The Cost of Heating a Hot Tub

December 2nd, 2008

How much do you think it costs to keep a hot tub heated at 102 degrees year-round, non-stop, with the built-in electric heating system that come with today’s models? Formulate your answer and then scroll to the bottom of the picture for the answer.

According to a newly hot-tub-owning co-worker of mine and his wife, about $14 a month. That is much, much cheaper than I would have expected, and apparently it’s a lot cheaper than it was with the less efficient models of yesteryear. My guess was about $50 a month, and I assumed one was supposed to keep it cold until an hour or two before one wanted to use it. $14 a month for an ever-ready tub seems incredibly efficient. I think it has something to do with how well the cover insulates the tub when it’s not in use.

6 Responses to “The Cost of Heating a Hot Tub”

  1. Lou M. Says:

    Honestly its closer to $35-45 a month even with super energy efficient models. We had a HotSprings Grandee spa that seated about 5-6 folks and we regularly paid in that range. Granted, we were averaging about 102-104 degrees and we used it frequently. The cover definitely plays into heating equation and after about 1.5 to 2 years you have to seriously consider replacing the cover as they tend to warp a bit. In addition to maintaining with chemicals a hot tub has to be refilled every 3-4 months and if you don’t properly care for water treatment and ongoing support you can see a spike in heating bills as the internal system stresses and requires more energy to pump out the heat. As a point of reference ours was: http://www.olympichottub.com/showroom/hotspring/grandee.html#. Out of all the home purchases we made the hot tub was the hardest to part with when we moved as its something that you definitely will enjoy. As a local resource I highly recommend Olympic Hot Tub (http://www.olympichottub.com/). Good luck!

    #1 - December 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 am
  2. Mike D. Says:

    Lou: Good info. My co-worker’s model is a HotSprings as well. I wonder if it has something to do with the differing cost of electricity from state-to-state or season-to-season? Or, maybe they are just going off quoted costs instead of actual measured costs.

    #2 - December 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 am
  3. Lou M. Says:

    I’ve heard that HotSprings in some markets will actually guarantee that your cost of operation won’t exceed a set amount or they will pay the difference. Again, this was something I read online so take it with a grain of salt. I found more info below:

    Energy Cost Guarantee

    At Hot Springs Pools and Spas, we are so confident in the energy efficiency of our Hot Spring, Caldera, and Tiger River Spas that we are willing to GUARANTEE, in writing, the average monthly operating costs. If, after several months of ownership, you feel that your spa is consistently costing you more that our stated amount of $20.00 / month, we will attach an electric meter directly to your spa for several weeks. If the spa draws more electricity than expected, we will pay the difference between our stated $20.00 / month and the actual amount for two years. We hope you ask every other spa dealer with whom you might do business for the same written guarantee. We think that accuracy in stating operating costs is only as honest as the guarantee behind it.

    #3 - December 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
  4. Lou M. Says:

    Mike,
    What’s the status of your project? It’s been awhile since you’ve posted have you decided to halt, postpone, delay?

    #4 - December 19th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
  5. Mike D. Says:

    Hi Lou: The architects have been busy readying the plans for submission to the city. Everything was submitted yesterday. There’s not a whole lot of blogworthy stuff to write about it but I’ll do a quick update post.

    #5 - December 20th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
  6. Don Says:

    Hi Mike,

    I can tell you the following:
    a. we love our hot tub (but only use it in the winter — we drain it and head to the beach in the late spring, summer and fall.
    b. your cost to heat will in fact have a lot to do with each of the following:
    1. do you use it … use will cost more because the cover is open, because the jets are on circulating the water, etc., but using it is the whole point
    2. do you in fact leave it open after treating it for a bit as suggested to prolong the life of the cover, or do you close it and buy a new cover more frequently (they are not cheap and do only last about two to three years maximum)

    You do leave it on all the time (we find 102 to be uncomfortably hot) … we keep ours about 99 degrees.

    I have no idea how much it costs a month. Absent a meter on it … how would you ever know? I do know that I built a special deck for it and I had to have special wiring run. I’m glad we have it and I enjoy it. Go for it.

    Nothing is better on a cold and snowy night than walking out to the hot tub, jumping in and sitting for a spell. Very relaxing.

    #6 - December 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm