YOUR hot tub could be sitting in the wrong place – adding a whopping £78 to your bills every summer.
Placing your hot tub in the breeze means it’ll have to work harder to stay warm – and in the long run, it’ll make you spend more.
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Summer is approaching, which means hot tubs are coming out again.
But it’s not as simple as setting it up in your garden and pressing “on” – you need to think about where to put it.
If it’s out in the breeze, it’ll cool down quickly, so the temperature needs to be high enough to keep the water nice and toasty.
And that could cost you an extra 70p an hour, according to energy expert at Trade Radiators, Nicholas Auckland.
So, overall, if you use your tub roughly two hours a day over the course of eight weeks, it could add an eye-watering £78 to your bill.
He says: “It’s difficult to put an exact price on how much extra it will cost, as there are many other factors that play into how hot a hot tub is such as insulation, how it’s covered and the type of hot tub it is.
“However, if you have your thermostat turned up high due to the weather and climate making the hot tub feel colder, then you’re probably looking at spending around 70p extra per hour.
“This is worked out by assuming that a hot tub uses 5kWh when run at normal temperature, which would currently cost £1.70 per hour. If your hot tub runs at 6kWh instead (this is often the max for a hot tub), then you’re increasing that to £2.04 an hour.”
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Keep in mind that hot tubs are designed to be on permanently in order to keep the water clear, so you should also factor in a little extra money spent while you’re not in it.
And remember the cost of your tub will depend on other factors as well, including the size of tub, type of the pump, and how often you use it.
But make sure you keep these facts in mind if you’re shopping for one.
Steve Buckley, head of data science at Loop energy saving app added: “In the same way you would get colder if it was windy, positioning your hot tub in a breeze simply means the heat will be carried away more quickly.
“Any hot tub will be affected but poorly insulated ones will be worst hit as they do not retain the heat and a hot tub that is not covered will cool down even quicker.
“The heater will have to work much harder to maintain a sensible temperature, increasing energy use and cost.”
More costs and how to lower them
As it turns out, most hot tubs under £100 could be costing you a fortune just to run.
It could even cost £1,440 over four months, according to energy experts at Loop.
Tubs that cost under £100 are likely to be inflatable but inefficient, so it works out you’ll be splashing out £360 every month just to use it.
That’s over ten times the purchase cost over summer.
And even those with energy-efficient models aren’t out of the woods – if your tub uses seven kWh per day, it could still add £72 per month to energy bills.
Instead, think about buying a small tub if you’re after one – the more water your hot tub holds, the more it costs to run. So stay away from an eight-seater, for example, unless you really need it.
You also need to make sure you’re keeping on top of maintenance and cleaning your tub.
According to trading directory Checkatrade, a clean and service will set you back £225 per visit.
And think about whether you can adjust the temperature down a few notches – it might make all the difference in the long run.
Most people like to keep their tubs between 38 and 40 degrees, but every degree lower will save you around 10% of your total cost.
