Spa Heaters – Hot Tub Heating

There are basically four different methods to heat a spa or hot tub. Here were are going to go into more details about each of those hot tub heating methods

1. With an electrical heater

2. With a gas heater

3. Through pump friction

4. Through solar

Lets go through each method of hot tub heating here

1. Hot tub heating with an electrical heater

This is by far the most common way to heat your spa or hot tub. This is basically an electrical heating element, mounted in a stainless steel tube (most of the time). When the pump push water past the heating element and the flow sensor indicates that there is sufficient water flow going across the heating element. The spa control system allows electricity to go to the heating element. When that happens the heating element kicks into action and it slowly begins to heat the water.

This method is typically very slow.

For example:

• In an 120volt system (a spa that has a cord that is plugged into a regular wall outlet), the heating element will generate approximately 1,500 watts. This is enough heat to raise the temperature in a 3-400 gallon spa, with a good spa cover, 2-3 degrees in an hour.
• In a 240 volt system, the heater typically generates 5,500 watts. This is enough heat to raise the water temperature in a 3-400 gallon spa 5-6 degrees in an hour
• Let say that the temperature in the water before heating is 70F, the approximate heating times will then be the following to raise the water temperature from 70F to 100F
• 120 volt system - 10-12 hours
• 240 volt system - 6-8 hours

There are of course a few factors that also affects the heating time, quality of spa cover, outsite temperature, amount of insulation in the spa

2. Spa Heating with a Gas Heater

Heating a spa or hot tub with a gas heater is still fairly common. Especially in situation where there is both a pool and a spa combination

The advantages and disadvantages are the following;

Advantage;

• a. The water heats really quick. If you have a 250,000Btu spa heater connected to a 3-400 gallons spa. The heating time can be as little as 20 minutes. If you have an even larger heater, you get even shorter heating time.
• b. Most owners with gas heaters let their spas cool down between usage. Spas with electrical heaters are typically kept heated due to the lengthy heating times
• c. Cost, the long time cost of heating will be less as you only heat the water when you need to use it.

Disadvantages

• a. Cost, the initial cost for a gas heater installation is always 8-10 times the cost of an electrical heater.
• d. Size. A gas heater is large and you will need a large enough yard to hid it somewhere.

3. Hot Tub heating through pump friction

Another method of heating a spa is through pump friction. This method is based on the fact that the pump gets warm as it's running. By wrapping the pump with tubes that is a part of the circulation system, you are able to slowly, very slowly, raise the temperature of a small spa.

Advantage;

a. This results in a low heating cost

Disadvantage

a. Slow slow heating time
b. Difficult to control the temperature of the spa and balance the spa chemistry at the same time
c. Limited to only small portable spas

4. Heating a Hot Tub with solar

This sounds like such a great idea, but in reality it is not possible for most homeowners. The amount of solar heat collectors required is typically too many. Heating a pool this way is commonly done, but raising a spa to 104F is more difficult.

Spa Heater Repair - Home
Spa Heater Repair - Hot Tub Heating
Spa Heater Repair - How Do I Trouble Shoot My Hot Tub Heater
Spa Heater Repair - How Do I Prevent Repairs to My Spa Heater
Spa Heater Repair - How Much Does It Cost To Heat A Spa?
Spa Heater Repair - Electric Spa Heaters - How Do They Work?
Spa Heater Repair - Replacement time?

Spa Heater Repair - Gas Spa Heaters

Spa Heater Repair - Spa Heater Basics

Spa Repair - We service and repair the following spa manufacturers
Spa Repair - Spa Service Area
Spa Repair – Services we recommend

Home