If you haven’t used your hot tub in a while, it isn’t even close to being ready. Do you want to know how long it will take to heat the water so that it is ready to use? Here are a few steps to guide you through the process, since who likes to wait for the water to boil up? Every hot tub is unique, and the process will vary depending on the brand and year of your spa.
Most hot tubs will take around 4 hours to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, hot tubs might take up to 8 hours to attain the optimum temperature. The capacity of the tub, the ambient air temperature, and the temperature of the water from the hose are all factors to consider.
There are 3 instances in which you’ll need to heat a hot tub at home:
When you’ve freshly filled the tub after purchasing or draining the spa
If you lower the temp in between uses, you’ll need to reheat it before you get in
If you power down and winterize it during the cold months
The current temperature of the water in the hot tub will impact how long it takes to heat.
On a warm sunny day, you might notice that the water sits around 80 degrees without internal heating. This means that you’ll only have to warm it up for a couple of hours – maybe three at most.
Colder water that’s 60 to 70 degrees could take a bit longer. Don’t worry, though, as it’ll only add an hour or so to the process.
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How Can I Heat My Hot Tub Faster?
Here are proven ways to speed up the heating process on a recently refilled hot tub:
Place a cover on the hot tub. Without a lid, the exposure to the cold outside air will make it harder for your tub to heat up. Any temperature lower than your desired water temperature is working against the process.
If you don’t have a lid, try a tarp!
Use a floating thermal blanket. These are thin plastic sheets that resemble bubble wrap that simply float on the surface of the water.
Buy a more powerful heater. Most 220v hot tubs use a 4kw heater. However, many 110v plug and play ones only use a 1 kw heater. Upgrading to a 4kw will significantly speed up the heating. But 110v hot tubs may need to be upgraded to 220v to take advantage of this.
Turn on every jet and water feature in the hot tub. Doing this will improve circulation and heat your water more evenly. Some hot tubs only have a few jets, while others have built-in fountains on the bottom as well as massaging jets lining every seat. Once there is enough water to cover them, turn everything on to heat the hot tub as quickly as possible.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
When you turn on your hot tub, the water will normally warm-up at a rate of 3 to 6 degrees each hour.
The speed with which something occurs is determined by three factors:
1. The air temperature in the area where your hot tub is located (Outside vs. Inside)
2. Your spa cover (Age of cover)
3. The overall condition of your hot tub and its components.
Turning down your hot tub to save electricity is not a good idea! This can actually raise your energy cost because the tub will have to work more to heat up and maintain a consistent temperature. Regular usage and maintenance might actually increase the life of your spa.
Is it true that a hot tub heats up faster with the jets turned on?
With the jets and water features switched on, a hot tub will heat up significantly faster. This aids in the circulation of all water through the heater tube and the elimination of cold pockets. However, do not turn on the jets until they are completely submerged.
Jets are an excellent complement to any spa. They allow the user to completely rest while receiving a light massage.
However, these handy jets have another, lesser-known purpose: they help you heat your hot tub faster.
When you turn on your spa jets, the water begins to circulate, spreading it about and evenly dispersing the heat.
Without the use of jets, pockets of cold water tend to accumulate in the hot tub’s pipes. The circulation from the jets cleanses the pockets, combining cold and hot water.
This procedure can cause the water to heat up at a rate of three to six degrees each hour!
The only precaution you should take is to prevent turning on the jets or warmth until the tub is completely full.
Some owners think it’s a good idea to start heating it as soon as the water hits the first jet, but that’s far from the truth. You can’t run water through the jets until they’re all submerged, as doing so might damage the whole system.
If your hot tub doesn’t have jets, you can try to circulate it with your hands or a pool noodle. While it doesn’t work as well as a set of jets, it can still help to move the water and heat the tub a bit faster.
Can You Fill a Hot Tub with Hot Water?
As a general rule, do not fill a hot tub with hot water. Water from a neighbouring hot water heater will be far too hot, perhaps damaging the hot tub shell. Furthermore, merely boiling water on the stovetop and putting it in will be far too time-consuming.
After lounging about for a few hours while the hot tub warms up, it may be tempting to put in some hot water the next time.
While using hot water may appear to be a smart idea, it might irreversibly harm your spa.
Never put water in that’s higher than 104 degrees, which is the highest setting on most hot tubs.