With retailers offering ‘bargain’ deals on inflatable hot tubs, energy experts are warning that hot tubs on offer for £100 or less may not be the bargains they seem. While inflatable hot tubs are often the cheapest to buy, energy app Loop warns they are the most expensive to run.
It said an inflatable hot tub cost £360 a month to run and would amount to £1,440 in four months over summer. Loop warned that cheap inflatable hot tubs cost five times as much as more energy-efficient models. But even a more energy-efficient hot tub that uses 7kWh per day could add £72 per month to energy bills. This, it said, is 20% higher than last summer and a huge 90% higher than in summer 2020 when many people bought hot tubs during lockdown.
The ‘Energy Doctor’ Steve Buckley, head of data science at Loop, said: “Many of us will have seen offers on inflatable hot tubs recently and are considering investing in one. While relaxing in a hot tub is a welcome treat on a cool summer’s night, these hot tubs may not be the bargains they seem.
“With the current high cost of living, people should be aware that the cost of running one of these could be a lot more than they were expecting. Our new research found that hot tubs are one of the worst garden culprits for adding to energy bills. Even the most energy-efficient tubs will cost £72 per month to run.
“But the biggest risks are for those households who buy cheap hot tubs. Due to poor insulation these could easily cost five times that amount to run - that’s as much as £360 per month.
“The problem is that households won’t have any idea of the high running costs until their bill arrives. If you are planning to use a hot tub over summer, don’t get taken by surprise when the electricity bill arrives, as by then it’s too late.
“You’ll be able to see the impact of hot tubs and other appliances on your energy bill by keeping a track of your usage using Loop, a free app that links to your smart meter and analyses your energy data. By tracking usage and costs, you can avoid the dreaded 'energy bill shock'.
“If you use a lot of energy, for example because of a hot tub, an electric vehicle or electric heating, it’s definitely worth considering solar. Payback has never been faster and you can ‘try before you buy’ using our unique solar simulator in the app that shows you just how much of your energy use could be covered by solar, with or without a home battery."
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Loop's easy ways to keep hot tub energy costs down
Reduce your thermostat by a couple of degrees to help save money but still maintain comfortable water temperature
Cover the hot tub with a thermal cover when not in use to keep the heat in
Think about where you position your hot tub – keeping it away from wind and breezes that will cool the water will help maintain the water temperature
For long-term hot tub converts, installing solar panels might be worth considering as a permanent way to cut your energy bills
Don’t get taken by surprise - keep a track of costs using a smart meter app
