Hot tub bubble bursts
More than half now lie unused because they are costing too much to heat
BACK gardens are being turned into ‘ hot tub graveyards’ as soaring energy bills make them too expensive to heat, a survey has discovered.
More than half of owners say they no longer use the whirlpool baths, which now cost over £100 a month to run.
Sales had rocketed during the pandemic when people spent more time at home, with four-fifths of those surveyed saying they had bought theirs since Covid struck in 2020.
But nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of those who no longer use their hot tub said it was because the running costs were too high.
As well as the average heating cost of £100 a month, there are also the costs of the chemicals needed to keep a hot tub clean and the water safe.
More than half (55 per cent) of hot tub owners said they now rarely or never use it.
Some said they had lost interest in what had been a ‘pandemic purchase’, the survey of 2,000 for Direct Line found.
And others said they now use their tubs less often due to the time taken to maintain them or their environmental impact.
Dan Simson, head of Direct Line home insurance, said: ‘ Hot tubs soared in popularity in recent years as households across the country sought new ways to enjoy their gardens when they could not leave their homes.
‘However, rising energy bills and the general cost of living crisis seems to have hit household budgets hard and may mean British gardens become something of a hot tub graveyard.’ He added that unused hot tubs should be disconnected and drained to minimise the risk of damage or leaks if they are not maintained properly.
Hot tubs have also fallen foul of hosepipe bans which have been imposed across large parts of the country. While hot tubs are usually considered exempt, water companies have asked customers to voluntarily not use them to help conserve water.
South East Water, which covers parts of Kent and Sussex, advises customers with hot tubs that ‘although exempt, we would ask if you can wait until cooler weather and demand reduces for any water use that isn’t really necessary, that would really help’.