How Much Electricity Does a Swim Spa Use?

For anyone considering buying a swim spa for the first time, concerns about how much it will cost to run are valid.  A swim spa will increase the amount of water you use.  Keeping that water heated and generating a current strong enough to swim against will result in a higher electric bill.  

But by how much?

We’re not going to make you wait for the answer: A mid-range, energy-efficient swim spa can consume up to 4,000-5,000 watts or more of energy or 2-6 KWh. This amount depends on how often it's used and the settings you have chosen for it.

The amount of energy used is directly related to one of the two major costs of owning a swim spa (the others are the chemicals and the water).

Using that power to keep your swim spa heated, filtering the water and running the jets will add to your energy bill. With a swim spa we generally estimate that cost to be about $60 a month or $2 a day in Canada.  Your rates will vary depending on the power costs in your area.

So how much electricity does a swim spa use?  We are asked this frequently when people are considering them and even sometimes after they have bought.

In this article, we’ll go over the various factors that will increase your use of electricity and give you tips on how to keep this energy use to a minimum.

• What are the factors in how much power your swim spa uses?
• How to reduce your swim spa’s electrical costs.

By the end, hopefully you’ll have a good understanding of how much electricity your swim spa uses and what you can do to minimize it.   

What Are the Factors in How Much Power My Swim Spa Uses?

There are several factors that will dictate the amount of electricity you’ll end up using when running a swim spa.  

• Aside from heating the water, generating the current against which you’re swimming uses the most electricity.  Consequently, your swim spa costs more the more you use it for swimming. It will cost you more whenever each time you take the cover off, but the cost is less if you have the cover off and are using it recreationally than if you’re using it to swim in.   
• The size of your swim spa will also affect its electricity usage. Because of the amount of water it holds a larger swim spa will use more electricity for heating and current generation than a smaller one.
• The type of climate your area experiences will also be an influence on the amount of electricity consumed.  People in warmer climates will use less electricity compared to those in colder.
• Insulation will play a role in how much energy is needed to keep your swim spa water heated. Inground units are typically better insulated.  And using a swim spa cover when it’s not in use can prevent excessive heat loss.
• It costs more to heat your water from ambient temperature levels than it does to keep it heated at a constant temperature - even when not in use. To keep your electric bill as low as possible you shouldn’t turn off your swim spa unless you plan on not using it for a couple of months.

What Are Some Tips on How to Manage Your Swim Spa Electricity Costs?

• If you go on a short holiday, it’s better to just turn down the temperature rather than turn off the system completely. And if you do plan on not using your swim spa for two months or more it’s probably best to drain it completely and refill it when you’re ready to use it again.
• Keeping your swim spa well maintained will also mean that it will use electricity more efficiently. If it becomes overly dirty and the filters become clogged it will have to work harder to cycle the water.  
• Using a good fitting, insulated cover will reduce the amount of debris that gets in the system while reducing the amount of heat lost when it’s not in use.
• Although it will cost you more to heat your swim spa throughout the winter, you can minimize your electricity bill by keeping the water at a constant temperature. If it’s well insulated (and if you live in a cold climate, this is something you should insist on) and the cover is used when the swim spa isn’t in use you can keep the rise in electricity usage from being too dramatic.

How Much Power Does a Swim Spa Use?

A swim spa uses between 4,000-5,000 watts of energy monthly or between 2-6 kwh. This costs translates for most people into about $60 a month.

But those amounts are averages: At Hydropool, we have put them together over the past 40 years of developing swim spas. So at the time, we want you to know there are a host of factors that dictate your actual cost, including what the weather is typically like where you live and how much you use the swim spa.

To get a more accurate figure on what your monthly costs will be, it may be helpful to reach out to a local retailer, who can figure out the power usage and costs in your area. Find the one closest to you here.