For the average person, the thought of owning a hot tub may seem to be an unattainable dream. However, this aspiration might not be quite so out of reach for much longer, as the UK’s energy suppliers are slashing the price of household energy bills due to lower wholesale oil and gas prices.

And with consumers groups calling for even further reductions, hot tubs could become an even more popular and permanent fixture in homes and gardens up and down the country.

While some people will have an initial price or budget in mind when choosing a hot tub for sale, understanding the ongoing running costs can be a little more difficult. However, there are only three things you generally need to worry about and these are water, electricity, and chemicals.

Water

Without this crucial element, a hot tub would be rather pointless indeed, so you can’t really skimp when it comes to water! But there is a common misunderstanding regarding how much water hot tubs actually use.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to drain and refill a hot tub after every session. Modern spas have in-built cleaning and filtration systems that will keep the water clean, hygienic and free of any nasty germs for a long period of time. Replacing the water every three months or so is recommended, but this particular expense won’t exactly break the bank.

Electricity

Electricity is sure to be your biggest expense, as most hot tubs feature two pumps and a 3KW heater. But another error people make is assuming that water needs to be re-heated from cold before getting in.

On the contrary, as hot tub manufacturers have developed systems that keep the water constantly warm, which is a far more efficient method. The only time when a lot of electric may be required is during the re-fill period, which typically takes between 15 and 20 hours. However, on a weekly basis, the electric a hot tub uses is virtually pocket money.  This has been helped enormously by the energy companies being able to reduce their prices as a result of the aforementioned drops in the wholesale cost of both oil and gas.

Chemicals

The third expense you’ll encounter is buying chemicals for cleaning and maintenance. But you’ll be pleased to hear that the price of chlorine and bromine has also come down in recent years due to more efficient manufacturing processes. What’s more, these chemicals can last a long time and don’t need purchasing that often because their effects can be quite long lasting.

There are certain spas available with chemical-free cleaning systems, but these are usually more expensive than your standard hot tub for sale due to their high-tech nature. For some however they may offer the most eco-friendly solution as they do not require additional chemicals to be used for their hygienic and safe operation.

Tips on keeping costs down

Even though these running costs are cheaper than you may have previously thought, there are various ways you can reduce energy consumption even further. These include:

• Having a good quality cover – Damage to the hinge-fold or insulation foam can cause heat to escape, so ensure the cover is always in good condition. Avoid sitting or lying on your hot tub’s cover and clean it regularly.
• Installing a windbreaker – Whether it’s a panel, fence or bush, protecting your hot tub from the elements can maintain its temperature and keep costs down.
• Turn off unnecessary features – LED lights can consume electricity, while powerful jets and air blowers make the heater work harder, so turn these off when not required.

All in all, we hope that we have truly whet your appetite regarding choosing a hot tub for sale. For further helpful advice HotSpring World have a blog online with many useful hints, tips and guides to assist and educate you regarding hot tubs.