10 Ways To Reduce Hot Tub Running Costs

There are many easy ways you can reduce your hot tub running costs. From something as simple as choosing the right place to position your hot tub, to keeping on top of chemicals to cleaning your hot tub’s filters regularly, to getting a thermal cover, we’ve put together 10 simple ways to manage and improve your hot tub running costs.

If you're thinking about energy costs, Lay-Z-Spa has been proven to have the most energy-efficient inflatable hot tubs. An independent study of comparable products by comparable brands found that Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs heat faster, use less energy to maintain a certain temperature, and are better at keeping the heat in.

1. Get A Lay-Z-Spa Thermal Hot Tub Cover

The easiest and simplest way to reduce your hot tub running costs is to get a thermal cover. Specially designed to give a snug fit around inflatable hot tubs, the Lay-Z-Spa Thermal Hot Tub covers have a thick layer of insulating cotton, an anti‑mildew treated interior, and are made of Duraplus™, the same material as our hot tubs. So, it is naturally water repellent, UV resistant, and will protect your hot tub from the elements.

The insulating covers considerably reduce heat loss and therefore help to heat the water quicker and minimise the energy needed to maintain a specific temperature. Your hot tub can be up to 40% more energy efficient when using a thermal cover.

2. Fill Your Lay-Z-Spa With Water From The Hot Tap

A simple but very effective way to save money when filling up your hot tub is to use water from the hot tap. Just make sure you start with an inch or two of cold at the bottom first and ensure the water from the hot tap is no hotter than 40°C. It is far more energy-efficient to start your hot tub up with warm water rather than filling the hot tub with cold water and waiting for the pump's heater to do all the work.

Additionally, if you don’t require your hot tub to be as full as possible then consider only filling it up to the minimum line. This will save on the initial water cost and, because it is a smaller body of water, will require less power to heat.

Top Tip: In the warmer summer months, if you can't fill up from the hot tap, fill your hot tub up from the cold tap the day before heating up. Water from the cold tap in the UK can be up to 20°C in the summer. If the outside temperature is above this, leave the water for 24h without heating (but do add your shock dosage of chlorine) and some natural warming up will occur. This will reduce some of the energy required to heat the water.

3. Maintain A Constant Temperature

If you use your Lay-Z-Spa often, say 3 or more times a week on different days, it is considerably more cost-effective to keep the heater set to one temperature. Dropping the temperature or letting the water cool and turning it up again will actually consume more energy than keeping it at a steady temperature. And, most importantly, you can get it any time you like without having to wait.

Note: There isn't much noticeable difference between 40°C and 38°C so you could also consider dropping the temperature you normally set your hot tub to.

Did you know: Lay-Z-Spa heaters are thermostatically regulated, so they will only switch on to top up the temperature of the water to whatever temperature that you set. This is better than letting the temperature rise and fall a great amount, which could result in more energy usage. Please be aware of the ambient air temperature, as at colder times of year more energy will be required to keep the water warm.

4. Run the hot tub at weekends instead of 24/7

If you generally only use your Lay-Z-Spa at the weekend or for 2 consecutive days during the week, the best way to reduce your hot tub running costs is to actually turn it off altogether during the week. This will only require one heat up and 2 days or less maintaining temperature.

For example: Start the heater and set your temperature on a Friday evening, keep it set at your desired temperature throughout Saturday and Sunday then turn off the heat when finished using it but keep the filter running. Find out more on only using your Lay-Z-Spa at the weekend.

5. Use the Inflatable Lid And a Floor Protector To Keep The Heat In

Heat rises and one of the biggest causes of heat loss in hot tubs is straight from the water's surface where it meets the outside air.

Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs all come with a cover and an insulating inflatable lid as standard to help with heat retention and to stop debris from falling in.

We strongly recommend making sure the protective top cover and the insulating inflatable lid are firmly fastened in place when you are not using your hot tub and when heating up the water. The lid creates a thermal barrier that helps prevent hot tub heat loss.

A Lay-Z-Spa Floor Protector is a great way to insulate the base of your hot tub so that it helps reduce the amount of heat that might escape through a cold floor. A floor mat is also perfect to protect the base of the hot tub on potential rough ground.

6. Position Your Hot Tub Near Windbreak Or In A Shelter

Setting up your Lay-Z-Spa in an area with a windbreak or in a sheltered area helps to prevent wind chill. Wind exposure can rapidly reduce water temperature both when using it and when not using it. Something as simple as placing your hot tub next to a fence can form an effective shield against the wind.

Shelters, gazebos and pergolas can help with preventing heat loss or wind chill and they can be upscaled with thermal insulation. It is worth bearing in mind that these structures also provide privacy. Take a look at some of our favourite hot tub gazebos and shelters hot tub for some inspiration.

If you don't have a natural windbreak or don't want to make a permanent shelter, we recommend the Lay-Z-Spa dome. It offers privacy, protection against the elements and you can pack it away when it is not needed.

Top Tip: Insulation can also be incorporated into a custom-built hot tub surround which gives that protection from wind-chill and creates a thermal boundary that will keep the hot tub nice and warm.

7. Make Use Of Your Power Saving Timer

If you don’t use your hot tub regularly, the Power Saving Timer is great for keeping your Lay-Z-Spa running costs to a minimum.

The Power Saving Timer prevents any unnecessary use of power. It allows you to set the time and duration of the heating cycle so that you can enjoy your hot tub at a time of your choosing without having to leave your Lay-Z-Spa heater on at all times.

Top tip: Pumps with Wifi can be scheduled using the Lay-Z-Spa App. This gives you the freedom of being able to set your temperature even if you're not home. Again, this means you don't have to leave your heater on all the time.

8. Use Your Lay-Z-Spa During Warmer Weather

Outside temperature affects how much heat the water loses. In winter, in preventative measures are not taken, the hot tub heater will have to work harder to maintain the temperature you have set. In late Spring and Summer, the outside temperature is much more comfortably warm, even at night time, and your hot tub will encounter much less heat loss. As a consequence, using your hot tub at this time of year is much more cost-effective.

9. Use The Massage System Less

The AirJet™ and HydroJet™ massage system understandably require energy to run and can contribute to some heat loss in the water. If you're really keen on reducing your hot tub running costs and keeping them as low as possible, consider cutting down the amount of time you have the massage system on and enjoy relaxing 40°C water instead.

Note: A Lay-Z-Spa heater uses 2050W per hour whilst on the heat setting and 600W whilst running the inflation / massage function.

10. Get a Lay-Z-Spa with an EnergySense™ Liner

Currently only available on the Zurich AirJet™ and Barbados AirJet™, the EnergySense™ liner is an in-built thermal cover. It has a double layer of aluminium foil and foam wrapped between our tough and durable DuraPlus™ outer making it 40% more energy efficient when compared to similar hot tubs. The insulating layer means that it heats up quicker and it holds the heat in better and therefore saves on energy costs. If you combine one of these pioneering Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs with the hot tub thermal cover, you're going to have one of the most energy-efficient inflatable hot tubs!

Want To Reduce Hot Tubbing Costs Even More?

Hot tub running costs are not just about energy consumption. Here are a few more tips that can help you save money and enjoy your Lay-Z-Spa.

• Keep your water in top condition. The better you are at keeping your water clean with chemicals, the longer it will last and you'll need to change it less frequently - saving on water costs.
• Keep filters clean. Dirty clogged-up filters will mean your pump has to work harder and use more power to circulate the water. Filters can be easily cleaned or replaced when worn out.
• Buy chemical bundles and filter bundles or larger quantities as this generally works out cheaper in the long run.

There you have it, those are our top tips for reducing your hot tub running costs! If you have any more ideas we’d love to hear them. Our blog is a great source of tips and advice and you can find out more about Lay-Z-Spa running costs here.

*Originally posted in March 2020 and updated in June 2022