Hot Tub Efficiency

If you happen to own a hot tub, there are things you can do to make it more energy efficient.

Thermostat – First, take a look at where the thermostat is set. It should be around 102F. If you go on vacation, turn the thermostat down while you’re away from home.

Windbreaks – Create windbreaks around your hot tub. Privacy panels, landscaping or fencing are all effective at cutting wind exposure.

Blanket – Adding an energy efficient floating blanket serves two purposes. It helps to retain heat and reduces the amount of moisture build-up on the inside of your hard cover which will help it last longer.

Cover – Take a look at your cover. Is it hard (foam) with good insulation? Does it fill snugly against the top of the tub? A cover in good shape will decrease energy consumption from heat loss.

Energy Star - Finally, if you’re in the market for a new hot tub, look for an Energy Star model. An average-size energy efficient hot tub uses 5-7 KWh per day. A poorly insulated, inefficient hot tub can use 12-18 KWh per day; almost four times as much energy.

3 Responses to “Hot Tub Efficiency”

1. Alice Cunningham says:

   February 21, 2009 at 1:36 pm

   What a great post.
   Excellent advice.
   I’m curious about the Energy Star. I’ve been in the hot tub business for 31 years and do not know of the application of the Energy Star program to hot tubs. Can you send info to me?
   You’re correct about the KWH useage: an energy efficient hot tub uses only 5-7KWH a day. The State of California has new energy standards for hot tubs. Hot Spring Spas qualify under that program as being energy efficient. They have also done 3rd party testing by an independent lab and we can guarantee the useage at 5-7 KWH a day.
   Thanks for your post.
2. Joe Prin says:

   February 23, 2009 at 8:23 pm

   Thanks Alice for the additional information! I’d like to, but I can take credit for this tip. The info came from the folks at Idaho Power. You can contact them through the Energy Center link I have posted on the Radio Show Sponsors page, or you can go to http://www.energystar.gov for more on this subject.
3. Tom says:

   April 24, 2012 at 12:02 pm

   What about adding additional insulation? I have access to large amounts of free hard styrofoam from a local appliance store. I was thinking of breaking it up to tiny pieces in a chipper shredder, adn filling the cavity with it. I was planning on leaving a safety space around the pumping adn heating eequipment.