How Much Does It Cost Monthly to Own a Hot Tub?
You have decided to get that hot tub you have been dreaming of, or perhaps one has recently been installed on your back patio. Now you are asking yourself “How much does it cost monthly to own a hot tub?” The answer may not be totally straightforward. There are three main areas of expense when it comes to hot tubs: electrical costs, water costs, and chemical costs. The fact is the monthly cost to own a hot tub can vary depending on a number of factors. Let’s take a look at what some of those things are, and then let the experts at Aqua Pools share some tips with you on how to keep your hot tub-related costs as low as possible.
What Factors Influence the Monthly Cost to Own a Hot Tub?
There are many variables that are going to affect the cost monthly to own a hot tub. Size is one of them. You just got a 4-person hot tub. It makes sense that the guy next door with the 6– to 8-person hot tub is going to have higher costs to heat and operate his, right? A large hot tub will require more water to fill it, more energy to heat it, and more chemicals to keep it sanitized. Here are some other considerations that are going to affect your monthly costs:
- The temperature at which you keep your hot tub
- How your hot tub is insulated
- When and how often you run your hot tub
- How well maintained your hot tub is
- The type of chemicals you use
Electrical Costs and How to Lower Them
Surprisingly, the electrical cost to own a hot tub is on average only $20-30 per month to run the pump and the heater. You can keep this figure on the lower end of the scale if you pay attention to the following:
- Set the heat of your hot tub sensibly. If you use it daily, keep it around 95° and heat it up just before you get in. If you only use your spa every 2-3 days, keep it lower (85°). Keeping the temperature set low will save you money and energy and use fewer chemicals.
- Use an insulated cover to maintain heat. Add a thermal blanket for an extra heat-trapping layer.
- Keep the air jets closed when not using the spa. This prevents cool air from coming in and lowering the temperature.
- Maintain your hot tub regularly and change the filter as recommended.
Monthly Cost for Water Expenses
The cost to fill a hot tub is around $10-15. This is something you will do every 3-4 months, so it is not a significant cost monthly. Things you can do to avoid spending more on water:
- Encourage bathers (particularly kids) not to splash excessively. Having to top off the water level constantly will add up.
- Be aware of possible leaks and get them repaired asap. With a newer model hot tub, this should not be an issue.
What About Chemical Costs?
Obviously, you will need to add chemicals to your hot tub on a regular basis. Aqua Pools recommends SpaGuard® spa chemicals for the highest water quality. The cost monthly will depend on how often the spa is used and also the number of bathers. The heavier the usage, the more chemicals will be required to keep the water clean and balanced. On average, you can expect to pay between $300-$400 per year for chemicals. This breaks down to about $30 per month.
How much does it cost monthly to own a hot tub? It may be considerably less than you imagined! Hot tubs are remarkably affordable for most people, costing less than $100 per month to operate. It is definitely possible to keep costs down by following some of the tips we listed and by investing in an energy-efficient model hot tub from the start. Remember when you purchase your hot tub from Aqua Pools, it comes with the expertise of our professional staff who are on hand to help with all your questions. Call us anytime or stop in store to see your incredible choices of affordable hot tubs.
