A hot tub is an incredible addition to your Sydney property, and one that is an increasingly common sight in local backyards. But how much do they cost to run?

The short answer is that the average power use for an average-sized hot tub is around 5kW, similar to an oven, clothes dryer or large ducted air conditioner. How much that adds to your power bill will depend on how much you pay for power.

But there’s far more nuance to the answer than that, so in this guide we’ll break down all you need to know about hot tub electricity use, to help you gain an understanding of how your Sydney power bill might be affected by a hot tub purchase.

How much electricity does a hot tub use in Sydney?

Exactly how power hungry is a hot tub?

First, some context: hot tubs should be viewed as less of a cost, and more of an investment in yourself, your family and your home, as they can deliver a range of returns through enhanced health and wellness, deeper interpersonal relationships and increased property value.

But a prospective hot tub owner still needs to budget appropriately for the purchase, both in terms of the upfront costs of buying and installing your machine, and the ongoing costs of running it, like power, water, chemicals and servicing.

Electricity is usually the most significant of those ongoing costs.

The average hot tub will use approximately 5 kilowatts (kW) of power. The majority of the power is drawn by the heater (3-4kW for most models, but some can use as little as 2kW or as much as 9kW) and the pumps (approximately 1-2kW), with other powered components, such as digital displays, lights, water features and speaker systems using a negligible amount of electricity.

The good news is that Sydney’s subtropical climate means that the most power-hungry hot tub component – the heater – doesn’t need to work as hard as it does in a colder climate, where a hot tub would lose heat faster.

Understanding hot tub electricity units

The next question: what exactly does ‘kilowatt’ mean? And how does this unit translate to dollars on your power bill?

On your electricity bill you’ll see that energy use is actually measured in ‘kilowatt hours’ (kWh). 1kWh is the amount of energy a 1000W/1kW appliance, e.g. a standard microwave or iron, uses in an hour.

As mentioned above, the average hot tub draws 5kW of energy when in use, so an hour soak in such a hot tub might equate to 5kWh of energy being added to your power bill.

How much does hot tub electricity cost in Sydney?

Now that we’ve got an idea of how power is measured and how much electricity a hot tub uses, and what will your hot tub energy costs in Sydney look like?

In Sydney the average monthly energy bill for a two-person household sits between $130 and $230 (but will ultimately depend on a number of other factors). A cheap and inefficient hot tub could cost you as much as $100 to run per month, which could more or less double your power bill. A high quality, highly efficient hot tub, on the other hand, could cost you less than $50 per month.

At Hot Spring we’re proud to offer Australia’s most energy efficient hot tubs, as proven by independent lab testing. With running costs as low as $1 a day, an investment in quality now can ultimately save you thousands of dollars over the life of the machine.

What factors affect hot tub energy costs in Sydney?

The amount of electricity your hot tub uses will be determined by a few key factors:

Insulation

The single most important factor in hot tub power use is the insulation that fills the cabinet and cover of your spa. High quality insulation keeps your water warmer for longer, significantly reducing heater workload.

The Hot Spring Highlife collection, for example, features the same high performance full-foam insulation that you’d find in the walls of a commercial freezer, to keep more cold out and more heat in.

Size

Naturally, the larger the hot tub, the more water there is to heat and filter, and the more hydromassage jets there are to power.

Frequency of use

It’s natural that the more you use your hot tub, the higher your power bill will be. But you shouldn’t avoid soaking for fear of the next electricity bill. This is why it’s so important to choose an energy efficient spa: so you can enjoy a guilt-free, worry-free, truly relaxing soak.

Heating method

While most hot tubs warm the water with relatively standard heating elements, complementary technologies like heat pumps and hot air induction jets can help to get your spa to your desired temperature faster and more efficiently.

Circulation pumps

Many spas only move water when the jets are on, so if you want to filter the water, you need to get those power-hungry jets pumping. A dedicated and continuously operating circulation pump like the SilentFlo 5000, meanwhile, ensures all your water is filtered all the time, while using less power than a 40W light bulb.

Positioning

Sydney can experience some rather extreme weather conditions, including rather chilly winter mornings. By positioning your hot tub in a more protected area of your backyard, you might retain more heat and potentially reduce the amount of work the filter system needs to do.

Reducing your hot tub power use

How can you bring your hot tub power bill down? A few key tips include:

• Invest in quality: Paying a little more now for an energy efficient hot tub can save you serious cash in the long run.
• Set a lower temperature: Avoid the ‘max’ setting – go for the lowest temperature that still feels comfortable.
• Religiously cover your spa: Heat rises, but an insulated cover will keep it in. Cover your hot tub whenever it’s not in use.

As the home of Australia’s most energy efficient hot tubs, at Hot Spring we’ve spent decades helping Sydneysiders to enjoy the ultimate backyard luxury completely free of worry or guilt. Our machines are kinder to both your wallet and the planet, while delivering the most incredible soaking and ownership experiences on the market.

Ready to experience the Hot Spring difference? Get in touch with your local dealer today!