Could Plug-In Solar Make Your Hot Tub Free to Run in Summer?
Could Plug-In Solar Make Your Hot Tub Free to Run in Summer?
The smart way to reduce the cost of running a hot tub in the UK
There’s nothing quite like stepping into a warm hot tub after a long day.
But if you’ve ever looked at your electricity bill and wondered just how much your hot tub is costing to run, you’re certainly not alone.
The good news is that modern hot tub technology is making it possible to dramatically reduce those running costs.
By combining an energy-efficient hot tub, an air source heat pump and plug-in solar panels, you can make much better use of renewable energy and reduce the amount of electricity you need to buy from the grid.
And during the brighter summer months, two plug-in solar panels could potentially generate enough electricity to cover much, or even all, of your hot tub’s electricity consumption during the day.
Even better, the electricity generated by your solar panels isn’t just for your hot tub.
It can help power your entire home throughout the year.
What is plug-in solar?
Plug-in solar is a simple way of generating your own electricity using solar panels without installing a traditional rooftop solar system.
The panels generate electricity from sunlight, which can then be used within your home.
In Great Britain, compliant plug-in solar systems can currently provide up to 800 watts of output.
That might not sound like a huge amount of electricity, but when you’re generating it for free from the sun, it can make a noticeable difference to your annual electricity consumption.
And for hot tub owners, it gets particularly interesting.
Two solar panels could make a big difference
Imagine having two plug-in solar panels positioned in a suitable, unshaded location in your garden.
During the longer, brighter days of summer, your panels could be generating electricity while your hot tub is maintaining its temperature, filtering the water and running its circulation systems.
Instead of purchasing all of that electricity from the grid, your hot tub can use electricity being generated by the sun.
Depending on your hot tub, its insulation, how often you use it and the amount of sunshine available, two plug-in solar panels could potentially provide enough daytime electricity to cover a large proportion — and in some circumstances all — of your hot tub’s electricity requirements during sunny summer periods.
That means your summer hot tub could potentially be powered almost entirely by the sun.
That’s a pretty exciting thought.
But the benefits don’t stop at the hot tub
Here’s the really important thing to understand about plug-in solar.
You’re not buying solar panels solely to power your hot tub.
Your solar panels generate electricity for your home.
If your hot tub isn’t using all the electricity being generated at a particular moment, that electricity can be used by other appliances in your home.
Your fridge.
Your washing machine.
Your dishwasher.
Your television.
Your home office.
Your lighting.
In simple terms, the more of your solar-generated electricity you use yourself, the less electricity you need to buy from your energy supplier.
So even when your hot tub isn’t running, your solar panels can still be helping to reduce your household electricity costs.
Why an air source heat pump is a game changer
Solar is only one part of the equation.
The other is air source heat pump technology.
A conventional hot tub heater uses electricity to generate heat.
An air source heat pump works differently.
It takes heat energy from the surrounding air and uses electricity to transfer and increase that heat so it can be used to heat your hot tub.
Because a heat pump moves heat rather than simply creating it directly, it can produce significantly more heat energy than the amount of electricity it consumes.
This can make a huge difference to the amount of electricity required to heat and maintain your hot tub.
And when you combine an air source heat pump with solar electricity, the two technologies complement each other extremely well.
Solar + heat pump + hot tub
Think of it like this:
Sunlight → Solar panels → Electricity → Air source heat pump → Warm hot tub
Your solar panels generate electricity.
Your heat pump uses that electricity efficiently.
The heat pump takes energy from the surrounding air and transfers it into your hot tub.
The result is a much more efficient way of heating your spa.
And because your electricity is being generated by your own solar panels, you’re reducing your reliance on electricity from the grid at the same time.
Could your hot tub really be free to run in summer?
This is where things get exciting.
During the summer, the UK has much longer daylight hours and generally higher levels of solar generation.
At the same time, outdoor temperatures are higher, meaning your hot tub may require less energy to maintain its temperature than it would during the colder months.
If you have an efficient, well-insulated hot tub fitted with an air source heat pump, two plug-in solar panels could potentially generate enough electricity to cover the hot tub’s electricity consumption during periods of good solar generation.
So while we can’t promise that every hot tub will cost absolutely nothing to run all summer — because weather, usage, temperature, positioning and individual energy consumption all make a difference — the potential is certainly there to make your summer running costs extremely low.
And that’s before you take into account the other electricity savings your solar panels can provide around your home.
What happens when summer ends?
This is one of the biggest advantages of solar.
Your panels don’t suddenly stop being useful when summer ends.
They continue generating electricity throughout autumn, winter and spring.
Of course, solar generation will be lower during the darker months, but every unit of electricity generated is still electricity that you potentially don’t have to buy from the grid.
That means your investment in solar isn’t simply about reducing the cost of running your hot tub.
It’s about reducing your overall household electricity consumption.
Your hot tub benefits.
Your home benefits.
And your electricity bill can benefit too.
Your hot tub can become part of your home’s energy system
Traditionally, a hot tub has been viewed as an appliance that consumes a lot of electricity.
But modern technology gives us another way of looking at it.
A well-insulated hot tub requires less energy to maintain its temperature.
An air source heat pump can dramatically improve heating efficiency.
And solar panels can generate some of the electricity required to run the system.
Put those three things together and you have a much smarter approach to hot tub ownership.
Instead of simply accepting the running cost of a hot tub, you can actively reduce the amount of energy you need to purchase.
Why hot tub insulation matters
It’s worth remembering that the cheapest electricity is the electricity you don’t need to use in the first place.
That’s why insulation is so important.
A well-insulated hot tub retains heat more effectively, meaning the heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain your chosen temperature.
A good-quality insulated cover is also essential, particularly when the hot tub isn’t being used.
When you combine good insulation with an efficient heat pump and solar generation, you are attacking the running costs from three different directions:
Use less energy.
Heat the water more efficiently.
Generate some of your own electricity.
That’s the formula for a much more economical hot tub.
Solar isn’t just about saving money on your hot tub
Let’s imagine your solar panels are producing electricity on a sunny afternoon.
Your hot tub doesn’t need all of it.
Rather than that electricity being wasted, it can potentially be used by other electrical appliances in your home.
This is why we like to think about plug-in solar as home energy generation, rather than simply “hot tub solar”.
Your hot tub might be one of the biggest beneficiaries, but your whole household can benefit.
Over the course of a year, those small savings can add up.
A smarter way to own a hot tub
For many people considering a hot tub, the biggest question isn’t simply:
“How much does the hot tub cost?”
It’s:
“How much will it cost me to run?”
That’s a very sensible question.
A hot tub is a long-term investment, so running costs matter.
Choosing an energy-efficient hot tub with excellent insulation and an air source heat pump can help reduce the electricity required to keep your water warm.
Adding plug-in solar can then help generate some of that electricity yourself.
And because your solar panels can supply electricity to your home as well, the potential savings go beyond the hot tub.
Imagine stepping into your hot tub knowing the sun helped heat it
There’s something quite satisfying about it.
The sun is shining.
Your solar panels are generating electricity.
Your heat pump is efficiently turning energy into heat.
And you’re sitting in your hot tub enjoying it.
Instead of thinking about how much electricity you’re using, you’re making use of energy that’s being generated right there in your own garden.
That’s the future of energy-efficient hot tub ownership.
Could solar and an air source heat pump be right for you?
Every garden and every hot tub is different.
The amount of electricity your solar panels generate will depend on factors such as their position, orientation, shading and the time of year.
Your hot tub’s running costs will also depend on its size, insulation, temperature settings, how often it’s used and the surrounding weather conditions.
But when you combine good insulation, an efficient hot tub, an air source heat pump and plug-in solar, you have the potential to significantly reduce the amount of grid electricity required to enjoy your spa.
And during sunny summer periods, you could potentially generate enough electricity from two plug-in solar panels to cover much or even all of your hot tub’s daytime electricity needs.
Enjoy your hot tub, not the electricity bill
A hot tub should be about relaxing.
It should be about spending time with family and friends.
It should be about enjoying your garden and having somewhere to unwind at the end of the day.
It shouldn’t have to mean worrying every time you look at your electricity meter.
With modern insulation, air source heat pump technology and plug-in solar, there are now more ways than ever to make hot tub ownership more energy efficient.
Two plug-in solar panels could help power your hot tub in the summer, while continuing to generate electricity for your home throughout the rest of the year.
So why simply buy a hot tub?
