Looking for inflatable hot tub running costs UK? You’re in the right place.
If you’re thinking about investing in an inflatable hot tub, you might be wondering how much you should be expecting to pay to keep it running. After all, it’s easy to focus on the initial purchase cost and forget about the ongoing costs of heating and running your hot tub.
In this article, we’ll explore exactly how much it costs to run an inflatable hot tub in the UK, as well as discussing some of the ways in which you can keep your hot tub running costs to a minimum.
Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Use A Lot Of Electricity?
The short answer is yes, inflatable hot tubs do use a lot of electricity – more than you may initially think. If you’re thinking about getting one, it’s important to know whether they’ll be running costs that are affordable for your budget.
There are several factors which affect the amount of electricity they use:
– the size of your hot tub
– the water temperature you set it at
– how often you use it for
All these factors will affect the amount of electricity that is used over time. It’s not just keeping your inflatable hot tub running costs to a minimum that you need to be considered, but also how much energy is being used in general.
How Much Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Cost To Run In The UK?
The exact running costs of your inflatable hot tub will depend on your electricity supplier, the type and size of hot tub that you choose and your water supplier. Whilst we can give you a rough estimate of how much you could expect to pay to run your inflatable hot tub, it is an estimate – it won’t be an exact figure.
Let’s take a look at how much it costs to run an inflatable hot tub in the UK.
Electricity Cost
It’s no secret that energy prices are set to rise in April 2022. So, let’s base these costings on the new cost of electricity, which will become effective in April this year.
The current energy price cap is set at 34p per kilowatt hour, and this price cap will remain until September 2024. A standard Lay-Z Spa has a voltage of 220v, meaning that it runs at 2.2kWh.
The calculation that we’ll be using to calculate electricity cost of a Lay-Z spa is:
Hot tub voltage in kWh x number of hours in use = electricity cost
So, if you use your inflatable hot tub for 10 hours per month, the calculation will be 2.2 x 10 x 0.34 = £7.48 per month in energy costs.
Comparatively, if you use your inflatable hot tub for 20 hours per month, you’d be looking at £14.96 per month in electricity costs.
Water Costs
You’ll need to fully change the water in your hot tub at least once every 2-3 months. This means that you’ll also need to take into consideration your water costs when running your inflatable hot tub.
According to United Utilities, a cubic metre of water currently costs £3.08. A cubic metre contains 1,000 litres of water, so if you know the capacity of your hot tub, you should easily be able to work out how much one water change will cost you.
For example, the Lay-Z-Spa Miami hot tub has a capacity of 800 litres. So, changing your water fully with United Utilities as your supplier would cost you £2.46.
Maintenance Costs
It’s no secret that inflatable hot tubs require careful maintenance to keep them operating at their best. This includes regularly testing the water to ensure that the water quality is adequate.
Equipment you’ll need to maintain your hot tub effectively includes:
- Chlorine or bromine
- PH increaser and decreaser
- Alkalinity increaser and decreaser
- Algaecide
- Water clarifier
- Test strips
- Foam remover
- Replacement filters
- A hot tub vacuum
You can buy a kit that contains the majority of these things for around £35 from retailers such as Amazon, B&Q or Argos. A kit will typically last for around 2 months, so you’ll need to buy around 6 kits per year, totalling £210.
Total Annual Cost Of Running An Inflatable Hot Tub
So, how much does it actually cost to run an inflatable hot tub for a year?
For this example, we’re going to assume that you use your hot tub for 10 hours per month and your water supplier is United Utilities.
Electricity costs: £7.48 x 12 = £89.76
Water costs: £2.46 x 12 = £29.52
Maintenance costs: £210
£89.76 + £29.52 + £210 = £329.28
So, you should expect to pay around £329.28 per year to run your inflatable hot tub, which is an average of around £27.44 per month.
Should I Leave My Inflatable Hot Tub On All The Time UK?
Many people wonder whether they should leave their inflatable hot tub heated all the time, or whether they should turn it off between uses. The answer to this depends on how often you use your hot tub.
If you plan to use your hot tub regularly, such as every day or every other day, leaving your hot tub turned on is the most cost effective way of maintaining your water temperature. This is because it takes a lot of energy to heat the water from scratch.
However, if you only use your hot tub once a week or once a fortnight, it may be more cost effective to turn it off between uses.
Are Lazy Spas Expensive To Run?
How much it will cost to run your Lay-Z-Spa will depend on your energy tariff, your water rates and the type of hot tub that you choose, including how well insulated it is. The example above gives a rough estimate of how much you could expect to pay to run your Lay-Z-Spa. However, it’s always best to do your own calculations with your individual rates for the most accurate picture.
Why Is My Hot Tub Using So Much Electricity?
It’s no secret that hot tubs use a lot of electricity for heating, filtering and running those all-important jets. If you’re serious about investing in a hot tub that is also kinder to the environment and more energy-efficient, there are some things you can do to reduce the electricity consumption of your hot tub:
– only use it when you need it – for example on weekends and not every night of the week
– invest in a solar cover so that you can heat the water when the sun is up
– opt for an inflatable hot tub with a larger insulation cover so that you can lower the temperature and therefore reduce the amount of energy needed to run it
These are just some things you can do to keep your inflatable hot tub running costs down. The more you use it and the bigger it is, the higher these costs will be.
Does An Inflatable Hot Tub Need To Be Plugged In All The Time?
The short answer to this question is yes, your inflatable hot tub has to be plugged in all the time. The reason for this is that it needs electricity to run the motor and the jets, so unless you have a cordless portable hot tub, you will need an electrical outlet nearby.
However, some people choose to turn their inflatable hot tubs off between uses and heat the water from scratch every time they use the hot tub. Whilst this can be more cost effective for those who only use their hot tubs occasionally, for most people it will be more cost effective to leave it on continuously.
What Is The Most Economical Way To Run A Hot Tub?
There are a few different ways in which you can make your hot tub more energy efficient.
The most economical way to run your hot tub is with a solar cover. By reducing the temperature of the water in your inflatable hot tub, you will be able to heat it up when the sun comes up and therefore spend less money heating it when you use it.
It’s also a good idea to place your hot tub on an insulating mat. This will help to prevent the cold ground from cooling the water in your hot tub, keeping it hotter for longer.
Are Inflatable Hot Tubs More Expensive To Run UK?
Generally speaking, inflatable hot tubs are generally more expensive to run than fixed hot tubs. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy an inflatable hot tub, it just means that you should consider which factors are important to you when making a purchase.
If you’re looking for a hot tub that is portable, which you can take down from the loft when needed and put away in a cupboard or under the bed when not in use, then an inflatable spa might be your best choice.
How Often Should You Change A Hot Tub Filter?
To get the most out of your filter, you should clean it after every use. To do this, use water to remove any small pieces of debris from the filter. If you don’t clean your filter regularly, it will begin to deteriorate and will not be as effective. This may cause an E02 error on your pump, meaning that the filter needs to be replaced.
How often you should change a hot tub filter will depend on how much it’s used and how clean or dirty the water is. If you’re using your inflatable hot tub regularly, then we recommend that you replace your cartridge after around six months of use.
However, if you’re only using it occasionally, your filter may last for longer, up to one year.
In Summary
Inflatable hot tubs are a popular choice in the UK, as they can be deflated and stored away when not in use. However, before you decide to purchase a hot tub, it’s important that you are aware of the costs of running it. After all, it isn’t just the initial purchase cost that you need to consider.
In this article, we have explained the inflatable hot tub running costs UK, as well as exploring other things that you should consider before making the decision to purchase this type of hot tub.