Winter’s arrival does not necessarily require the closure of your hot tub! That said, you may be worried that keeping your hot tub open during the coldest months of the year will cost more per month than the rest of the year. But the good news is that it won’t raise your electric bill as high as you think – it’s usually only a few dollars more. Plus, there are ways to limit the expense even more. Now you can enjoy your hot tub without worrying about your wallet!
Factors that Affect Hot Tub Winter Costs
How much it costs to run a hot tub in the winter depends on a number of things, including the age of your hot tub, the size of your hot tub, the wattage of your heater, the efficiency of your heater, the wattage of your pump, the temperature at which you keep your hot tub, and the average temperature of the area where you live.
Age
The first thing that affects the price of running your hot tub in the winter is the age of your hot tub. For starters, older hot tubs were not as well insulated when they were manufactured as newer, more efficient models are. Plus, many of the insulation materials used in older models do not age well.
Many newer hot tub models are built with efficiency in mind, which means that they are well-insulated to retain heat.
Size
The next consideration is the size of your hot tub. It may seem like common sense, but this point can’t be overstated: the larger the tub, the more gallons there are to heat. This matter is a big enough point on its own merits, but it is also impacted by the next consideration: the wattage of your heater.
Heater and Pump
The next two considerations are related to temperature. The hotter you keep your hot tub, the higher your electricity bill. And the colder the area you live in, the same holds true. If the outdoor temperature is below freezing, your heater and pump will have to work longer and harder to heat the water than if it’s below 50 degrees outside.
A heater with a wattage of 1 kilowatt will obviously be less expensive per hour than a 5.5-kilowatt heater. But if a 1-kilowatt heater has to run for more than four hours to do the work of a 5.5-kilowatt, the cost will actually be greater with a lower wattage heater.
A related consideration is the efficiency of your hot tub heater’s heater. An efficient heater of particular wattage will cost less than an inefficient heater of the same wattage. This, again, may be related to the age of your hot tub – but it may simply be related to the manufacturer and model of your hot tub!
Another factor in the expense of running your hot tub during the winter is the use of your hot tub’s pump. A single hot tub pump can use up to 1,500 watts per day, and larger hot tubs may have multiple pumps.
Cover Your Hot Tub in Winter
One way to help retain heat is to purchase a hot tub cover – or to purchase a hot tub with a cover. Covana automated covers are a fantastic fix to many of your winter woes! Simply turn the key and your cover lifts out of the way – and becomes a gazebo! There are two automated cover options with Covana: the Oasis and the Evolution. They are both state-of-the-art, water-tight, and will do much to help eliminate the need to run your heaters and pumps throughout the winter.
Whether you’re running your hot tub for pleasure, health benefits, or both, the onset of winter doesn’t mean saying goodbye for the season! If you still have questions about the best way to keep your hot tub open this winter, contact us today!
