Buying a hot tub might seem like a great idea at the time but a lot of people don’t know that it carries a lot of unexpected costs. Aside from the initially high buy-in price, hot tubs must be maintained throughout the year, and this cost can quickly rack up. Here, a spokesperson from Rightio details some of the extra costs of owning a hot tub that you might not have anticipated.
Initial costs
The cost of a hot tub itself is certainly the most obvious cost to consider. This will likely be the greatest factor you’ll think about when beginning to consider investing in a hot too. The price of a new hot tub can vary a lot, costing anywhere between £2,800–£21,700.
Given this massive range, it’s worth considering exactly what kind of hot tub you’re after. If it’s just for you and your partner, then there’s no need to splash out on a hot tub for eight people. Likewise, if your hot tub is going to serve as a host for friends and family on a regular basis, then it might be worth investing higher up on the scale. That way, you’ll get a hot tub that can accommodate everyone and won’t be damaged by overuse.
The other initial cost is water. Without water, your hot tub isn’t going to be the most inviting place to spend time. While you will likely be aware that you’ll have to pay for your water, you might not know how much. The average six-seater tub will hold around 3,000 litres of water, equating to a cost of £4.80 to fill each time.
Hidden costs
There are some additional costs that you probably haven’t given much thought to when considering a hot tub. Unfortunately, these costs can pile up quickly. Most notably, the maintenance of your hot tub can bear a hefty but unexpected price tag.
You’ll have to consider service costs of yearly checks and products used to ensure the cleanliness of the water – that’s not to mention the general cost of turning your ‘tub’ into a hot tub. In an average year, running costs for heating, services, and consumables can vary substantially between £675–£965. This extra cost can be a hefty prospect for potential buyers, so it’s vital to bear it in mind when making your decision. A hot tub is not a one-and-done purchase – it will be a long-term investment.
If you’re hoping to save money on your hot tub costs by using it frugally, perhaps limiting usage to the summer months, you will still face some of this upkeep cost. Even energy-efficient hot tubs will cost around £1 each day to keep running.
Hot tub as part of the household
It can be difficult to have a proper understanding of the size of these costs without any context. To remedy that, let’s look at a few household items that use energy and see how they compare with a hot tub.
The average UK gas and electricity bill is around £1,138 per year. It’s important that you get the most from your money, so ensure you get a regular combi boiler service. There are a few items around your home that will contribute towards this more than others. For example, In the UK, we spend an average of 246 minutes watching television and digital media every day. At 2p per hour, that adds up to £30 each year. This works out to 2.5% of the average energy bill.
By contrast, a hot tub is a much greater investment. You should expect to pay between £275–£365 each year in electricity for your hot tub. This means that if you’re looking to add a hot tub to your home, you can expect to see your energy bill increase by 24.1%–32% each year based on the UK average. Compared to other appliances around the home, this is a monumental increase.
It can be tempting to dive straight in to a hot tub purchase, but being unaware of the endless tide of hidden costs might leave you drowning in charges. If you decide to invest in a garden hot tub, make sure that you’re getting the most out of your money and that you know exactly how much you’re spending.
