As a hot tub owner, if you worry about energy costs when operating a hot tub, this post is for you.
One of the main determinants of a hot tub’s operating costs is how well it has been insulated. A well-insulated hot tub may undoubtedly cost a bit more upfront. Still, after operating costs are included, the increase in energy efficiency will certainly lower the overall cost.
So if hot tub insulation is that important, what are you waiting for? Go and get insulation for your hot.
Dont know how? We got you! Tunes to this article until the end as we outline how to insulate a hot tub easily.
What is Hot Tub Insulation?
Hot tub insulation, works by retaining warm air and employing it as a barrier against cooler outdoor temperatures to keep the hot tub water warm. Air is an excellent insulator because it resists temperature fluctuations and makes hot tub more energy efficient.
This reduces heat transfer out of the hot tubs because heat must now travel through many tiny air pockets rather than just flowing out of the cabinets. The slower heat drains into the hot tub; the more and more heat is stored to heat the water.
8 Ways To Insulate A Hot Tub
There are many different types of hot tub installation available, as hot tubs are not created equally as well. To make sure that you choose the right fit for our hot tub, it is important to check in with your hot tub manual or ask hot tub manufacturers.
1. Full Foam Hot Tub Insulation
This insulation system works well; in addition to offering effective hot tub insulation, it also supports the shell and piping, reducing leaks and raising the likelihood that the shell won’t deteriorate and break over time. Because of the additional support that the pipes provide, your hot tub will encounter significantly fewer plumbing leaks.
Leaks are typically brought on by line vibration, and spas with a full foam hot tub, it can have ten times fewer leaks compared to others.
2. Partial Foam Insulation
This hot tub insulation method is common. The shell’s interior lining has a foam insulation coating sprayed on it. With one advantage, it offers approximately the same amount of insulation as the thermal wrap.
The foam will give the shell more durability. Consumers frequently misinterpret product specs and believe partial foam insulation to be full foam hot tubs. If the word “full” is not mentioned in the specifications, you will understand that this is a partial foam application.
3. Thermal Blankets
Certain hot tubs at the low end of the market will only have a thermal blanket acting as insulation. A reflective material is put around the shell to return some of the hot tub temperature.
This type of insulation is not appropriate for most hot tubs and is only marginally more efficient than having no insulation. It doesn’t even come close to substituting foam insulation in terms of heat retention.
There is a sizable open space that is visible. Because of this, it is less energy efficient than other methods and does not offer strong support for the spa siding or shell.
4. Hot Tub Cover
About 60% of the heat in hot tubs is lost via the water’s surface. Therefore, even the best-insulated hot tub cabinet won’t hold much heat if the lid is up to par.
Choose a hot tub with a high-density polyurethane foam cover at least four inches thick in the center and tapered toward the edges so rain will drain off the cover directly. Also, go for a high-quality cover that folds in the middle, creating an airtight seal that significantly lowers heat loss. This fold is accompanied by a “continuous heat seal” down the underside.
By putting your hand on a hot tub cover, you may instantly determine whether or not it is effective. If the object’s surface is at normal temperature, it effectively retains heat. Make sure to choose a new hot tub cover with a locking fastener. These will guarantee an airtight seal, prevent the cover from being thrown off in the wind, offer energy efficiency and keep curious children away from your home spa.
5. Hot Tub Caps
Like a hot tub cover, hot tub cap is a wind- and water-resistant jacket worn over the hot tub and fastened with straps. Most hot tub covers don’t provide any insulation, but they will shield the hot tub cover from the outdoor elements, and, more crucially, they will keep draughts and chilly air from entering the roof of your hot tub.
6. Ground Insulation
Hot tubs can also reduce the temperature if they are not properly insulated from the bottom. Compare it to a time when you’ve gone camping and either neglected or slid off your camp bed or mat in the middle of the night, you know, awful cold it feels like on the ground and how you feel feels like it’s stealing the heat from you.
Your hot tub is the same and should be placed on insulating material instead of cold ground. That is why it is a good idea to find an insulation mat and put it below the area where your hot tub is sitting.
7. Hot Tub Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation for your hot tub is a bit more complicated and pricey. Spray foam application demands some talent and the courage to spray the foam, mostly in areas where it is permissible to do so.
Spraying foam all across the shell’s exterior and around piping, jets, and joints is fine, but you must avoid spraying it on parts that are likely to get hot or require ventilation, like the heating area or pump. Spray foam will also be more costly than any other sort of foam.
8. Insulating From Outdoor Elements
Your hot tub’s location is another factor that can greatly affect its insulation. It will keep warmer for longer if it is protected from cold breezes by surrounding walls, fences, or hedging. The hot tub will be protected from the worst winter conditions if it is close to a residence or warmed outbuilding. Similarly, you can place the hot tub in a protected, sunny location, where it will maintain heat and require less energy over time.
How To Add An Insulation To A Hot Tub?
If you’re good at DIY and your hot tub doesn’t already have insulation, you may add one to reduce heat loss and increase its energy efficiency. But keep in mind that insulating your hot tub manually is likely to breach its guarantee, leaving you on the hook if something goes wrong. It is best to still consult to hot tub manufacturers.
Nevertheless, here are the steps you can take.
- You should open your hot tub’s side first. Next, it may need to be secured using screw clips that need to be rotated with a screwdriver till they unlatch, or it might be fastened on with gravity clips that let you raise the panels and pull them off.
- All the hot water piping lines should be covered with foam pipe sleeves. The pipe’s exterior diameter and the pipe sleeve’s internal diameter are connected. Load up the hot tub and turn on the heater if you are unsure where the hot pipelines are. As they warm up, the heated pipes should feel more comfortable. Feeder pipes for cold water will never warm up.
- Next, pipe sleeves should cover the hot water pipelines. The sleeves typically contain their own bonded joints that, once they are placed, will join together.
- Make sure the sleeve seam is facing down. Use cable ties spaced a foot apart to secure the sleeves or metal foil tape.
- Lastly, cut it into pieces using a knife and arrange it along the tub. The more layers you can add, the better the insulating value you’ll get.
Tips To Insulate A Hot Tub Effectively
Additionally, these are some of the tips and tricks you can use to insulate your hot tub more effectively, especially during the winter.
- Shut Down The Air Controls. Turn off the air controls when not using hot tubs If not, these will lower the water’s temperature, force your heater to operate longer and harder and use more power than is required to warm your hot tub.
- Change Old Filters. Filter pumps have to work much harder to improve water quality because dirty hot tub filters make it difficult for water to pass through. Therefore, clean or replace clogged filters to lessen the pressure on your pumps, which results in higher energy usage and shorter pump life. Remove the filters and wash them under running water every one to two weeks. Every three or four months, clean the filter using a chemical cleaner to remove any built-up pollutants, such as oils and lotions. And change it once a year.
- Switch To Economy Mode. The economy mode activates the heater during the predetermined filtration times rather than continuously heating hot tubs. When you aren’t using the hot tub for a long, this option is helpful for energy conservation. To conserve energy and money, use your hot tub’s economy mode if you’re planning to take a winter vacation that will keep you away for longer than two to three days.
- Make Sure To lock Hot Tub Covers. Remove the filters and wash them under running water every one to two weeks. Every three or four months, clean the filter using a chemical cleaner to remove any built-up pollutants, such as oils and lotions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions on how to insulate your hot tub.
Can A Hot Tub Be Left Out In Winter?
During the winter, you can keep your hot tub running continuously without won’t becoming frozen. You can use the hot tub whenever you want by leaving it on. The spa will run itself if there are two or three weeks of exceptionally bad weather.
What Do You Use To Insulate A Hot Tub?
Despite the many different ways and tools, you can use to insulate a hot tub, the standard in the industry is complete foam insulation. The explanation is straightforward: complete foam uses half or less of the energy of a partial foam tub and is far more energy-efficient, giving the user a superior hot tub that costs less to operate.
Are There Hot Tubs With No Insulation?
Unbelievable as it may seem, some spas are made with no insulation between the exterior and shell. They do exist. However, they are uncommon. Spas without hot tub insulation will have greater energy costs and may experience shell cracking due to a lack of support. So make sure that when buying, you choose hot tubs with insulation.
Can You Put Insulation Around A Hot Tub?
Modern hot tubs have excellent insulation. Despite this, you can usually still improve it by adding one. You may both capture the waste heat produced by the pumps and heaters and help safeguard them in the event of a power outage by installing insulation around the hot tub’s cabinet.
What Can I Put In My Hot Tub To Keep It From Freezing?
The most important parts of your hot tub can avoid freezing over by installing a ceramic heater in the equipment bay. To prevent the pipes in your spa from freezing, you can use propylene glycol antifreeze. The antifreeze you use in your car, which contains hazardous Ethylene Glycol, should never be used in your hot tub for safety reasons.
How Do I Insulate My Lazy Spa?
To keep the heat inside your hot tub, keep the top covering and the inflatable lid on. Some customers insulate the exterior of their Lay-Z-Spa. You can purchase a Lay-Z-Spa thermal blanket or cover that slips over your hot tub effortlessly and will aid in retaining heat.
Conclusion
If you don’t own a top-of-the-line, relatively new hot tub, theres no need to worry, as there are a lot of methods to improve its insulating and thermal efficiency while saving money. Follow and choose from the ways and top tips provided above. But if you are still planning to buy a new hot tub, it is best to choose a full insulation foam, so you don’t have to worry about insulation issues, as this is the best available in the market. While it may be costly upfront, it will be worth it in the long run.
