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Increasing energy costs and environmental concerns are focusing our attention on being as efficient as possible in all areas of our lives. With further energy price rises expected, you’re probably wondering, “How can I reduce hot tub running costs?”
The good news is that there are several simple, practical steps that you can take to reduce the cost of operating your hot tub. Here’s our top ten tips to reduce hot tub running costs:
A thermal blanket adds another layer of heat protection to your hot tub and will be less expensive than buying a completely new replacement cover if your hot tub cover is still in good condition. For example our 600 Micron Heat Retention Blanket can reduce water evaporation and heat loss by over 90%. It’s possible that you will recoup the cost by energy saved within one year. These blankets will also help protect the underside of the hard cover from chemically charged steam.
This might seem obvious but a small decrease in water temperature can result in a big decrease in heating costs! For example, a degree reduction from your hot tubs maximum heat setting will save you approximately 10% off your heating bill. In summertime, it is often more comfortable and more refreshing to run your hot tub at much lower temperatures than at other times of the year – for example a range of 26 – 35 degrees C might be comfortable for you. For more information on water temperature, check out our blog, “Too hot in the hot tub?”
Running your hot tub at your preferred bathing temperature 24/7 is very inefficient and doesn’t really make sense if you only use your tub a few times a week. Most hot tubs will have an economy mode. This mode maintains the water at a lower temperature, which you then heat to bathing temperature when you want to use it. This can often be controlled through a timer, or wi-fi enabled controls to ensure your spa water is warm and ready, when you are!
If you are unlikely to be using your hot tub for an extended period (for example going on vacation), then using the holiday mode setting is essential. This will maintain the water at a much lower temperature setting – saving heating costs, but also reducing the rate at which sanitizer is depleted. This has the added benefit of maintaining water quality while you are away, so that you are less likely to need to undertake a complete water change when you return from your holiday.
Maintaining water quality is a must for a safe and enjoyable hot tub experience, but it will save you money as well! How come? Water chemistry that is “balanced” will require only minor adjustments to sanitizer and pH levels to remain clear and pleasant to bathe in. Irregular water care can lead to problems such as cloudy, milky or foamy water, and scum lines, gritty scale or algae on the hot tub surfaces. You may find yourself using ever greater quantity of expensive chemicals to try and remedy this. If water is too unbalanced, the only solution is often a full water change – and all that fresh water will need to be reheated. We recommend Aquafinesse as a simple and effective way to help you achieve balanced water.
An Air Source Heat Pump can be connected to your hot tub or swimming pool, allowing you to bypass the standard heating element. A heat pump saves a lot of energy because the COP value (Coefficient of Performance) equals 5 or even higher. What does this mean? For every 1 kW of electricity consumed, you regain at least 5 kW of heat. Because of the high return, it is a highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution. By comparison, the standard electric heater element in your hot tub will have a COP value of around 1. For every 1 kW of energy consumed it produces 1kW of heat. So on average an air source heat pump will save you around 75% of your heating costs. If you are frequent users of your hot tub, or run your hot tub in a business setting (eg a holiday let) the savings are likely to be so significant you can recoup the cost of the heat pump in as few as 18 months.
There is no point putting clean water through a dirty filter! Not only will this complicate your efforts to keep your water in balance, but it is also less energy efficient. If your filters are dirty or even clogged, the pumps that drive the filtration system must work harder to maintain water flow. Over time this will result in increased energy consumption.
We recommend rinsing your filter on a weekly basis using an instant filter cleaner or a soak filter cleaner. Having a spare set of filters is a fantastic idea so that you can rotate one set while cleaning the others. That way you will never have any downtime on your hot tub. If you don’t like the mess of filter cleaning, the Estelle Filter Cleaning System is the answer for you!
It may be that you have no option other than to undertake a full water change. Even with good routine maintenance, we recommend a water change at least every 3-4 months. If you are using your hot tub in a business setting (eg a holiday let) then HSG 282 regulations dictate that you must change the water after each letting period / changeover. It’s more energy efficient to refill your hot tub with water warmed from your domestic hot water supply (ensuring that it is no hotter than 40 degrees C) than it is to fill the hot tub with cold water and wait for the hot tubs heating element to do all the work. Your spa will be ready for you to use more quickly as well!
Ok, so this isn’t necessarily going to be the cheapest option in the short-term! Budget hot tubs, particularly inflatable hot tubs such as Lay-z-Spa lack the insulation that is provided with a high-quality acrylic shell hot tub. For example, Master Spas hot tubs use an Icynene System that expands to 100 times its initial volume. This insulates and air-seals the spa. The resulting blanket of soft foam forms a continuous thermal barrier that eliminates cold spots and significantly reduces energy costs. Heat generated by the operation of the pumps is also reflected into the spa, resulting in very little wasted energy. If you use your inflatable tub regularly, it may well be worth while considering an upgrade to reduce your running costs.