I have had my 2004 Viking Extreme for a full Consumers bill and it was $150.00 higher than average, the spa place said it might go up $30.00..What gives a $234.00 bill is outrages, it is normaly between $60.00 and $80.00..I did keep the tub over 100 degress, but I live in michigan where it gets below zero at night.. HELP!!!

Is this a 110 or 220 system? At what temperature do you maintain it? See any steam coming from it on those 2 degree nights when it is covered?

It is 220 4 wire and I leave it at 104 degrees.. I was told this cost about 30.00 in the winter and 10.00 in the summer. No steam at all from the cover..Sounds like she is getting drained for the rest of the winer

Since you've got a 220v system you have the potential to leave it off at certain times since it can increase temperature reasonably quickly. Do you have a timer or is it all digital, and if it is digital can you control your filter/heat times or does it do it all automagically?

Long story short, you've got to be losing heat somewhere. If you don't see steam coming off the top, then take a look inside the skirt and see what type of insulation is in there.

Heating, your tub probably runs at about 25 amps, or let's say 6kW. I don't know what your rate is there, call it $0.15 kW/hr. That means you'd have to be heating about 5.4 hours a day to get to $150. Your 5.5kW heater is about 19K BTU's, and let's say your tub is 300 gallons, that means you can raise your water temp about 8 degrees per hour. So your tub is losing (or having to heat up) about 43 degrees per day. That's not so good.

I agree with spishex -ifn the Viking has little or no insulation it could definately run that high - many dealers will not give correct info on operating costs.

Nice spa Spishex -I have a '91 Classic

Pete
HotSpring Tech