Last Updated on September 27, 2022
Do you own an inflatable hot tub and are keen to look for new ways to increase its insulation? If so, you’re in the right place because we have some effective tricks and methods to try.
Reasons to Insulate an Inflatable Hot Tub
Before we look at how to insulate an inflatable hot tub, let’s first discuss the reasons behind doing this. When you first purchase an inflatable hot tub, you’re probably so excited about having a personal spa in your back garden and all the accessories and memories that come with it that you barely even think about the idea of heat loss. But at the end of the day, you won’t just use your hot tub when the weather is warm. In fact, you’re more likely to use your hot tub when the weather is cooler since you can then withstand the heat.
Less Heat Loss
Adding insulation to your hot tub provides a multitude of benefits to you and your guests. Insulating your hot tub will help to save you a lot of money in the long run because when heat is lost in the tub, it requires more energy to generate this hot water again, which then costs you more money.
Additional Comfort
Having the ideal water temperature through insulation will not only save you money, but this process will also make using the inflatable hot tub more comfortable and fun for you and your guests. In particular, you won’t have to endure water temperature drops during us that quickly become off-putting. Plus, ample insulation provides a thermal benefit that ensures the temperature is sustained during your time so you can have the time of your line in your insulated hot tub.
Increased Lifespan
Incorporating insulation into your hot tub can also increase the tub’s lifespan since you’ll have an additional layer under the tub that acts as a base, so debris or sharp items won’t piece the delicate base material. As a result, you’ll encounter far fewer punctures in your pool.
Insulating an Inflatable Hot Tub
There are several ways you can add insulation to inflatable hot tubs, and below are some of our favourite and most effective methods.
Ground Pad
If your inflatable hot tub doesn’t come with a ground pad, purchase one. It ensures that the base of your hot tub is warm, allowing this temperature to circulate through the tub. Not to mention that a floor mat adds a cushioned layer, making the hot-tub experience more comfortable and desirable.
Foam Sheet
Another quality insulating idea is to use a foam sheet on the base of your hot tub. Doing so will help make your hot tub last longer since it adds protection to the hot tub’s floor, ensuring that it’s less likely to become pierced from foreign objects and, therefore, last longer. Depending on how much insulation you’re looking for, you might want to consider at least two foam sheets to keep as much heat inside of the hot tub as possible.
Spray-on Foam Insulation
You can also purchase a spray-on foam insulator that ensures your hot tub retains heat. 100% full-foam insulators support the pipes by preventing any water leaks and reducing noise, so there are few to no vibrations. Bear in mind that incorrectly using a foam insulator can impact your warranty should you encounter any damage in your hot tub.
How to Keep Water Warm Inside an Inflatable Hot Tub
Another way to prevent heat loss in your hot tub is to look for additional strategies to keep the water inside of your hot tub at its highest temperature. Below are some ways to achieve that.
Consider the Wind
It’s obvious, but not everyone considers the direction of cold air taking over your hot tub. So when you’re looking for a place to position your hot tub, bear in mind if it’s under a tree, for example, which provides more shelter, and, thus, will leave the water inside of your inflatable hot tub feeling cooler.
Additionally, you might want to add a windbreak around the tub, which acts as a fence. It adds privacy to your hot tub, adds insulation and keeps it feeling warmer, even if you plan to use it in the winter months.
Use the Hot Tub Cover at Every Given Moment
Using a cover for your hot tub will maintain the high water temperature, but still, some people don’t use their cover as often as they should. We’re not just talking about using the cover to keep bugs and debris away from your hot tub but using the cover to insulate heat.
Even if you’re going inside the house for a couple of minutes to retrieve something or answer a phone call, add your cover to the unit to prevent the water from becoming cooler for when you return because even a small temperature change can affect your comfort. You should also bear in mind the condition of your cover. For example, one with holes in it will be less efficient and effective at retaining heat than one that’s thick and doesn’t have any signs of wear and tear.
Keep the Motor Running
It might sound a bit counterproductive, and we understand that. After all, you’re looking to reduce the overall cost of heating your hot tub, not add to your expenses. But if you use your hot tub several times a week, it’s better for your energy bills to keep the motor running continuously rather than switching it on and off all of the time.
It is because switching off the motor will result in a temperature drop, so when you return to your hot tub the next day, the water will be cooler. As a result, you’ll then need to heat this cooler water, creating a higher cost. Think of this tip as heating your house. It’s much more cost-efficient to set your thermostat to a consistent temperature rather than having your heating suddenly ramped up at one part of the day.
Heat From the Hot Tap
One of the simplest and best ways to see money on filling and heating your hot tub is to fill it up with hot water to be with. It is usually cheaper than filling up hot tubs with cold water and waiting for the tub to pump up the temperature.
You might also want to save money while enhancing insulation by considering how much water you’re adding to the tub. If you’re adding a small amount of water, it’s more likely to get colder quicker since you have a smaller water ratio to air.
Additionally, consider the number of people in your hot tub or the size of your hot tub in correlation to you and guests. In particular, a larger hot tub with only a couple of people in it is more likely to become cooler quicker because there aren’t enough bodies to generate their body heat to keep the water warm. In fact, you might even want to consider choosing a tub that’s the right size—not too big—for you and your friends.
Heating Hot Tubs Quickly
What are the quickest and most efficient ways of adding heat to your hot tub?
Heat the Hot Tub Using Hot Water
It might sound really obvious to use hot water in your inflatable hot tub, but so many people use cold water and then wonder why their hot tub doesn’t provide many insulating qualities. Instead of connecting the hose to a cold tap and adding freeing water to your hot tub, it’s better to practice attaching the hose to a hot tap and start filling the tub with hot water.
However, we don’t recommend that you use water that’s too hot, or this could cause damage to your tub’s shell and result in expensive repairs. In particular, hot tubs aren’t designed to handle heat over 40 degrees, so ensure that you’re using the correct temperature to begin with to prevent any damage. We recommend adding cold water to the hot tub for the safest and most efficient option and then adding warmer water to keep your tub insulated and prevent any damage.
Keep Your Tub in Good Condition
You can’t expect your tub to remain insulated if you’re not maintaining it properly. It means that you’ll have to undergo regular inspections to keep your tub in working order, including checking for any blocked filters or worn-out heating elements. A common sign of the latter is that the hot tub will take a long time to reach its temperature.
Fortunately, you can prevent filters from becoming blocked in the first place by regularly cleaning them. Otherwise, blocked filters mean that the water cannot flow freely through the tubes, meaning that the tub has to work harder to generate heat.
Should You Leave Water in Your Tub?
In a nutshell, you don’t need to empty the water from your tub after every use (that would result in a lot of wasted water over time). But leaving dirty water in your tub can make it more difficult to maintain. You’re more likely to experience limescale buildup. Another reason to regularly change the water in your tub is that you may leave many contaminants in the water each time you use it, such as sweat, body oils, washing powder, deodorant and more. Adding chlorine will help eliminate a buildup of these chemicals in your tub, but the best result is to regularly change the water and top it up with fresh water.
We recommend emptying the water every couple of months (more often if you use the tub every day and less often if you use a cover and don’t sit in the tub regularly.
Why Your Inflatable Hot Tub Isn’t Heating Up
Have you recently discovered that your inflatable hot isn’t heating up like it used to? In which case, there could be a malfunction with your heater. Below are some reasons why your heater might not be living up to its standards.
Heating Element Failure
A hot tub heating element might develop a buildup of limescale caused by hard water or other causes. Once your tub develops scale on the element’s exterior, it can create a reduction in the element’s heat output, resulting in colder temperatures. If you have hard water, we suggest using an agent to keep limescale away and run alkalinity between 70 and 80 ppm, which will reduce scale formation.
Other Common Heating Faults
Below are some other reasons why your inflatable tub might not be heating up properly or like it once did:
- You might have blown a fuse or have an incorrect voltage that’s destroyed the fuse on a control board.
- Wires might be loose. Instead, ensure that the connections are tight to avoid any melted wires or crimped wires.
- The cover might need replacing because it’s enabling heat to escape.
Can You Use Inflatable Tubs in Winter?
It’s completely possible (and even recommended) to use a tub in the winter months. However, inflatable versions aren’t always suitable for winter use because the quality of the vinyl isn’t enough to keep the material staying intact in colder weather. Instead, vinyl can commonly deteriorate once the outside temperature decreases. As a general rule of thumb, avoid using an inflatable tub when it’s below 4 degrees outside.
Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy Your Hot Tub
Now you know some ways on how to insulate an inflatable hot tub. Whether you intend on using your tub in the winter months or want to experience a warmer temperature whether you use it, the tips above have been proven to work. Do you have any tips on keeping your tub insulated? If so, let us know in the comments.
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Nicole has a passion for everything about the home – especially decor. She loves to add new touches and style to every part of the house. Join her as she documents her ideas at Home & Style.
The suggestion that leaving the heater+pump running all the time REDUCES costs is of cause nonsense, as although heating the cooler water will use energy, it uses less energy that is required to keep it warm all the time it is not being used.
Rate of heat (energy) loss is a factor how hot the water is, so the hotter is it is for longer, the greater the energy loss/consumed during the whole process.