What a whirlpool costs to run
Electricity is 80 % of the cost
A whirlpool uses electricity for three things: heating the water, circulation and filtration. Heating is by far the largest item, and its consumption depends mainly on how much heat escapes.
At 0.35 €/kWh and a water temperature of 37 °C, a well-insulated whirlpool for 4 to 6 people works out at:
- Summer (above 20 °C): 4 to 7 kWh a day, so roughly 42 to 74 euros a month
- Spring and autumn: 8 to 12 kWh a day, so 84 to 126 euros a month
- Winter (below zero): 12 to 18 kWh a day, so 126 to 190 euros a month
Over a year that is 1 000 to 1 500 euros with year-round use.
These are our estimates from the model data and normal practice, not a measurement on your particular whirlpool. Your tariff, the water temperature, how often you bathe and whether the unit stands sheltered or exposed will all move the figure.
What insulation and the cover do
The difference between well and poorly insulated is easily double the consumption in winter. Three layers matter:
- The thermal cover – the single biggest item. A whirlpool without a cover loses more heat through the water surface than through all the walls together. A lockable cover is a necessity, not an accessory.
- Shell insulation – PU foam sprayed onto the shell, 1 cm as standard with us, 3 cm optionally.
- Insulated cladding – reflective foil in the cabinet sends heat back.
The same holds for hot tubs: a thermal cover shortens heating from seven hours to an hour and a half.
Where saving makes sense and where it does not
Worth doing: a proper thermal cover, lowering the temperature by 2 °C (saves around 10 % of consumption), a sheltered position, heating on a cheaper night tariff if you have one.
Not worth doing: switching the whirlpool off between baths. Reheating cooled water costs more energy than holding it warm – and in winter you also risk frost damage.
Chemistry: 60 to 130 euros a year depending on the system. Details in Water care without chlorine.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hot tub with a stove consume?
No electricity at all. One heat-up uses 15 to 20 kg of hardwood.
Is it worth switching the whirlpool off for winter?
Only if you drain and winterise it completely. A whirlpool switched off but full of water splits in frost, and the repair costs thousands.
Do solar panels cut the cost?
Partly. A whirlpool heats mostly at night and in winter, which is exactly when panels give least. Realistically you cover the summer, the winter only in part.