When your hot tub is filled with water, it runs all the time and constantly consumes chemicals - these are necessary for keeping clean, safe water. Because of this, there is an ongoing cost to owning a hot tub. In this article, we'll cover 3 general tips that will go a long way in reducing your chemical and energy bills.
1. Maintain a frequent water care routine
Keeping balanced water is essential for preserving your hot tub and minimizing chemical costs. When sanitizer, pH, or alkalinity levels fall out of recommended ranges, it doesn't take long for issues to arise, which causes chemicals lose efficiency. If water gets too unbalanced, chemicals can become virtually ineffective, often requiring a complete water change.
2. Check your cover
Your cover plays a vital role in retaining heat in your hot tub. A cheap or damaged cover will lose heat, causing the heaters to work harder and increasing electricity bills.
If your cover is getting heavy, sagging, or has any gaps from warping it's a good time to replace it.
If you live in a colder climate, we highly recommend having a cover that contains at least 4-5" of insulating foam - anything less will lose a lot of heat in winter.
3. Adjust your hot tub's settings
There are a few ways you can save money by adjusting your hot tubs controls.
Consider using the blowers less - when air mixes with the water it has a cooling effect, causing your heater to work harder to maintain the spas temperature.
Although not exactly a setting, it's good to remember that using your hot tub during cheaper energy hours will be less expensive than during peak hours.
Eco Mode
If you're away, most hot tubs now come with an eco (economy) mode or some sort of energy-saving setting. These settings usually lower the temperature, so if your hot tub is being used more than every couple days, it's probably not worth using, but if you're taking a break from the tub or going on vacation, it's a good way to save a bit of money.
By following a frequent water care routine, being mindful of your spa's settings, and maintaining a quality cover, you'll save yourself hundreds, if not thousands, over the lifetime of your spa.