- Myth #1: Turning Your Hot Tub Off When Not Using It Saves Energy
- Myth #2: More Jets = More Energy Use
- Myth #3: Hot Tubs Are Always Energy Hogs
- Myth #4: The Higher The Temperature, The Higher The Energy Bills
- Myth #5: All Hot Tub Covers Are Basically The Same
- Myth #6: Running The Jets All The Time Keeps The Water Cleaner
- Myth #7: Hot Tubs Need A Dedicated 220V Circuit To Be Energy Efficient
- The Bottom Line on Hot Tub Energy Efficiency
- Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s talk about hot tub energy myths because there’s a ton of misinformation floating around. I’ve been around hot tubs for years and the amount of weird advice I hear from well-meaning friends and even some dealers makes me cringe.
Truth is, most people are wasting money on their hot tubs because they believe stuff that made sense maybe 20 years ago but is completely outdated now.
Myth #1: Turning Your Hot Tub Off When Not Using It Saves Energy
This is probably the biggest energy myth I see. People think they’re being super efficient by shutting down their hot tub between uses. Makes sense right? Not running something saves power?
Actually it’s usually the opposite. Modern hot tubs with decent insulation are designed to maintain temperature efficiently. When you completely power down a hot tub, you’re forcing the heater to work overtime when you turn it back on.
The amount of energy needed to heat 400+ gallons of water from cold is massive compared to what’s needed to maintain temperature.
I had a neighbor who kept turning his off after every use in winter thinking he was saving money. His electric bill was nearly double mine even though we had similar tubs. The poor heater was basically screaming every time he fired it back up from 50 degrees to 102.
That said there are exceptions. If you’re going away for more than a week or have an ancient poorly insulated tub then yeah powering down might make sense.
According to Arctic Spas, the break-even point is usually around 3-4 days for most modern tubs.
Myth #2: More Jets = More Energy Use
People assume that having a lot of jets means their energy bills will skyrocket. I hear this one all the time from first-time buyers who are worried about choosing models with too many jets.
But yeah that’s not really how it works. The number of jets doesn’t directly correlate to energy consumption – it’s about the size and efficiency of the pumps running them.
Most modern hot tubs use variable-speed pumps that are surprisingly efficient. What matters more is the quality of those pumps and how well they’re designed into the system.
Anyway the real energy hogs in a hot tub are almost always:
- The heater
- Poorly designed insulation
- Not the jets
One efficient 2HP pump running 16 jets can actually use less energy than an inefficient 1.5HP pump running 8 jets.
I once had a client obsessing over getting fewer jets to save energy who ended up with a tub that had an undersized pump that constantly ran at high speed trying to compensate. Total energy disaster.
Myth #3: Hot Tubs Are Always Energy Hogs
This myth comes from people remembering old-school hot tubs from the 80s and 90s that were basically power-hungry monsters. Modern hot tubs are completely different beasts when it comes to energy consumption.
Today’s quality hot tubs use things like full-foam insulation, thermal barriers, dedicated circulation pumps and high-efficiency heaters. The difference is night and day. My current tub uses about 30% of the electricity my old one from 2005 did even though it’s actually bigger.
What blows my mind is how many people still think all hot tubs will add hundreds to their monthly electric bill. With a decent modern unit in a typical climate you’re looking at more like $20-50 per month which breaks down to like a dollar or two per use for most people.
That said there are still plenty of energy-inefficient tubs being sold. Look for what’s called “full foam” insulation and check the R-value of the cover. Those two things make a massive difference in energy consumption. A cheap cover is basically throwing money away through heat loss.
Myth #4: The Higher The Temperature, The Higher The Energy Bills
This one’s tricky because it seems so logical. Higher temp = more energy right? But it’s more complicated than that.
See the thing that actually matters most is the differential between the water temp and the ambient temperature around the tub. In other words the gap between your water temp and the outside air.
So going from 100°F to 104°F doesn’t actually increase energy use by 4% or anything close to it. The real energy spike happens when that differential gets larger – like when it’s super cold outside.
I learned this the weird way when I moved from Florida to Pennsylvania. My energy use barely changed when I adjusted temperature settings but absolutely skyrocketed during my first northern winter. It wasn’t the temp setting it was the fact that my tub was fighting against 20°F outside air instead of 70°F.
Also modern hot tubs have this thing called an “economy mode” which is kinda misleading. It’s not actually more efficient in most cases – it just cycles the heater less frequently which can actually waste energy in really cold weather.
Myth #5: All Hot Tub Covers Are Basically The Same
This is a sneaky energy myth that costs people tons of money. Your hot tub cover is literally the most important component for energy efficiency and people treat it like an afterthought.
Heat rises. Water evaporates. These basic physics facts mean that a huge percentage of energy loss happens through the top of your hot tub. A cheap thin cover is basically like heating your tub with the lid partially open.
What Makes a Good Hot Tub Cover
What you want is a thick cover (at least 4″ in the middle tapering to 2.5″ at the edges) with a high density foam core. The foam should be at least 1.5 lb density for any climate and 2 lb density if you live anywhere cold.
But wait it gets worse. Even good covers degrade over time. They absorb water, get heavier and lose insulating value. A waterlogged cover can drag down your efficiency by 30-40% and most people have no idea it’s happening. If your cover’s getting super heavy or sagging in the middle it’s literally sucking money out of your wallet.
Caldera Spas notes that replacing a waterlogged cover can pay for itself in energy savings within just a few months in colder climates.
Myth #6: Running The Jets All The Time Keeps The Water Cleaner
This is another myth that sounds logical but actually wastes energy. Some folks think keeping their jets running for hours will somehow keep the water cleaner and reduce chemical needs.
What actually happens is you’re just running pumps unnecessarily burning electricity and possibly causing your water to evaporate faster (which means more heat loss and more frequent fills). Modern hot tubs have filtration cycles programmed specifically to clean the water efficiently.
Most quality hot tubs now have dedicated circulation pumps that use tiny amounts of electricity (like 1/15 HP) to move water through the filters and heater. These little workhorses cost pennies to run compared to the main jet pumps.
I’ve found that 2-4 hours of filtration per day is plenty for most situations. Anything beyond that is just wasting energy unless you’ve got like 10 people using the tub daily.
Myth #7: Hot Tubs Need A Dedicated 220V Circuit To Be Energy Efficient
There’s this persistent idea that 110V “plug and play” hot tubs are always energy inefficient compared to 220V models. This might have been true 15 years ago but it’s not necessarily the case anymore.
Yeah 220V generally heats water faster which is nice for recovery after use. But for maintaining temperature many modern 110V models are surprisingly efficient especially in milder climates. The insulation quality and cover are way more important factors than voltage at that point.
That said if you’re in a place with brutal winters or electricity is expensive in your area the 220V will probably still win out efficiency-wise. It’s just not the massive difference people think.
I recently tested two identical sized tubs from the same manufacturer – one 110V and one 220V – and the energy difference was only about 15% in favor of the 220V. Given the extra installation cost for the dedicated circuit it wasn’t worth it for my client in Southern California.
The Bottom Line on Hot Tub Energy Efficiency
So what actually matters for energy efficiency? A few key things:
- Quality insulation (full foam is king)
- A good cover that’s not waterlogged
- Keeping the tub running rather than frequent cold starts
- Setting a reasonable temperature (102°F is plenty hot for most people)
- Using a floating thermal blanket if you use the tub infrequently
But yeah forget about turning it off between uses counting jets or assuming all hot tubs are energy hogs. Those myths are costing you money.
Modern hot tubs can be surprisingly economical to run if you choose wisely and ignore the outdated advice. I’ve seen good units run for about the same monthly cost as a coffee habit. Totally worth it for the relaxation and health benefits you get in return.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Most Energy-Efficient Way to Run a Hot Tub?
Wanna keep your hot tub energy-efficient? Cover it with a good insulated cover when you’re not using it.
Also, try lowering the temperature a bit and use a timer to keep it running only when needed. Super easy!
How Much Will My Electric Bill Increase With a Hot Tub?
Your electric bill could jump by about $20 to $50 a month with a hot tub. Depends on how often you use it, though.
So, if you’re soaking every night, expect the high end. But hey, totally worth it, right?
Does a Hot Tub Use a Lot of Electricity?
Yeah, hot tubs can use a lot of electricity. They typically need around $20 to $40 a month to run.
But it really depends on how often you use it and the size of the tub. So, keep that in mind!
Is It Cheaper to Leave a Hot Tub on All the Time?
Leaving a hot tub on all the time can actually be cheaper than turning it off and on. Constantly heating it uses a lot of energy, but reheating a cooled tub takes more.
It’s a balance of costs, really!
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