Hot
Tub Covers and Spa Supplies Online
Hot Tub & Spa Covers
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If you are buying a Hot Tub Cover Read this First! There
are many hot
tub covers & spa covers available on the internet and in your local stores. This
guide is designed to educate you on the attributes that make up a hot tub
cover and spa cover, so you can choose the best spa cover for you, at the
best price available. Foam thickness All spa covers these days are tapered so
that the rain, snow and ice will runoff much like the roof of your house. You
will find covers ranging in thickness starting at a 3" x 2" taper
to a 5" x 4"
tapered spa cover. The difference in the thickness of the
foam is not only size but also load capacity, and that is the most important
part of the thickness. The thicker the foam the more load the cover can
withstand. For example a 4" x 2" tapered cover can withstand
approximately 75lbs. of load capacity before it will break whereas a 4" x 3"
spa cover can withstand 125lbs. of load. And lastly a
5" x 4"
tapered hot tub cover can withstand a load of 250lbs. As with
everything there are tradeoffs the more load capacity the heavier the cover.
The most important thing to look at is your climate, the more snow load the
heavier the cover you require. If your spa is at deck level and people are
possibly going to walk on it you will need a 5" x 4"
hot tub cover. If your spa is indoors you can get away
with a 4" x 2" taper. The best cover for most conditions is the all
season cover, the 4 x 3 hot tub
cover taper which is manageable weight and great load
capacity. Foam density Foam density plays a vital role in your
insulation value and again the load capacity that your cover can endure.
There are 3 levels of foam density being used today 1lbs., 1.5lbs., and 2lbs.
The foam density is measured by pound per square inch. The lower the foam
poundage the more open the cells of the foam are. This results in lower
R-value, lower weight capacity and higher saturation points. These three
points are important to the performance of your spa cover. The density of
your foam will enviably determine the years of service your hot tub cover
will provide. The higher the density the longer it will take for the cover to
become waterlogged. The higher the density of foam, the lower your
operational cost will be, but be careful of weight. For this reason alone
always go for the 1.5 lbs density foam. Regardless of your location. Vinyl The vinyl used in today's high end spa
covers is 32 oz. and is treated with UV and mildew inhibitors which allows
for more hours in direct sunlight and keeps mildew from building on your
cover. Always look for covers with marine grade vinyl. With the new
treatments available on marine grade vinyl fading is minimal and you can
choose the darker colors to accent your yard. Scrim The Scrim is the material used on the
underside of your spa cover. The primary function of the scrim is to protect
the foam core from moisture. There are many different types of scrim
available ranging from cheap mesh to the latest and greatest reflective full
backing. We recommend only full scrim for the underside and protection of
your foam cores. There are different types of full scrims as well. Some are
water repellent and some are not. The best scrim out there is the reflective
scrim which deflects the radiant heat from your spa back into the spa reducing
your heating cost, but more importantly this material is water repellent
saving your foam core and adding years of service to your cover. Poly wrap Poly wrap is moisture barrier around the
foam core. Most poly wraps are 3 mil. and are vacuum and heat sealed. The
first thing to look at is the thickness of the poly wrap do not accept
anything less than 3 mil and if you can upgrade to 6 mil or a double vapor
seal, it is well advised to make the investment. Look out for poly wraps that
are taped, these will not stand up to the moisture in your spa and cause your
hot tub top to become waterlogged. Locks This is very important as there have been
increased reports of accidental drowning among small children in spas. There are
options available 2 locks or 4, we highly recommend 4 locks, 1 in each corner
for as stated safety, and as well to keep your spa top in place due to wind.
Remember to always insure that new hardware is installed for your locks as
the plastic will wear over years of use. Try to replace your locks in a
different location from where they were originally as the original location
will be worn. Reinforcement All spa covers should have a reinforcing
c-channel either aluminum or galvanized steel. Either one is fine with the
galvanized steel being slightly stronger but a little heavier. This is a
minor tradeoff and either is sufficient. Cover Protection There
are many ways to protect your spa cover. The best way is to use a Spa Cover Cap which is a tarp like cover with an
elastic hem that goes over your cover and protects the cover during the
winter months. Floating solar or thermal covers will also protect you spa cover from
harmful chemical filled condensation that will eat away at the underside of
your spa cover. Hot tub & spa
cover lifters not only make removing your cover a one person job, they help
save your cover by reducing the wear and tear on them. Lastly keep your cover
clean and conditioned with special formulated hot tub cover cleaners and wipes. Top of Form
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