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A hot tub can be a real energy hog, but it doesn't have to be. Fortunately, you can avoid lots of waste and lots of operating problems by making a careful purchase. Unfortunately, once you've made a purchase, improving the performance of your spa can prove difficult.
Choosing the most energy efficient hot tub can save you as much as $25 a month in energy costs compared to some older models or the least efficient new models. In a ten month season that means an inefficient spa can unnecessarily add $250 each year to your electric bill. Spending a little bit more to purchase your hot tub can make it much more economical to operate and will pay big dividends in the long run.
When looking for energy efficiency, pay close attention to four areas: the insulation of the tub, the spa cover, the pump motor and the heat exchanger.
- Insulation All hot tubs will have some insulation on the outside of the tub. Obviously, the thicker the insulation the better. Also keep in mind that some insulating materials work better than others. An excellent amount of insulation is 6" of high density foam.
- Spa Cover Your spa cover acts a lot like attic insulation in your home. The better the cover, the less heat you lose out of the tub and the lower your energy bill for the spa. For best results install a two-art system composed of a floating cover and a rigid cover. The rigid cover should have as high an insulating value as you can comfortably handle and should make a good seal via a gasket where it sits on the edge of the spa.
- Pump Motor Spas pump water for two reasons: to circulate the water and heat and to produce jet streams to massage users. Since the physical requirements for each of these activities is different, buying a unit with two different motors rather than a single, dual-purpose motor will reduce your energy and maintenance costs.
- Heat Exchanger In cheaper hot tubs the tub water passes directly over the heating coils. This makes for greater difficulty in regulating the temperature and shorter life for the heating coils. Heaters that employ a heat exchanger work better and last longer.
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For more information from Seattle City Light on appliances, please e-mail rescons.scl@seattle.gov or call 206.684.3800.
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