Month: September 2021

A hot tub only gets hot and bubbles with the help of an electrical connection. As you begin to price out the cost of a hot tub, you should be cognizant of some of the hot tub electrical requirements. Depending on what you have in place already and what you need, there can be some installation costs to factor into it all.

While there are DIY guides and installation instructions in every hot tub owner’s manual, it’s imperative that you work with a professional electrician. This ensures that all of the steps are carefully followed and that your hot tub’s electrical components are meeting local and national codes.

Most hot tubs will run on a 220v system because they can heat the water faster. As such, we’ll focus on the electrical requirements for those units.

Hot Tub Must Be on a Dedicated GFCI Breaker

Within your feeder breaker, which is located in your house’s service panel, you’ll need to make sure that the spa is on its own breaker.

Additionally, there must be an outside disconnect GFCI box. This will be on a disconnect panel – and the GFCI component is added for protection. This should be installed between 5 and 15 feet of the hot tub.

All Circuits Must Be Dedicated

All of the circuits used for the spa have to be dedicated to the spa. This means that you cannot have any other things on the circuits at any time, regardless of whether the spa is running or not. This includes appliances, lights, or anything else.

Wires Must Be Correct Gauge

Most of the hot tubs sold today will require a 4-wire electrical system. These will also correspond to the size of your feed circuit breaker that is attached to the house service panel. Your disconnect GFCI panel can have an app rating that is equal to or larger than the feed breaker.

The 4-wire system includes 2 hot wires, a ground wire, and a neutral wire. A 3-wire system would be all but the neutral wire.

In addition to the wiring being of the correct gauge, all of the conduits should be buried. For this to happen, you will need to build a trench that leads from the outside disconnect box to the spa control system box on the outside of the hot tub. While you can have an electrician dig the trench, it can be more affordable to do it yourself or hire a landscaper.

Copper conductors should be used. As you get closer to the hot tub (within 5 feet), the metal components need to be bonded together.

Wires Entering Spa Must Be in Flexible Waterproof Conduit

The wires that enter the spa must be in what’s known as seal-tite – a flexible waterproof conduit. Those wires need to extend at least 6 inches past the conduct for the final connection to the spa. The diameter of this conduit should be between ¾” to 1” depending on the size of the wire.

The spa control system or equipment bay is where the flex conduit for the power wires is installed. Copper wire should be used as you never want to use aluminum wire.

Final Installation Tips

There are quite a few steps involved with handling the electrical requirements of a hot tub. It’s why it’s imperative to work with an electrician who will follow code, obtain an electrical permit, and read the owner’s manual to ensure everything is done properly.

So that you install your hot tub correctly, there are a few tips so that you don’t spend more on the electrical setup than necessary:

• Don’t install your hot tub under power lines
• Don’t run wires under the spa
• Don’t try to connect a 4-wire hot tub to a 3-wire circuit
• Don’t use your hot tub until the electrical installation has been approved.

Ensure Your Hot Tub Has Everything

At Ajax Pool and Spa, we have everything you need to keep your hot tub running. Whether you need custom installation or you need repairs to ensure your hot tub lasts for years to come, we are here to help.

Hot tub electrical components will be an important part of the overall functionality of your unit. Knowing the requirements even before you buy your hot tub will make it easier for you to plan. We’re also here every step of the way to help you with installation and maintenance, call our experts today.

The moment you begin thinking about buying a hot tub, the inevitable question of hidden costs is sure to come up. How much does it cost to run a 220v hot tub? It’s a question worth asking so you know what the monthly costs are going to be.

We’ll go over all of the questions you have regarding costs so you know what your true investment will be.

Establishing a 220v Outlet

Your hot tub will need to have power running to it. You’ll need a 220v outlet, which means reaching out to an electrician. How much will it cost to run a 220v outlet to my hot tub? Well, that depends on a few things.

Things that will affect the cost include the size of your tub as well as the proximity of the tub to the main electric panel. If there’s any complexity involved, it can take longer – and that can raise the costs significantly, too.

The average cost for establishing a 220v outlet so that you can start enjoying your hot tub will run between $900 and $1500. This is based on the assumption that you don’t already have existing wiring for a hot tub or a conduit in the near vicinity.

To ensure you get the best cost quoted to you, choose your location wisely. The further you place your hot tub from the main electrical panel, the more expensive it’s going to be. Additionally, consider digging the trench for the wires and such (if required) on your own or with the help of a landscaper. If you expect the electrician to do it, the cost will be higher.

The Costs of Running a Hot Tub

When everything is installed, there are going to be a few different things to consider in terms of the costs to keep your hot tub running.

What is your unit price per kilowatt hour?

What temperature will you set in your hot tub?

How often is the hot tub used?

Many of the newer hot tubs on the market are energy efficient. This means that they don’t cost as much to run, so it will be less than $1 per day.

On average, you could be spending between $20 and $60 a month to operate a hot tub. The more energy-efficient models will be on the lower end while older hot tubs and those who keep the heat going 24/7 will be on the higher end.

The average hot tub is going to use approximately 7.5 kW per hour. If you’re going to use your hot tub 30 hours a month, you would calculate 7.5 x 30 = 225. Then, look at your utility bill for what you pay per kW. In Colorado, the average is $0.12. That means your hot tub would cost around $27 per month.

How You Can Save Money?

If you’re concerned about the costs of a hot tub, there are ways that you can drop the costs. After all, owning a hot tub means more than the hot tub and the electric bill. You’ll also have the cost of chemicals and maintenance to consider.

Poorly maintained hot tubs take longer to heat up and work harder to maintain the temperature. As such, you’ll want to have professional inspections once a year to identify if any repairs are needed.

You can also heat your hot tube during off-peak utility hours. If you have a circuit timer on your hot tub’s thermostat, be sure you’re taking full advantage of it.

A cover can also help you save money. It will help you to trap in the heat and ensure that your water and chemicals aren’t evaporating all day every day.

Final Considerations

When you consider all of the benefits that you get out of hot tub ownership, the small cost added to your electric bill is not much. And, if you have solar panels in place, you might not notice any increase in utility costs.

At Ajax Pool & Spa, we can ensure that your hot tub works in your space, complete with custom installs. Even once you have your hot tub up and running, you can count on us for everything from cleaning to maintenance to repairs.