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.
Stølen 2-seat hot tub
264 € per year
that is €22 per month, for 1,312 kWh used. Water at 33 °C, air at an average of 12 °C, covered hot tub.
Maintaining temperature
1,1 W/°C/m² × 3,2 m² × 21 °C difference × 8,760 h
643 kWh
€13049 %
Circulation and filtration
49 W × 8,760 h (low-energy pump, continuous)
429 kWh
€8733 %
Massage
4 kW × 20 min × 3 baths per week
208 kWh
€4216 %
Two reheats
640 L from 12 °C to 33 °C, twice a year
31 kWh
€62 %
What the calculation assumes
- Air at an annual average of 12 °C (West and Brittany, Météo-France normals 1991-2020).
- Water maintained at 33 °C all year round.
- Electricity at €0,2016 incl. VAT per kWh.
- Hot tub covered between uses, cover in good condition.
- 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, 1,312 kWh€264€22
- Tønsberg3 seats, 1,363 kWh€275€23
- Rødberg3 seats, 1,418 kWh€286€24
- Sørrana5 seats, 1,491 kWh€301€25
- Bjørgan4 seats, 1,588 kWh€320€27
- Øppland5 seats, 1,588 kWh€320€27
- Drøbak4 seats, 1,604 kWh€323€27
- Tørrvika4 seats, 1,772 kWh€357€30
- Søvik6 seats, 1,772 kWh€357€30
- Sølveijg5 seats, 1,775 kWh€358€30
- Røgaland4 seats, 1,849 kWh€373€31
- Hølen5 seats, 1,885 kWh€380€32
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, 3,295 kWh€664€55
- Førde 4106 seats and up, 3,493 kWh€704€59
- Hørten 4506 seats and up, 3,696 kWh€745€62
- Øxførd 4806 seats and up, 3,833 kWh€773€64
- Nørdland 5506 seats and up, 4,188 kWh€844€70
- Vardø 5806 seats and up, 4,333 kWh€873€73
- Risør 6006 seats and up, 4,460 kWh€899€75
- Øslø 6006 seats and up, 4,465 kWh€900€75
- Sløvika 6006 seats and up, 4,475 kWh€902€75
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a North Wave hot tub use per year?
- Under the conditions selected above, from €264 to €380 per year for hot tubs, or €22 to €32 per month, and €664 to €902 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.