Hot tub dime machine: Britons tempted by hot tubs warned energy bills could rocket by £310 over summer months

• Interest in hot tubs soars to its highest levels for five years as Britons stay home for the summer, with searches up 244% on last year[1]

• Hot tubs can add up to £2 a day to energy bills[2], equal to £62 a month and a whopping £310 for the summer[3]

• Households warned of increased energy costs from air con units, patio heaters, electric BBQs and garden projectors as the UK enjoys another hot week

• Uswitch.com offers hacks on how to stay cool during hot spells without increasing your bill.

Staycationing families trying to liven up the summer are snapping up hot tubs like hot cakes — but many don’t realise they could send household energy bills soaring by up to £310[3], according to Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.

With more people planning to stay at home over the summer this year, shoppers have been searching for other ways to keep themselves entertained in the garden. 

Interest in hot tubs has rocketed since lockdown started, with online searches peaking in April, when they were 244% on the highest point of 2019. Even though the weather was cooler in July, searches remained 137% higher than last year[4]. 

Consumers considering buying a hot tub should be aware that they are big energy guzzlers, with some adding £2 a day to energy bills — up to £62 a month — based on an average running time of just 30 minutes a day. 

Anyone using them between May and September could rack up bills of as much as £310 in those months alone. Smaller, less energy intensive hot tubs could still add £155 to bills[3]. 

Such is the popularity of hot tubs that they can be bought at UK supermarkets for as little as £349.99[5]. 

Hot tubs have such large running costs because they are meant to be kept at a high ambient temperature so they are ready for use. 

Hot tubs are not the only summer energy guzzlers, with consumers searching for air con units, electric BBQs and patio heaters in greater numbers this year.

Uswitch.com is offering tips and tricks for staying cool and saving energy — such as placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of an electric fan to circulate colder air — in its guide to the cost of keeping cool. 

Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “At this time of year, many families would usually be jetting off to sunny destinations around the world, but instead a lot are opting to stay in the UK.

“Consumers are searching for hot tubs in higher numbers than previous years as they attempt to make the staycation a little more exciting.

“If you are considering buying one, it is important to factor in the cost of running them on top of the initial outlay.

“Hot tubs demand more power than other summer goods because they have to be kept at a high ambient temperature. This means they continue to use energy — up to £2 a day in some cases. 

“Do your research before buying a new gadget or garden feature or you may be in for a shock when you get your energy bill.” 

Find out how you could save nearly £1,000 a year with Uswitch here.