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How to Calculate Kilowatts Required to Heat a Liter of Spa Water

One Calorie of energy is the heat needed to increase the temperature of 1kg of pure water by 1 degree C. Water heating calculations are based on pure water, but spa water contains impurities, such as dissolved minerals and gasses. Their presence in the water alters its density and mass, so it is necessary to compensate by establishing the exact mass of 1 liter of spa water before performing the math required to find the kilowatts required to heat it.

Things You'll Need

Thermometer
Scientific weighing scales

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the existing temperature of the water and subtract it from the desired temperature. The result is the number of degrees difference between the existing and desired temperatures. For example, if the spa water is at 20 degrees C, and you want to heat it to 35 degrees, the difference is 15 degrees.
- 2
  Measure, in kilograms, the mass of one liter of spa water. Multiply this value by the difference in temperature. The result is the number of Calories required to heat the water by the desired amount. For example, 1 kg of water requires 15 Calories to heat it by 15 degrees, and 1.1 kg of water requires 16.5 Calories to heat it by 15 degrees (1.1 x 15 = 16.5).
- 3
  Multiply the result from Step 2 by 1.1622, the number of watt hours equivalent to 1 Calorie. The result is the amount of energy, in watt hours, required to heat 1 liter of spa water to the desired temperature. For example, 18.645 watt hours are required to heat a liter of spa water from 20 to 35 degrees C because 16.5 x 1.1622 = 18.645.
- 4
  Divide the result from Step 3 by 1,000 to convert from watt hours to kilowatt hours. For example, heating a liter of spa water from 20 to 35 degrees C requires 0.018645 kilowatt hours of energy because 18.645 divided by 1,000 = 0.018645.

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