Hot tubs are a place to relax. They help relieve pain and stress, that’s until your energy bill comes! With us all being home more, our energy bills are already higher than usual, so here are some tips to make your hot tub more energy efficient.
INSULATION
Insulation is a huge factor when improving your hot tubs energy efficiency. Most new hot tubs are fairly well insulated, however foam hot tub insulation and covers can become waterlogged and lose effectiveness over time. Foam insulation works by heating the air bubbles within the insulation. If the foam gets wet and those air bubbles become water bubbles, the foam loses most of its insulating value. Good insulation significantly improves any hot tub’s energy efficiency.
OFF-PEAK HOURS
If your hot tub allows, program it to run only mid-day or overnight to avoid peak energy rates. It’s a great idea to check with your energy company to find out more details on the hours of non-peak times.
Most hot tubs will only need to run 8-12 hours a day to properly filter the water. If your hot tub uses a circulation pump to filter the water, it is designed to run for 24 hours a day and shouldn’t be changed. It’s always recommended that you check your owner’s manual for more information.
ECONOMY MODE
Consult your owner's manual to see if your controls have an "economy" or "standby" mode. This will leave your tub 10-15 degrees cooler than your set temperature. But by lowering the temperature slightly, you can reduce your overall energy consumption significantly since it takes disproportionately more energy to heat each additional degree.
THERMAL BLANKET
Using a thermal blanket that sits on the hot tub water will add another layer of insulation and slow evaporation. If you have a well-insulated hot tub, a significant amount of the overall heat loss will come through evaporation.
WHATEVER YOU DO…
…Don’t turn off your pump! Harmful bacteria can grow in stagnant water, and because of that, we do not recommend turning off your pump to save energy. Keep your pump on for at least four to six hours, twice a day to keep your water healthy.