Electricity consumption
How much does a North Wave hot tub use?
The full calculation, model by model, with its assumptions shown. Change your region, your tariff and your habits: the result follows.
Hølen 5-seat hot tub
775 € per year
that is €65 per month, for 3,843 kWh used. Water at 37 °C, air at an average of 9 °C, uncovered.
Maintaining temperature
2,2 W/°C/m² × 5,8 m² × 28 °C difference × 8,760 h
3,108 kWh
€62781 %
Circulation and filtration
49 W × 8,760 h (low-energy pump, continuous)
429 kWh
€8711 %
Massage
4 kW × 20 min × 3 baths per week
208 kWh
€425 %
Two reheats
1,680 L from 12 °C to 37 °C, twice a year
98 kWh
€203 %
What the calculation assumes
- Air at an annual average of 9 °C (Mountain (Alps, Jura, Massif Central), Météo-France normals 1991-2020).
- Water maintained at 37 °C all year round.
- Electricity at €0,2016 incl. VAT per kWh.
- Hot tub left uncovered or with a worn cover: surface losses are doubled.
- A hot tub left idle in winter, drained, uses nothing but deteriorates: the calculation assumes use all year round.
The heat loss used is 1.1 W per degree of difference and per square metre of water surface, which is that of a well-insulated shell under a cover in good condition. North Wave hot tubs get triple Scandinavian insulation, rated R18 by the brand, and a 12 cm cover: we do not credit them with more than that, for lack of a measurement that says how much more. We prefer to publish these figures and have them challenged, rather than announce an amount without the reasoning behind it. See the insulation in detail.
Hot tubs, from least to most energy-hungry
Under the conditions chosen. The difference comes down to the water surface, not the number of jets.
- ModelPer yearPer month
- Stølen2 seats, 2,390 kWh€482€40
- Tønsberg3 seats, 2,514 kWh€507€42
- Rødberg3 seats, 2,657 kWh€536€45
- Sørrana5 seats, 2,848 kWh€574€48
- Bjørgan4 seats, 3,100 kWh€625€52
- Øppland5 seats, 3,100 kWh€625€52
- Drøbak4 seats, 3,142 kWh€633€53
- Tørrvika4 seats, 3,569 kWh€719€60
- Søvik6 seats, 3,569 kWh€719€60
- Sølveijg5 seats, 3,571 kWh€720€60
- Røgaland4 seats, 3,729 kWh€752€63
- Hølen5 seats, 3,843 kWh€775€65
Swim spas
Under the conditions chosen. The difference comes down to the water surface, not the number of jets.
- ModelPer yearPer month
- Bødø 3806 seats and up, 6,319 kWh€1,274€106
- Førde 4106 seats and up, 6,762 kWh€1,363€114
- Hørten 4506 seats and up, 7,278 kWh€1,467€122
- Øxførd 4806 seats and up, 7,648 kWh€1,542€128
- Nørdland 5506 seats and up, 8,551 kWh€1,724€144
- Vardø 5806 seats and up, 8,930 kWh€1,800€150
- Risør 6006 seats and up, 9,218 kWh€1,858€155
- Øslø 6006 seats and up, 9,224 kWh€1,860€155
- Sløvika 6006 seats and up, 9,236 kWh€1,862€155
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a North Wave hot tub use per year?
- Under the conditions selected above, from €482 to €775 per year for hot tubs, or €40 to €65 per month, and €1,274 to €1,862 for swim spas. The difference comes from the water surface to keep warm, and very little from the number of jets.
- What costs the most in a hot tub?
- Keeping the water at temperature, by a long way. Massage barely registers, because it only runs during bathing. That is why insulation matters more than equipment: a well-equipped, well-insulated hot tub uses less energy than a bare, poorly insulated one.
- Does the cover really make a difference?
- Yes, it is the biggest saving. Most of the heat is lost through the water's surface. A sagging, waterlogged or badly fitted cover roughly doubles surface losses, which the calculation reproduces when you choose 'Absent or worn'.
- Should you lower the temperature in winter or switch the hot tub off?
- Lowering the setpoint by 2 °C cuts the bill by about 8%, as the calculation shows. Switching it off completely is a false economy: you must drain it to prevent freezing, and reheating a full pool costs a good part of a month's running.
Your bill, for your installation
A calculation is still a calculation: your shelter, your exposure to wind and your habits matter too. At the Richwiller showroom, we go through the figures with you, electricity contract in hand.