Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: benalexe on May 03, 2008, 01:39:56 pm
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hello,
I am new here. My brother has a 2003 thermospa manhattan. I think it is like an $8,000 tub. Giving it to me for free.
Bear with me as I am sure I will have a lot of Q's in the future but my first one is this.
I am a little concerned about the electric bill for this so my first question is, is there a way to turn off the heater or turn it down very low. In the summer maybe I don't need to heat it. And in the winter months can's I keep it at like 50 degrees unless i plan on using it?
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You can turn the heat down for the summer, but to turn down to 50 in the winter thenheat it back up is not going to save you money unless you only plan on using the tub once every couple of months, plus 50 is much closer to freezing if the power goes out, higher temp is going to take longer to get to 32 degrees in those situations. There are other ways you can help reduce heating costs, first being to check the insulation. Some thermos were full foam, some are not and the ones that are not did not utilize the best thermal pane/dead air space technologies. The control system they used back then should have the option of an economy mode also. Check into that, it may help a small amount.
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hello,
I am new here. My brother has a 2003 thermospa manhattan. I think it is like an $8,000 tub. Giving it to me for free.
Bear with me as I am sure I will have a lot of Q's in the future but my first one is this.
I am a little concerned about the electric bill for this so my first question is, is there a way to turn off the heater or turn it down very low. In the summer maybe I don't need to heat it. And in the winter months can's I keep it at like 50 degrees unless i plan on using it?
I'm kind of new here myself and I am waiting the delivery of my new spa. I don't know if this applies to your tub or not but I was told most tubs cost around $20/month for electricity. I live in Las Vegas and I'm sure it costs more up North. What part of the country do you live in?
Scott :)
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$20.00 a month after the intial heating of the water and if it is 60 outside, not counting if you turn on the main pumps...more use equals more energy consumption. Our small Clearwater, which passed the CEC testing came out with these results, with tub up to temp....
Based on an operating tempreture of 102 degrees constantly. With an average electric rate of 10 cents per kWh. Ambient air temp. of 60 degrees constantly. Used 138 kWh/month at an average of $9.90 per month. This is for a small 3 person tub.
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Swell Tub,
What do you pay per KWH? I question $20.00/month. What are the use parameters? Where is the documentation?
Hill Billy,
So, what does it cost for power if you actually use the tub?
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Swell Tub,
What do you pay per KWH? I question $20.00/month. What are the use parameters? Where is the documentation?
Hill Billy,
So, what does it cost for power if you actually use the tub?
You got to remember we don't need to use our heaters here in Las Vegas. ;D ;D ;D
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Swell Tub,
What do you pay per KWH? I question $20.00/month. What are the use parameters? Where is the documentation?
Here is what Hot Springs say the cost of a tub will be.
http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/energy-efficiency.html
Our cost per KWH is tiered. The more you use the more it costs. On the lowest tier I pay .12/KWH.
Scott ;)
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hello,
I am new here. My brother has a 2003 thermospa manhattan. I think it is like an $8,000 tub. Giving it to me for free.
Bear with me as I am sure I will have a lot of Q's in the future but my first one is this.
I am a little concerned about the electric bill for this so my first question is, is there a way to turn off the heater or turn it down very low. In the summer maybe I don't need to heat it. And in the winter months can's I keep it at like 50 degrees unless i plan on using it?
INSULATION. The high bills are due to the shoddy insulation on those spas. Take off a side and you'll see. Go to Home depot with a picture of what you have and ask them what options they carry for better insulating the spa.
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i live in Long Isalnd our electric rates are the highest in the country. so as much as i would want to use it in the winter i see myself turning it off in the fall. The tub is free so the price is right.
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i live in Long Isalnd our electric rates are the highest in the country. so as much as i would want to use it in the winter i see myself turning it off in the fall. The tub is free so the price is right.
If it's a full foam unit then your monthly average bill will probably only go up by about $20/month. However, if it is the (cheaper to make) Thermal Pane unit (i.e. very little foam internal and uses an "air barrier" for insulation), then the cost may go as high as $50/month in your area during the winter months. But hey, it's Spring/Summer Time so it shouldn't cost you any more than $20/month to run it during the summer. One factor on cost to run is how it is wired. A spa capable of running on a 30amp won't cost as much as one that is wired to run on a 60amp when both are on "full load" so if you are trying to be conservative and have the option of using the lower 30amp setting, you may want to do that.
Also remember that you are still probably going to have to pay an electrician around $600 to run the 220v wiring in the first place unless you are handy and capable of doing it yourself which then may only cost you $200 for the GFCI and breaker boxes that it will need.
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$20.00 a month? :o Does anyone on here pay $20.00 a month to run their tub? :-/
I ran my tub in economy mode all winter and I am sure I saved electric, but doubt seriously that it only cost me $5.00 a week to heat and run my tub.
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$20.00 a month? :o Does anyone on here pay $20.00 a month to run their tub? :-/
I ran my tub in economy mode all winter and I am sure I saved electric, but doubt seriously that it only cost me $5.00 a week to heat and run my tub.
I sat down last winter and figured out our tubs electric bill. In January and February our tub cost about $22 to $25 a month, in the summer it was about $17. I was very pleasantly surprised because almost everyone told me it would be closer to $30 or $35. Granted our tub is smaller then a lot of the peoples on this board, ours is 300 US gallons.
Just another reason why I think Bullfrog builds a great tub ;)
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2007
Lowest monthly bill - $15
Highest monthly bill - $24
Mean monthly bill - $19
I live in the STL, pay $.07 per kwhs, and soak 5-6 days a week for about 15 minutes each soak. I also keep the tub between 102-103.
Your spa should use about 10 kwhs a day, give or take a few.
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Your spa should use about 10 kwhs a day, give or take a few.
Well I pay .12 kwh and at 10 kwhs a day that would be $1.20 / day. Making my monthly bill $36.00. My main electrical use will be the pumps as my heater shouldn't have to work to hard here in Vegas.
Scott ;)
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According to the Hot Springs cost chart posted earlier in this thread it should cost me:
City / Ambient Temp / Monthly kwh / khw cost/ Monthly Costs
Las Vegas, NV 70° 138 $ 0.10 $ 13.80
On the chart we have the highest electrical rate along with Miami, FL and Fairbanks, Alaska. And we still only cost $13.80 a month. Fairbanks was the most expensive at $28.30 / month. So the heater use doubled the cost.
Scott :o
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Is there a way to completely turn off the heater a hot tub?
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Is there a way to completely turn off the heater a hot tub?
What part of the country do you live in?
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Long Island
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Long Island
You can turn the heater off by setting the temp to like 50 degrees and that way you can protect the tub from freezing in the winter. I'm just a rookie but that is what I would suggest.
Scott ;)
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You basically have to decide if you want a "hot tub". It is not efficient or wise to continuously manipulate the tub heater off and on..For several reasons...For the most part, a hot tub should pretty much self maintain and be ready when you are. If you constantly turn the heat off and on, you won't be using the tub as much and it will defeat the purpose of having it. I say this because I am crazy about saving energy and I have explored just about everything to save money.
I am sure you can turn the heat all the way down and just use the tub as a small pool; is that what you want to do? You will still have to run the pumps to keep it clean.
I think you have gone about this differently from most on here, as you are primarliy struggling with the operation costs. Most of us looked first at the cost to buy the tub. I know when I bought my tub, I was looking for efficiency, but realized that I would have higher electric bills and as my rates increased, I would pay even more. That's why I questioned the $20.00 with electric rates so variable, a dollar figure isn't accurate. My electric bill is broken down into generation, transmission,distribution and transitions charges...so my kWh totals 14.85 cents. This is about 20% more than I paid when I got the tub.
If Steve (Cola) checks out this thread, he could tell you how to calculate your approximate usage based on your pumps and then the variables would be the effectiveness of your insulation (including the quality and effectivness of your cover).
If you would decide to turn off the tub, you would have to be sure to clean out your plumbing so the water wouldn't breed bacteria while the tub is empty. In the winter you would need to be sure any residual water doesn't freeze. I don't think it would be worth the effort..because reheating all that water is going to cost quite a bit each time.
If I were you, I would be thrilled to have the tub. I would locate it just as you are thinking...near your door (you'll use it more there). If it makes you feel better, take the total estimated value of the tub now and subtract the increase in your electric bill from that every month...You will be still be ahead of the game for years. If the electric really concerns you, find ways to save in other places. For example, I switched out my incandescent lights for the new florescent bulbs. On Chas' advice, I replaced my 20 year old freezer. I also just discovered that luteron makes new dimmer switches that actually save electric instead of dimming the lights, creating heat and wasting the extra electric. I put them on my halogen lights. Maybe all of the savings have gone into what I am paying to keep my tub ready to use.
I have only one more comment for you...I see children's toys in your pictures, please be sure to secure your tub cover with locking clips EVERY time you close it. ;)
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You can turn the heater off by setting the temp to like 50 degrees and that way you can protect the tub from freezing in the winter. I'm just a rookie but that is what I would suggest.
Scott ;)
On the tub i am getting the lowest setting is 80 degrees
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Bonibelle
Thanks for all your advice. I am very excited about the tub for many reasons. I have wanted one for a very long time. I love to soak it. My 3 boys love it too when we go on vacation. We don't have a pool nor do I have plans on getting one right now. So this is a great soloution and one that will really extend the season.
My wife is not that into hot tubs she told me this morning that I should not expect her in it that much.
So I just have some overall concerns that a) the novilaty will wear off and I am now paying an increase in electric monthly for something I do not use. B) at the same time, the chemicals cost $$ C) and I have to maintain it.
I know this sounds completely negative but honestly I am very excited about it. Just looking at the numbers $600 to move $300 for the pad $200 in electric supplies. My neighbor says he will hook up the electric he is an electrician. but sometimes a flake so not sure if in the end I will have to pay someone else. I also have some concerns about the tub getting to my home and it not working..
By th way if a pump or heater break is it like 150 or like 1,500
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Why don't you see if you can first find a spa technician in your area that will agree to service the tub, should you need it. I am saying this because my dealer only services the tubs that he sells, and you don't want to wait until you have an issue to find a service person. This person may also be able to tell you what to anticipate as far as the cost of pumps and repairs. When you buy any appliance, car etc, you know that there will come a time that you will need out of warranty repairs. This is the same thing except you need to find someone willing to do the work. You might even try calling the manufacturer.
I would also say get honest answers from your relative. Why are they really willing to give you the tub? And if it is because they are tired of it and don't use it any more, don't anticipate that you will have the same experience. In several threads, most on here have admitted that they go through periods of less use after the initial excitment of having a tub. It's all what you make it, either a nice retreat to relax, talk with the kids, reduce stress, enjoy the outdoors..or something that takes up space in your yard.
For me, the tub was my answer to a health problem..and it worked VERY WELL!!! My husband fought me for years, thinking it would be a novelty that we would tire of..until he soaked outside in the winter, I think he still thought I wasted a ton of money. Now, he says he will never be without a tub. Just this morning we went in and he said..What's wrong with us? This is sitting right outside of our door and we should be in it every day!!!That's all it takes to get you back in the routine..a relaxing morning soak ;)
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Honestly my brother is very wealthy. He did not use it much because he is often vacationing. Also it is not right outside his door. He in turn is going to get a bigger one that is built into his deck to enjoy right outside his door.
I called thermospa and for $99 they will come down and inspect the tub and go through the entire thing.
Once complete they will sell me an extended warantee.
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benalexe, your wife might be caught soaking in the hot tub while you are at work. You will be able to tell if she has a smile on her face when you get home and stops complaining about the tub. She will also be much more relaxed and may start chasing you around the house because she has more energy from sleeping better. My wife thinks our purchase is going to be a waste of money but you don't see her complaining when she is doing a wet test at the dealers. Hang in there it will all work out better than you think.
Scott ;)