How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hot Tub Per Month?

One of the first things people ask me is: how much is this going to cost to run?

It's a fair question. People hear "hot tub" and think swimming pool, and swimming pools aren't cheap to operate. But a hot tub is nothing like a pool. The costs are way lower.

I've been selling hot tubs in Lexington for 50 years. I know what people actually spend. Let me break down the real numbers so you're not guessing.

Electricity Costs

This is the big one people worry about. Here's the honest answer: in Kentucky, a hot tub costs about $20 to $50 a month in electricity.

That range depends on several things. What model you have. How well it's insulated. How often you use it. What temperature you keep it at.

An American Whirlpool with full-foam insulation is going to run cheaper than a Vita Spa with partial insulation. But both are efficient compared to what people think.

Here's the breakdown by usage pattern:

Light use (2-3 times a week, 30 minutes each): About $20 to $30 a month. You're heating the spa, using it, and the insulation does most of the work keeping it warm between sessions.

Moderate use (4-5 times a week, 30-45 minutes): About $30 to $40 a month. You're using it regularly so the heater runs more, but you're still in that efficient range.

Heavy use (daily or near-daily): About $40 to $50 a month. The heater's running more often, but the per-use cost goes down because you're spreading the heat across more sessions.

Those numbers assume average Kentucky electricity rates, which right now are about 11 cents per kilowatt hour. If you've got lower rates in your area, you're paying less. Higher rates, you're paying more.

Water and Chemical Costs

Most people forget about this. Electricity's only part of it.

You're buying test strips or chemicals to test your water: $2 to $5 a month.

You're buying sanitizer, usually chlorine or bromine, to keep the water clean: $8 to $12 a month.

You're buying alkalinity boosters, pH adjusters, and maybe shock treatment: $3 to $5 a month.

You're replacing filter cartridges every 2 to 3 months: $20 to $40 per cartridge, so about $8 to $15 a month.

Total: $21 to $37 a month for chemicals and filters. Most people run about $25 a month if they do regular maintenance.

Annual Maintenance Costs

Beyond running it day to day, you're going to have some costs:

Spa cover replacement: A good cover lasts 3 to 5 years. They cost $300 to $500. That's about $60 to $160 a year amortized.

Occasional part replacement: A pump seal, a heating element, a jet assembly. Over a full year, expect maybe $100 to $200 if something wears out. Most years, nothing. But some years, something needs replacing.

Professional service: If you want annual maintenance, a professional inspection runs about $150 to $250. Not required if you know what you're doing, but it's good to do once every few years.

So annually, add $200 to $400 for maintenance that isn't running chemicals.

Total Monthly Cost

Let's do the math:

Electricity: $30 (average moderate use) Chemicals and filters: $25 Maintenance amortized: $25 to $35 per month

Total: About $80 to $90 a month, or about $960 to $1,080 a year.

That's less than most people spend on their cable bill.

How Insulation Affects Your Costs

This matters more than people realize.

American Whirlpool spas come with full-foam insulation. That means the cabinet and the underside are completely wrapped in foam. Heat doesn't escape. When you heat the water to 102 degrees, it stays there even if the ambient temperature drops 30 degrees overnight.

Vita Spa models have excellent insulation too, with premium covers and energy-efficient designs.

Some budget models out there have partial or no insulation. They cost less upfront, but they're heating a spa in an uninsulated box. You're looking at electric bills that are 40 to 50% higher.

So if you buy a poorly insulated spa for $2,000 less, but you're paying $120 a month instead of $35 a month to run it, you've lost that savings in 20 months.

Energy-Efficient Features

This is why American Whirlpool and Vita Spa hold their price:

Variable speed pumps: Instead of running at full power all the time, they run at lower speeds during heating. Saves 30% on electricity compared to single-speed pumps.

Titanium heaters: Heat the water faster and more efficiently than regular heaters.

Smart controls: You can set the temperature and filtration cycles. Run the filter for 4 hours a day instead of 24. You're still keeping the water clean, but you're using less power.

WiFi and app control: You can turn the heater down when you're not home and heat it back up an hour before you plan to use it. No wasting energy heating water you're not using.

Tips to Reduce Running Costs

Use the cover. I mean really use it. Every time you get out. An uncovered hot tub loses water and heat. A spa sitting in the sun without a cover can lose 10 degrees in a couple hours.

Run filtration during off-peak hours if your power company offers time-of-use rates. Most don't in Lexington, but some newer plans do. Check with LG&E.

Set your temperature to 100 or 101 instead of 102. One degree lower saves about 3% on your heating costs. You're not going to notice it.

Keep the water clean. A clean filter means the heater doesn't have to work as hard. Dirty water that's not circulating properly makes the heater strain.

In winter, don't drain the spa and start over. That's wasteful. Just maintain it. It's easier and cheaper.

The Real Picture

You're spending about $1,000 a year on average to run a hot tub in Kentucky. That's 83 bucks a month.

Compare that to:

• A swimming pool: $1,500 to $3,000 a year
• A sauna: $30 to $50 a month, which is about the same, but you're not getting the jet therapy
• Your car: probably $200 a month
• Your Netflix, Prime, cable, streaming: probably $150 a month

A hot tub is not expensive to operate. People think it is, but the math says otherwise.

You get a spa from us with free delivery and installation. We stock your chemicals. We're here when you need parts. You're looking at about $1,000 a year to have something that gives you relaxation, muscle therapy, and stress relief on your own schedule.

That's a deal.

Come sit in an American Whirlpool or Vita Spa and ask yourself if you'd pay $80 a month for that experience. Most people answer yes.

Stop by 1431 Leestown Road or call (859) 255-7639. We're open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Let's show you what the real cost looks like.