calcium build up will need to run longer to transfer heat into the water, using more energy than necessary. It can also lead to arching and the failure of the heater element needing replacement.
These simple checks and adjustments can have an impact and help reduce your overall running cost with no investment of money, only your time. Bigger impacts can be made on running costs in the following ways but will involve some investment which will see a return over time.
Before making such investments it is important to consider the length of time it will take for you to recover the cost of the investment , but also the age of the spa. If your spa is getting on a bit, then like a car, you have to make a judgment call as to if it is worth spending your hard earned cash on. If the hot tub is new or only a few years old then it is possibly worth investing in, to drive down future running costs. However if it is seven or eight years old or more, then, you may be better investing in trading in for a newer model with more effective insulation utilising the latest technology, and also benefitting from new warranty cover. If you are unsure or would like advice please feel free to contact your local MySpa store and ask to speak to one of our team.
Here are some additional ways you can help reduce hot tub running costs and ensure your spa is running efficiently: -
- Make sure your hot tub service log is up to date.
Having your hot tub serviced regularly, just as with a car, allows a qualified hot tub technician to test and inspect each element of your hot tubs components and ensure they are all running efficiently. They will be checking for signs of ware and tare and can take preemptive measures to avoid you any unnecessary repair bills. A full report of the health of your hot tub is provided on completion and recommendations made where appropriate.
A one-off hot tub service costs from £199. Service and maintenance plans allow you to spread the cost of servicing and range from just £34.99 per month.
- Check the condition of your hot tub cover.
Hot tub covers generally have a life expectancy of around 3 to 5 years. The best quality ones can last a little longer, yet some cheaper covers have been known to last only 12 to 18 months. The hot tub cover is the most important element of its entire insulation system. They protect the spa from the elements above, keep the heat locked in and restrict moisture evaporation which requires top up and reheating. If your hot tub cover is heavy, it is likely saturated with water that cannot be removed and the vapour barriers have been compromised or disintegrated. Heat will transfer through the cover more easily and be lost. Once a cover has reached that state, it is also likely putting additional strain on the spas cover lifter (where fitted) and in turn often a lot of strain on the spa cabinetry which can lead to some costly repairs. Consider replacement of the cover to maintain optimum efficiency and protect the cover lifter and cabinetry panels. It is highly recommended to ensure the cover has a continuous heat seal to minimise heat lost through the cover centre fold.
Replacement hot tub covers of good quality range from approximately £500 to £700 for the average 2.1-2.4m square hot tub.
- Add a heat and moisture retaining floating cover.
Floating blankets are a great way to trap heat at the waters surface in your hot tub, yet they also reduce water lost through condensation and also limit chemical and ozone off-gas damage to surface parts and prolong the life of the main cover. There are various materials available for floating blankets but it is important to use something that won’t break down easily. We have found Thermalux 12mm pool cover to work well as it is effective up to 42 degrees centigrade. Floating blankets can be fiddly to cut to the exact shape and size but the results can be well worth it.
Floating blankets range from approximately £190 to £290 depending on the size of the material you require.
- Install additional insulation where possible.
The most insulated spas will be ‘fully foamed’ behind the cabinetry panels meaning there is little room for additional insulation and will be running pretty efficiently anyway. The only thing that can be added to these spas internally if they don’t already have it is a layer of (Spa quilt) reflective bubble wrap around the perimeter of the spa inside the panels. This can act as a last layer of insulation and heat reflection.
Spas insulated with less foam or just reflective blankets can also install a layer of KingSpa insulation blocks to the inside of the cabinetry panels. This is the same material used in the building trade to insulate stud walls and also for roof insulation.
Typically the cost of adding insulation to an existing spas starts from approximately £250 depending on the spa itself, location, accessibility and also the method of insulation required.
- Install an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)
Widely used in new build eco-friendly homes and commercial buildings, air source heat pumps have also long been a popular choice for heating swimming pools. Now they are also fast becoming the upgrade of choice for hot tub owners and buyers, due to the significant impact they can have on the energy consumed by a hot tub, reducing running costs and also massively decreasing heat up times, something particularly important in holiday park hot tub settings.
ASHP'S can work effectively all year round, using a third of the power consumption (Typically 1kW) of your spas own in line heater (typically 3kW) to create an output of up to 12kW and more.
They can be fitted to most makes and models of hot tub or swim spa with a minor plumbing alteration, and in some cases will even plug into the spas existing control system to allow you to alter temperature settings through the spas topside control. Where that is not possible, the heat pump will have its own control panel, in most cases simple touchscreen controls which can be accessed easily on the unit itself.
The entire hot tub and swim spa industry has this year embraced this technology and already many new build models are being manufactured ‘Heat Pump Ready’, with plumbing already in place ready to be connected up to easily from the start!
Using an ASHP for hot tubs can save up to 80% on heating costs and work in temperatures down to -15 degrees centigrade. This can provide the biggest return on investment but with a longer timescale due to the upfront cost of installing one.
Good quality Air Source Heat Pumps range from approximately £2,000 to £4,000 and require additional plumbing parts at a cost of approximately £250 and fitting at a cost of approximately £250 to £350.
- Consider upgrading your spa!
Although the most expensive way to reduce running costs, it is worth remembering that older spas and models with less insulation, tend to be less energy efficient. If you have had your spa a while and enjoy the endless health and social benefits of owning a spa, then it might be time to consider investing in a new one with all of the latest technology designed to make it easier to enjoy and maintain and with the very latest insulation technology to guarantee lower running costs. It is recommended to combine such a purchase with an energy saving hot tub air source heat pump which will help reduce your cost of ownership throughout the life of the spa.
An example of newer technology reducing running costs is the 2022 model of the global best selling Sundance Spas 880 Series Optima, which with its new FlexFill method of insulation has tested to use between 4% and 7% less energy than its 2021 model predecessor by the California Energy Commission. This model can also be upgraded with an Air Source Heat Pump.
Summary.
Owning a hot tub has always been a lifestyle choice, one which people make for a variety of different reasons. Some are looking for better quality time or to reconnect with friends and family, to help soothe aches and pains or improve their quality of sleep, to manage the symptoms of type two diabetes or fibromyalgia, or simply a place to relax and enjoy their home and the outdoors all year round. Hot tub ownership is seldom regretted and can bring so many benefits to peoples way of life.
It is important therefore to remember that even with the cost of energy rising as it has done, it is still likely cheaper to run your hot tub for a day, than it is to enjoy a coffee from Costa for 10 minutes! Over the course of a month, running a hot tub is probably cheaper than a Sky TV package or gym membership.
By looking at the ways we have described above to reduce your overall running costs you can continue to enjoy your hot tub all year round and maintain affordable running costs moving forward.
If you would like any help understanding which solutions might be best for you or would like accurate costing for any upgrades such as an Air Source Heat Pump for your hot tub please contact a member of our team today,
MySpa Leicester: 01164 645 870
MySpa Cheshire: 01625 919 150
MySpa Rutland: 01572 494 630
MySpa Derbyshire: 01332 389 810
Email: aftercare@myspashop.co.uk