Inflatable hot tubs are becoming the new rave. But if you want to purchase one, you might ask yourself, are inflatable hot tubs expensive to run? Here is the answer to that.
Inflatable hot tubs are expensive to run and are even more expensive to run than regular hot tubs. The higher running cost is because inflatable hot tubs are poorly insulated. This means you will spend more time heating the water in an inflatable hot tub than you will have to with a regular hot tub. More heating time equals a higher electricity bill.
But that’s not all. There is more to know about running an inflatable hot tub and this post digs right into it. Let’s dive in.
Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Inflatable hot tubs use more electricity than regular hot tubs but several factors affect this. Inflatable hot tubs for instance are not as well-insulated as regular hot tubs which means that the inflatable hot tub struggles with heat retention.
So you need to heat an inflatable hot tub more than you would a regular hot tub and this increased work by the heating mechanism means more electricity is needed.
Another factor that leads to more electricity usage by inflatable hot tubs is the structure of the hot tub. Inflatable hot tubs have several components made from flexible materials like plastic and rubber. The shell of the hot tub is also made from laminated PVC.
These materials are not as strong and durable as the ones used to construct regular hot tubs. This means that an inflatable hot tub will struggle with heat retention and use more electricity when the weather is cold.
Inflatable hot tubs also use more electricity because of the 13 amp supply of the plug. Inflatable hot tubs are also generally run on 110V. This limited power supply means you can’t run the pump and the heater at the same time.
So while you are in the hot tub and the pump is running, the heater will be off. This means the water will cool faster while being used and you will need to constantly reheat the water which also means more electricity is being used.
Overall, you can expect an inflatable hot tub to increase the electricity usage of your home due to the constant demand for power by the spa.
Related Read: Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Have Jets?
How Much Electricity Does an Inflatable Hot Tub Use?
It’s a bit hard to put get the exact amount of electricity that inflatable hot tubs use.
Though it’s hard to get an exact amount, you can still calculate an estimated amount of electricity that your inflatable hot tub uses. To get an estimate, you will need to know:
- The power rating of your heater
- The power rating of the pump
- The power rating of the jets.
All of these figures can be gotten in the hot tub manual. Let’s assume you have a 4 person inflatable hot tub. The power rating of most inflatable hot tub heaters is between 1KW and 1.5KW. The pump too has a power rating between 1KW and 1.5KW. The jets usually have a power rating of 1KW to 1.2KW.
Let’s assume the heater uses 1.3KW, the pump uses 1.3KW, and the jets use 1KW. That’s a total of 3.6KW. Other components like the thermostat also generate electricity. Overall, the inflatable hot tub will be using about 4KW of electricity every time you run it.
You still need to calculate the KWh (kilowatt per hour). To do this, you need to multiply the KW(4KW) by the number of hours the hot tub was on. Let’s say the hot tub was on for 3 hours each time. That’s 4KW X 3 = 12KWh. Since you use it 3 times a week, that’s 12KWh X 3 = 38KWh every week.
This is however just a rough estimate. Other factors go into calculating how much electricity the inflatable hot tub uses including the size and weight of the hot tub.
If you want a more accurate calculation, use this electricity cost calculator to get the amount of electricity your inflatable hot tub uses.
So now that you know how much electricity your hot tub uses, how much are you paying for that amount of electricity? Let’s find out.
How Much Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Cost To run?
The cost of running an inflatable hot tub ranges between $10 and $80 per month. The average cost of running an inflatable hot tub is $40 per month.
The total cost of running your hot tub is subject to many factors. These include the amount of time the hot tub is on, how long it takes for the water to get heated, the number of bathers, the size of the inflatable hot tub, and so on.
To know the total amount an inflatable hot tub will cost you, you need to add the amount of money you spend on all these factors monthly and this can be hard but not impossible.
How To Calculate How Much It Costs To Run An Inflatable Hot Tub
Let’s calculate a rough estimate for a 4 person inflatable hot tub. To do this, you need to know:
- How much the extra electricity cost
- The amount spent on hot tub chemicals
- The amount spent on repairs and replacements.
Let’s use the figures we got for the amount of electricity an inflatable hot tub uses. Earlier, we calculated a rough estimate of the electricity usage of a 4 person hot tub to be 38KWh (38 kilowatts per hour). You need to multiply the kilowatt cost per hour on your electricity bill by the number of hours used.
For this 4 person hot tub, 38-kilowatt hours were used. Let’s assume you live in California where the cost of kilowatt per hour is 16.7 cents. That is 16.7 cents (cost of KWh) multiplied by 38 hours (number of hours used) equals 634.6 cents (or $6.3). So electricity costs you $6.3 per week. Multiply that by 4 weeks in a month and you are spending $25.3 per month on your inflatable hot tub’s electricity.
Let’s say it costs you $15 to buy the needed hot tub chemicals for the month, which brings the total to $40.3 spent on the inflatable hot tub for the month. That’s just under $500 for a year provided you don’t have to pay for repairs or replace any hot tub parts.
Disclaimer: the figures used above are just mere representations and should not be used as accurate figures to calculate how much it costs to run your inflatable hot tub.
What Is The Most Economical Way To Run An Inflatable Hot Tub?
The most economical way to run an inflatable hot tub is to reduce the amount of electricity the hot tub uses. The cost of running an inflatable hot tub is usually doubled when you add the cost of electricity that is used by the hot tub. Without the cost of electricity, a hot tub doesn’t cost more than $20 to run per month but when you add the cost of the electricity used, the total amount can be about $50.
So the most economical way to run your hot tub is to reduce the amount of electricity that the hot tub uses, especially the heater. Various tips can help you achieve this. Let’s check them out.
Always Use The Hot Tub Cover When The Hot Tub Is Not Being Used.
When you cover the hot tub, the hot tub cover helps with heat retention. Hot tub covers are designed to keep the heat circulated inside the hot tub.
This means that the heater has to work less to heat the water. Lower heating time equals lower electricity bill. Keeping the hot tub cover on can help you save a few bucks.
Choose Hot Tubs With Good Insulation
Another tip is to pick a hot tub with good insulation when purchasing the inflatable hot tub. You should go for hot tubs that have an insulated floor and insulted cover.
When the hot tub has good insulation, the level of heat loss will reduce. This means the hot tub can retain its water temperature to its maximum capacity.
The insulation boards will reduce the heat loss between uses.
Try Not To Use The Hot Tub During Winter
Not using your hot tub during winter sorts of beats the purpose of having a hot tub doesn’t it? But if you have an inflatable hot tub, it is advised to keep the hot tub unused during the chilly season. The cost of running your inflatable hot tub can more than double during the winter season especially if the hot tub is not well-insulated.
Use The Hot Tub Under A Shade
Using the inflatable hot tub under a shade or indoors will reduce the amount of electricity used by the heater. Regardless of what the air temperature outside the hot tub is, it will always be cooler than the temperature in your hot tub.
So if you use the hot tub without the shade, the hot tub water gets exposed to the elements and the cooler outer temperature. This means your heater has to work harder to keep the water at the needed temperature and this means more money.
Other ways to reduce the cost of running an inflatable hot tub include:
- Buying the chemicals in bulk.
- Managing the water chemistry properly- this will reduce the amount of money you spend on chemicals to adjust the water chemistry.
- Switch the inflatable hot tub to power-saving or economical mode when not in use. This reduces power wastage.
- Choose a smaller hot tub. Smaller inflatable hot tubs use less electricity and contain less water.
Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Use More Electricity During Winter?
Inflatable hot tubs use more electricity during the winter season. This is because inflatable hot tubs are not as well-insulated as regular hot tubs. The inflatable hot tubs have poor heat retention so the water temperature drops quicker during the winter season and the heater has to work twice as hard to keep the water at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
More work required by the heater means more electricity used and more bills to pay.
All hot tubs and not just inflatable hot tubs use more electricity during the winter season. This is because the weather is constantly cold and even frosty in some areas.
This means the water temperature of the hot tub will drop quicker especially while being used which I guess in most cases, it will be. So the heater, jets, and circulation pump have to use more electricity to retain the water temperature of the hot tub.
Related Read: Are Inflatable Hot Tub Good in Winter?
Final Words
Overall, inflatable hot tubs are more expensive to run than regular hot tubs mainly because the hot tub uses more electricity. You can always follow the tips above to reduce the amount of electricity and the cost of running an inflatable hot tub.
So there you have it. If you liked this post, ensure to check out others like it on this website. Have a nice day.