Hot tub ownership is one of the most luxurious decisions you can make for your household. If you finally made that long-awaited decision and you’re now a proud hot tub owner, it’s important to know how to maintain your tub – and keep costs low while you’re at it.
If you want to keep your bills under control while maintaining the luxury of an at-home hot tub, read on. Below are 10 ways to save energy, money and time by acting sustainably.
1. Check the Integrity of Your Hot Tub Cover
A worn-out hot tub cover can leak heat into the surrounding environment, keeping your spa from retaining its original water temperature. When a hot tub is outfitted with a well-insulated cover, it prevents heat from escaping out the top.
While it might seem like an insignificant upgrade, replacing an old or faulty spa cover can be one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a hot tub at home. Check the cover for signs of damage, wear and age, and replace it when you see signs of non-optimal functioning.
A high-quality hot tub cover isn’t always cheap, but it’s worth the investment as it can help to save costs in the long run and even maintain the integrity of your spa. Make sure you get a well-fitted cover for your spa, to ensure that the top edges are sealed and retain as much heat as possible.
2. Lower the Temperature
It’s easy to get stuck in the narrative that we need our tubs at exactly 100 or 102 degrees, would you really notice if it were a little lower? Try lowering your spa thermostat by a few degrees (or as little as half a degree) and watch your energy bill breathe new life!
You can also observe your usage patterns, noting which days of the week you use the hot tub most, or if you’re more of the spontaneous type! Hot Tub Focus uses the example of a hot tub owner using their tub more often on weekends, and suggests lowering the temperature on the days the tub is used less, and increasing it again when it’s more likely to be used.
These may seem like small changes, but combined and used consistently, they can lead to big savings!
3. Invest in a Spa Equipped with Smart Technology
If you’re not one to remember to increase your hot tub’s temperature when you get off work on Friday night, we don’t blame you. That’s why we suggest investing in a hot tub that has smart technology!
Internal computer systems can help you schedule temperature changes throughout the week, as well as maintain certain conditions while you’re gone on vacation. If you’re in a warmer climate, you might be able to program your tub to shut off during certain seasons of the year.
If you’re in a colder climate, a smart hot tub can keep your water at a reasonable temperature many call “minimum heat,” to prevent freezing during the winter. If you have the funds, replacing your old hot tub with a newer model could be a really good choice, as they are increasingly created with sustainability in mind.
Whether you’re forgetful, busy or just don’t want to babysit your hot tub, investing in smart technology might be the best choice you could make for you and your hot tub!
4. Clean (and Replace) Your Hot Tub Filter
It makes sense that a dirty filter would use more energy to pull water through it, which can quickly jack up your energy bill. We’re willing to bet you don’t want a gross filter any more than we do, especially when it barely does its job and draws more energy than necessary!
In addition to replacing the filter annually, it’s also important to keep it clean. Giving it a good spray with the hose weekly should do the trick, as well as a thorough, deep chemical clean every three to four months or so.
With a properly clean filter, the hot tub’s energy draw should be lower. This also ensures your water is kept clean, meaning you have to change it less often – which helps the environment and your wallet!
5. Close the Jets When You’re Not Using Them
Jets are designed to push air through the water to create the powerful bubbling effect of a spa, but what is often overlooked is the reality that jets pull cold air into the hot tub, cooling off the water in the process.
If you’re not using the jets, closing them can help you keep your hot tub water warmer. When you don’t have to constantly reheat the water in your tub, you’re saving on your energy bill too!
6. Use Off-Peak Electricity
Most electrical companies charge more for electricity when people are most likely to be using it. You can save on energy consumption by heating up your hot tub during the nighttime hours, when energy is “off-peak,” or in lower demand than during the daytime.
7. Make Your Spa into a “Cool Tub” During the Summer
We all know how brutal it can be to withstand the summer heat, but many of us are not privileged to have pools in our backyards. What we can do, however, is turn our hot tubs into “cool tubs” during the summer months.
By choosing not to heat our hot tubs during the hotter months of the year, we can save on energy and have a little pool of our own where we can cool off! If you haven’t tried this yet, what are you waiting for? Let us know how it works for you – here’s to the best summer ever!
8. Strategically Position Your Hot Tub
If you have the flexibility to consider multiple locations across your property to install your hot tub, you could benefit from considering installation options that will save you energy and money in the long run.
The first option is to place your spa in a south facing aspect, because these parts of your property are likely to get more sunlight during the day, helping with natural heating. The second option is to install your hot tub in a gazebo or other outdoor building, which can help with heat retention and protection from the elements.
Taking measures to protect your hot tub will delay weather wear, decay and damage, making maintenance of your tub easier and less expensive in the long run.
You can also mimic the protective element of a gazebo with a wind block, such as fences, privacy panels, hedges or trees. Without the wind scooping heat right off the top of your hot tub and carrying it away, you’ll save the energy it would take to maintain a certain temperature and cut down on your energy bill!
Enjoy Affordable Hydrotherapy with Swim World in Chelan
These changes may seem small on their own, but when combined together, they can be extremely energy efficient. Upgrades to everything from insulation, protection, positioning and energy supplier plans can help you save on electricity and keep your tub functioning in a sustainable yet enjoyable manner!
For more information about hot tub ownership and maintenance, contact our team of experts at Swim World or browse the other articles in our blog.
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