Having a pool or hot tub offers a refreshing way to either cool off or warm up! Despite the many advantages, they most likely utilize electricity at your home. Your Missouri Electric Cooperatives wanted to shed some light on what would having a pool or hot tub would do for Member-Owners.
Your energy bills will go up
Who wouldn’t love the convenience of having a hot tub or pool in their back yard? But if you are considering purchasing one, be sure to thoroughly educate yourself before ‘jumping in.’ The simple fact is, if you purchase a pool or hot tub, your energy use and costs will increase. How much will depend on how efficient your equipment is, how often you use it, how you maintain it and a variety of other factors.
Before you buy a hot tub
Do your research! Not all hot tubs are created equal. Look at multiple brands at a variety of stores before making your decision. When considering the energy efficiency of a hot tub, the key elements to look at are the cover, tub wall insulation and pump system efficiency. Look at energy use guides to compare the use of each model. Check the assumptions for average outdoor temperature, hot tub set temperature, cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh), amount of use and size of motor on the guides. If a vendor cannot show you this information, it may not be wise to buy their hot tub!
In addition to energy considerations, check your home insurance policy to determine if you need a separate policy for your hot tub or pool.
Older hot tubs are big energy hogs
Hot tubs can also use a significant amount of electricity to heat, circulate and filter the water. That’s especially true of older hot tubs. Many newer hot tubs are designed to be more energy-efficient, with excellent insulation and more efficient pumps and controls. Some of these newer hot tubs use only half as much electricity as models that were sold just a decade ago. Given this information, if you purchase a used hot tub, it may cost you much more to operate versus purchasing a new, energy-efficient one.
How can I reduce my hot tub energy costs?
There are several things you can do to ensure your hot tub operates as efficiently as possible. The higher the water temperature on your tub, the more electricity it will use, so set it no higher than you need it. When you’re not using the hot tub, make sure it’s tightly covered with a good, insulated cover. You can even go the extra step and add a hot tub blanket.
It lays on top of the water when you aren’t using it and adds another layer of insulation. Finally, most people run their filter pumps more often than needed to keep the water clear and sanitary. If your pump has a timer, set it to run for a shorter period a couple of times a day.
Pools cost money too
Pools not only cost a significant money to purchase and install, they may cost a lot of money in energy use. The two biggest costs associated with pools are the pool heater, and the pump to circulate water. If you’re preparing to install a pool or want to improve an existing one, consider an energy-efficient approach to save you money over time.
Pool heaters
You will pay less in energy costs by not heating your pool; but if you choose to heat it, consider a heat pump or solar pool heater.
Like home heat pumps, heat pump pool heaters use proven technology to transfer heat from one place to another. Although a higher initial cost, heat pump pool heaters may pay for themselves in energy savings over time.
Solar pool heaters are another option. Depending upon the amount of sunlight your pool receives, a solar heater could be your most economical choice. In a typical system, the water circulates through a solar collector which heats the water before it returns back to the pool.
However you choose to heat your pool, keeping it covered when not in use will lower energy costs by reducing heat and evaporation loss.
Pool pumps
Circulating your pool’s water keeps the chemicals mixed and removes debris, but pool pumps often run much longer than necessary. This includes portable above ground pools, so limit the time your pool pump is on! If the water circulates while chemicals are added, they should remain mixed; and most debris can be removed using a skimmer or vacuum. You can also save by getting the smallest size pump your pool requires, since larger pumps use more energy.
For more energy efficient ideas for pools, visit www.energy.gov and search “swimming pool heating.”
Take Control & Save!
To find out more about how to save energy and money in your home, visit www.TakeControlAndSave.coop.
Running a one horsepower pool pump for12 hours a day costs about $43 a month![1]
[1]Based on a 1,200 watt pump and energy cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.
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