It’s been a long, difficult day, and relaxing in a hot tub can be the necessary therapy for your mind and body. It turns out that using a hot tub may have advantages beyond just assisting with relaxation.
But to take advantage of the benefits of hot tubs, you need to be aware of several crucial things. There are a variety of hot tubs on the market each with its own benefits.
One detail to pay attention to when buying a hot tub is how long does the hot tub take to heat up?
One of the most obvious advantages of a hot tub is reducing daytime stress. The relaxing effects of the warm water and the massaging movements may relieve physical, emotional, and mental pressure.
But if you plan to use your hot tub after work, you’ll need to know how early to turn it on to enjoy the full benefits each evening. Once your hot tub is ready for relaxation, you can enhance its stress-relieving impact even further by using aromatherapy, quiet music, or dim lighting.
Tight, tense muscles can be effectively soothed and relaxed by the hot water and massaging action of the hot tub jets. Aches and pains may also be reduced by an evening in a hot tub, and a dip in the hot tub before exercise may help lower the chance of injury.
For each of these applications, timing is crucial, so be sure to purchase a hot tub that heats up quickly enough for your needs.
Factors Affecting A Hot Tub’s Heating
When you’re ready for a soothing dip, 550 gallons of water can be a lot to heat up. The following factors affect how long it takes a hot tub to heat up.
Base Temperature
Even though it may be obvious, it’s important to know your initial water temperature.
How quickly your hot tub heats the water depends on how warm or cool it is to begin with.
You can also shorten the time it takes for your hot tub to heat up by leaving it running continuously. While this may increase your electric bill, it means your hot tub is ready to use at any moment.
Surrounding Temperature
The air temperature around your hot tub is called the ambient temperature. The heating process will take longer if your hot tub is outside in the chilly air instead of indoors in a warm atmosphere. If your hot tub is near a windy area, you can take the following actions to regulate the air temperature there and speed up the heating process:
- Line the area around the hot tub with shrubs to act as a natural windbreak.
- Set up a windscreen to stop the prevailing wind from blowing across the hot tub.
- Place your hot tub in a naturally sunny area to fully benefit from the sun’s warmth.
Tub Insulation
Remembering that a hot tub will heat up more quickly with proper insulation is crucial; good insulation helps the hot tub to retain heat inside. The heated water’s surface can release heat into the atmosphere. Moreover, it can escape through microscopic fractures or seams in an under-insulated hot tub’s cabinet.
Another place where heated water can lose its thermal energy is the hot tub’s base. If your hot tub rests on a concrete pad or comparable base, it may heat up more slowly due to the cooler temperature of the base material. Determine all the potential heat-loss sources in your hot tub and insulate accordingly.
Size of The Tub
A large hot tub will typically take longer to heat. Conversely, a small hot tub heats up faster. It stands to reason that it will take a while for your hot tub to heat up if you have a big tub with a 1-kilowatt heating element.
When shopping for a hot tub, make sure to choose the right size home spa for your needs.
Heater Efficiency
The heater’s effectiveness and power supply also impact how long it takes a hot tub to heat up. Power ratings are given in kilowatts; generally speaking, the higher the number, the quicker the water heats up.
This implies that, in theory, a 4-kilowatt heating element will heat water twice as quickly as a 2-kilowatt heating element. The issue is that a higher kilowattage uses more electricity in a shorter period of time. Depending on your needs, this might be worth it, or you might prefer to lower the power and heat up your hot tub over a longer period of time.
Using A Hot Tub Cover
Hot tubs emit heated air, which rises and disperses in the environment. To maintain heat and heat the water as quickly as possible, hot tub covers are your first line of defense.
You might be unsure of the purpose of a tub cover. In addition to keeping your hot tub water clean between uses, a cover helps with heating. When using a thermally efficient hot tub cover, the water heats up faster and reaches the ideal hot tub water temperature more quickly.
You can conserve both energy and money by using a hot tub cover.
Check your hot tub cover for any signs of cracks or holes. If the cover is damaged, it is better to replace it.
Using an old hot tub cover costs more than replacing it due to the added costs of heating your hot tub, cleaning your hot tub, and preventing hot tub damage.
For most hot tub models, numerous cover alternatives are available, including styles that encircle the hot tub completely. Although these versions are primarily used in the winter, you can also use them during other seasons to avoid thermal loss.
Floating Thermal Blanket
A thermal spa blanket is an insulated sheet made to float on the surface. It has the appearance of a bubble wrap sheet. A thermal spa blanket traps heat in the water and hot tub cabinet, especially during winter, when heat loss is more extreme. Use a thermal blanket underneath your hot tub’s cover to add security and stop heat loss from the surface.
A thermal blanket is ideal for folks who want to add more insulation than just a cover. You might need to trim these thermal blankets to make them fit properly in your spa, because they come in a variety of sizes and are not always made to fit your specific hot tub model.
Routine Maintenance
If you want to enjoy your hot tub at home, remember that you must routinely maintain and service it to keep it in top functioning condition. Fix any component of your hot tub that needs repair as soon as you become aware of the issue.
Check out our best low maintenance spas!
Hot tubs that are in good condition reduce your energy expenditures. Although maintenance takes planning, it can affect how well the hot tub’s heating system functions. If you don’t properly care for the components and materials of your tub, you risk ruining them.
Standby & Sleep Modes
Do not switch off your hot tub if you want it to heat up more quickly. Instead, utilize the sleep mode to save energy and keep your spa ready if you won’t be using it for a few days.
When your hot tub awakens from sleep mode, it will heat up more quickly because it is already warm. A sleep mode is useful for those wishing to conserve money while keeping their hot tub ready for use.
Commonly Asked Questions
Here are a few questions that most hot tub owners ask:
How Much Time Does It Take to Heat a Hot Tub?
The time it takes to heat up your hot tub for the first time depends on your hot tub’s water heater. The time it takes for the hot tub heat to warm up from cold to the desired temperature will decrease if you have a powerful heater.
Why Does it Take So Long To Heat a Hot Tub?
How quickly the cold water warms up to the correct temperature depends on the general health of your hot tub and all of its parts, including the cover, jets, pump, and water heater. The parts of the hot tub should be kept in top shape to ensure that heat and water can flow smoothly.
Conclusion
Most first-time owners of hot tubs are curious about how long it takes for a hot tub to heat up.
Several variables affect how long it takes to heat up. They include the water heater’s rating, whether the hot tub is covered, and the outside temperature.
Hot tubs are an excellent addition to any home and can be perfect for unwinding with a therapeutic dip after a long day.
If your hot tub is taking too long to heat up, you may want to get it serviced, take steps to insulate it from the weather or replace your hot tub with a model better suited to your needs.
Aqua Living has a wide range of hot tubs that you can choose from. Our hot tubs are made of the highest quality materials and provide long-lasting comfort.
If you’re looking for a new hot tub, contact us today or check out our online inventory to buy your hot tub faster!
