Leaving the hot tub on all the time seems to be a waste of electricity. After all, you probably only use it a few hours a week. I decided to investigate the issue of keeping the hot tub running all the time, and this is what I found out.
In short
In most cases yes; you should leave your spa on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If the spa is turned off and on frequently or the temperature is lowered and raised frequently, the cost of electricity will increase significantly. However, consider turning the spa off or hibernating if you plan to stay away for 3 weeks or more.
Why do hot tubs stay on all the time?
Heating a large amount of water requires time (see how long does it take to heat a hot tub?) and energy. It is much cheaper to keep the tub at the right temperature than to heat it over and over again.
If you had to warm your spa from the cold every time, the impact on your spa’s operating costs would be dramatic. You would also spend a lot of time waiting for your spa to warm up!
What temperature should I keep my hot tub at when it is not in use?
You may be wondering whether you should turn off the spa or just lower the temperature when it is not in use. If you want to lower your temperature, what is the most ideal temperature you can set?
If you plan to use your hot tub 3 times a week, you probably won’t save much by lowering the temperature because it takes time and energy to reheat the water. In this case you should maintain the same temperature as when you use your spa.
Remember that some spas put their controls into what is called “summer mode” when you lower their temperature. This turns off the circulation pump or filter circuits to prevent the generation of additional heat.
This may not be the best option for winter, as you may want to circulate your water and maintain an even temperature in all corners of the spa.
When should I turn off my spa?
There are several occasions when it is clear that you need to turn off your spa. The most obvious is when you drain, clean and refill the water. It is recommended that you do this every 3 months to keep the water in the best condition and to keep the hot tub as fresh and clean as possible.
You may also have a period of time when you know you are leaving or you definitely will not use the hot tub. If you are away for a week or more, it is not really economical to keep the hot tub running all the time. You may also decide that the hot tub is not for you in winter. In this case the spa should be carefully drained and prepared for the winter months.
Conclusion
Yes, you must leave your hot tub on all the time. Hot tubs are designed to be always on and it is more economical to keep the water warm than to heat it up from the cold every time you want to use it.