A NEW hot tub might just be the thing your back garden is missing this summer, but they can be costly to run.
Luckily there’s ways to cut those costs – so you can relax and enjoy the bubbles without worrying about what it’s doing to your energy bills.
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Plenty of retailers have introduced offers on the back garden luxuries as we head into spring, and in the heat of the moment over the bank holiday weekend you might have been tempted to splash out.
Argos slashed the price of its four person hot tub to £240 for example, while B&M reduced its own inflatable hot tub to just £350.
And garden furniture heavyweight, Aldi, brought back its £400 tub in time for the Easter break too.
But now that it’s sitting on your patio, you need to think about how it will affect your energy bills.
Especially as costs have rocketed since the energy price cap rose at the start of the month – most households now have to fork out on average almost £700 more for their bills.
An energy saving spokesperson at Uswitch said: “Hot tubs demand more power than other summer goods because they have to be kept at a high ambient temperature – usually around 38oC.
“This means they continue to use energy even when they are not in use — costing £1 a day for the most energy efficient hot tubs, but soaring to £6 for the worst-insulated.”
That’s based on current energy tariffs of around 28p per kWh and a running time of around 30 to 45 minutes.
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Experts at Loop say an inefficient hot tub – one that’s not insulated very well – could cost five times that, making them just over £300 a month to run.
But there’s no need to regret the impulse buy – as a few measures can be carried out to make your tub as efficient as possible and cut energy costs.
“Make sure you get a well-fitted cover, which forms an air-tight seal, otherwise heat will constantly escape and cost you more money” said the Uswitch spokesperson.
Tim Sidebotham, boss of outdoor furniture retailer, All Round Fun, also said: “Placing it in the right place and keeping on top of cleaning the filters will cut costs too.”
“Another useful tip is that if you don’t require your hot tub to be as full as possible, consider filling it up to the minimum line – then you’ll save on water AND the energy needed to heat it.”
The tips are just a few of many that can help you keep your costs down.
Here’s seven ways you can run your hot tub more efficiently to save on your bills:
Leave the heat on
If you use your hot tub more than three times a week, it may be better to leave your heater on between use rather than leaving it to cool and firing it up over and over again.
Experts recommend setting the hot tub at 25°C to 35°C during that time and then increasing it up to 40°C just before using it.
Re-heating your hot tub from scratch will result in using more energy whenever you use it.
Put a lid on it
If you’re trying to conserve the most energy, make sure you use your lid and top cover.
One of the main causes of loss of temperature is a damaged, unsecured, under-inflated lid or not even using one at all.
Most hot tubs do come with a lid to help keep the heat in as well as keeping any debris like falling leaves or worse from getting in too.
As heat rises, it’s the first route of escape, as well as any holes, rips or gaps in a lid too.
Make sure that your cover is securely zipped, tied, fastened or clipped to ensure that your hot tub water stays warm and you don’t waste any more energy than you need to.
It’s a bit like plugging up draughts in your home.
An insulation station
Keeping the lid on is the first step in insulating your tub as it stops heat escaping out the top but it can help to insulate the rest of the product to make sure it’s keeping in the most warmth.
Many hot tub owners create their own insulating covers, bases and completely insulated surrounds.
But you can also simply start with using a floor protector. This will insulate the base of your hot tub as well as save it from any damage that might cause leaks.
Keep it clean
If you stay on top of your hot tub maintenance and clean your filters you’ll keep it running smoothly – and that means it won’t use up as much energy.
Keep the filters free from dirt so water can flow easily.
Then the pump won’t have to work twice as hard to filtrate the water, which can typically cause increased energy usage.
Stay in the shade
Where your hot tub sits in your garden is important.
Place your hot tub near a wind break or in a sheltered area – then it can keep a consistent temperature.
That’s because wind exposure can dramatically reduce water temperature.
Something as simple as placing your hot tub next to your fence or behind a wall can form an effective barrier.
Power saving on
If your hot tub has a power saving timer, use it.
If you don’t use your hot tub regularly, it’s perfect for keeping your running costs low.
Power saving timers prevent any unnecessary use of energy a bit like how a smart thermostat works inside your home.
You can set the time and duration of the heating cycle so that you can enjoy your hot tub during those times and not have to constantly leave your heater on.
Fill up with warm water
When it comes to filling up your hot tub, it can help to start as you mean to go on – that may mean filling it with hotter water from the get go.
To enjoy your tub you’re going to want the temperature nice and warm but if you start with freezing cold water, it’s going to take longer and have to work harder to get to temperature.
You can fill your hot tub with a mix of hot and cold water from the tap – but ensure that the hot water is no hotter than 40°C and that you have added a thin layer of cold water to the hot tub first.
Otherwise you might cause damage to the product, and face further costs to repair it.
And the less water you put into the tub, the less it has to work too – so try not to over fill the tub or you’ll waste water and energy in the process.
If you fancy a more budget dip in the garden we round up the cheapest paddling pools.
Or maybe it’s just a soak in the sun that you need – if that’s the case we’ve found the cheapest sun loungers too.
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