How Much Will a Hot Tub Raise My Electric Bill?

If you are considering purchasing a hot tub, how much it will cost to run it has likely crossed your mind. While most quality hot tub models are energy efficient, many people will ask their dealer ‘How much will a hot tub raise my electric bill?’ While it can be difficult to provide a specific answer as several factors are involved including the hot tub brand, model, where you reside and what your local utility rates are, below we will give you some guidelines for what you can expect.

Heater Voltage

In order to estimate how much your electric bill will increase, you need to know the voltage of your hot tub’s water heater. A 240-volt water heater will use 6,000 watts while a 120-volt heater will use 1,500. The circulation pump uses 1,5000 watts as well.  

You will need to find out what your local cost per kilowatt-hour is as well as if there are different prices for peak hours throughout the day. Using an average of 10 cents per hour, divide the wattage of your hot tub by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatts. Then, estimate how many hours you think you will spend each month in your hot tub and multiply that number by the number of kilowatts the hot tub uses.

For example: if your hot tub has a 240-volt heater and a wattage of 7,500, it uses approximately 7.5kW. If you think you will spend 25 hours a month in your hot tub, the calculation would be 25 x 7.5 = 187.50. Now that you have an estimate of using 187.50-kilowatt-hours per month, multiply that by your kilowatt-hour cost of 10 and you can expect your electricity bill to increase by $18.75 per month or $225 per year.

Energy Efficiency

When shopping for a hot tub make sure that you do your research and select an energy-efficient model that will consume as little electricity as possible. There are a number of features that contribute to energy savings that you should look out for. These include:

• Choosing a model with quality foam insulation that also utilizes heat locking technology. This typically includes adjustable venting that in the winter can trap and reuse the heat from the motor waste and in the summer expel when necessary
• Energy-efficient hot tubs filter water quickly and use low-amperage filtration pumps. Check for what the filtration rate is on the hot tub you are considering.
• Look for a model with a 3-4-inch hard tapered cover with insulated bumpers. A quality cover will help to seal in the heat.

Additional Ways to Save on Energy Costs

By keeping good habits and investing in some accessories, you can save even more on your hot tub energy costs. Make it a habit to always replace the cover on your hot tub as soon as you get out. You may find that you can also lower the temperature by 1-2 degrees and not notice much of a difference, which will save on energy costs. Finally, investing in sealed cabinets or plastic flooring surrounding your hot tub can help provide more insulation in winter months and keep your costs low.

Now that you know how to estimate how much a hot tub will cost to run, download a hot tub buyer’s guide to learn more about our models.