Helpful Tips for Buying a Hot Tub or Spa

Buying Tips for Hot Tub Covers — a Detailed Shopping
Guide to the Best Spa Cover

Hot tub covers, like other products that perform a vital function, aren't necessarily the coolest thing to look at, but they do provide a critical function for your spa. You will quickly notice important changes if you do not keep your spa covered. After all, the spa cover serves a very important operating function. Hot tub covers conserve heat, thus saving energy and operating costs. And, cleanliness and safety are also strong reasons for keeping a hot tub covered when not in use.

In the early days of hot tubs, people used many different ways to keep a spa covered—from wood planks, to plastic tarp, to rocks, to sections of Styrofoam, and later to plastic bubble covers—anything you could imagine to keep their hot tub clean and the water warm.

Today's rigid vinyl hot tub cover was developed through several generations of engineering, with a vision for a cover that would promote energy savings, heat conservation and safety. This single-minded vision has led the spa industry to a higher standard of energy efficiency. Today virtually every hot tub sold is shipped with a cover.

So what does that mean for you, if you're shopping for a new spa—or if you are already a hot tub owner, and find it's time to replace your cover? A spa cover receives all the force of nature's elements. So, it's important that your spa cover is built to withstand everything that nature offers. Whether you are selecting your hot tub, or already own one, it's important to know how a good hot tub cover is built.

At first glance, many people think all hot tub covers are alike. Like automobile tires, we can easily fall into that assumption—after all, all tires are black, seem to be made of rubber, have metal hubs, lug nuts, etc. It's the same for spa covers. They're all mostly made of some kind of vinyl, often the same rust color, have some straps, are filled with some kind of foam, and are sealed inside with some kind of plastic. So what's the difference, and how is that important to you and your hot tub?

Unlike tires, spa covers are handcrafted. Each vinyl covering is individually sewn. Thus, not only are the internal components and raw materials important, the craftsmanship is critical to the life of your hot tub cover and the craftsmanship that lends added beauty to the spa when the spa is not in use.

Let's explore the anatomy of a spa cover and its important components: the Foam Core, the Vinyl Covering, the Heat Seal, the Safety aspects, and what holds it all together.

The Foam Core

The foam core interior is the heart of the spa cover. Foam cores provide strength, rigidity and insulation for the cover. The life of the core is directly related to its strength and how it is sealed. Ask your hot tub dealer to show you how the plastic seals around the core. This is critical to an effective vapor lock seal around the foam core for longer life. Adding a taper to the hot tub cover allows for efficient water run off—very helpful in wet climates. A 3.5" to 2.5" taper provides a strong cover, especially at the corners where lesser taper can weaken long-term stability of the foam.

Most hot tub covers are built with standard EPS foam core of 1.5 lb. density, tapered 3.5" to 2.5", delivering excellent strength and insulation. A 2.0 lb. density provides extra durability and insulation, useful for larger spas. The foam cores are only as strong as they are reinforced. Support is critical at the midpoint (hinge) of the cover, for added strength along the spine of the foam cores. A minimum of 16 gauge non-corrosive, reinforcing channel will ensure long life even through repeated use.

The Vinyl Covering

The top vinyl is exposed to sun, rain, snow, ice, dirt, chemicals and more. All of these elements can affect the top vinyl. A good cover is made with at least 25 ounce, durable marine grade vinyl, treated to resist the impact of UV rays and extreme temperatures. The vinyl should pass an accelerated UV test for 1500 hours of UV resistance, and be treated for mildew resistance, chlorine resistance, and a -40 degree cold crack. It's the top vinyl you see most often, so keep it looking its best with proper maintenance for a beautiful appearance and years of maximum performance.

The bottom of the spa cover is exposed to the stress of chemical and sanitizers. That's why it's so important that your cover's bottom vinyl be formulated to withstand ongoing exposure to these harsh environments. A good cover is constructed with at least a 16.5 ounce, scuff resistant double-ply poly laminate "weft" material that is treated with mildew and UV inhibitors, and passes a -40 degree cold crack test. The weft structure creates an interlocking of fibers to protect the foam core and its plastic seal. The cover should have at least one or more drain holes on each underside half of the cover to control water accumulation between the core and the bottom vinyl. Better manufacturers dress their drain hole with a scratch resistant, color coordinating grommet.

Safety

While no single device can keep children safe, there are several layers of protection you can employ when you own a hot tub. Make sure your hot tub cover is labeled as a safety cover, and meets the ASTM Safety Cover Standard F1346-91. This also means that the manufacturing plant and the product are periodically inspected by a third-party. In accordance with this standard, a spa cover must have a minimum of four reinforced tie-down straps and locking hardware with keys to help keep unsupervised children out. Keep your cover closed and tie-down straps engaged and locked down when the spa is not in use. Snug fitting tie-down straps are important for a good fitting cover, assuring a tight seal, and a secure, safe spa when not in use. Some manufacturers make adjustable tie-down straps which allow you to modify the length to accommodate shrinkage over the life of the cover.

Heat Seal

The hinge heat seal is one of the most critical points of the hot tub cover, when it comes to preserving energy efficiency of the spa. Ask your dealer to show you how the cover is built to prevent precious heat loss at the hinge, where the two halves of the cover come together. Without a seal at the outer end of each side of the cover hinge, heat will escape. With a well built spa cover and an effective heat seal at the hinge, you can expect an R value of 12 to 13.

What Holds it All Together

You want a hot tub cover that is built to last and will give you extra strength and long-term durability. It's important to reinforce the cover from the inside, especially areas that experience extra wear 'n tear. Better manufacturers reinforce as many as 24 different areas of the cover, including the hinge, handles, zipper and zipper pocket, skirt, and tie-down straps. These are all potential stress points that can fail if they aren't properly reinforced. The sewing thread and finish is also important, not only to the way the cover looks, but to its strength and integrity. Hot tub covers sewn with polyester thread, treated with UV and mildew inhibitors, will assure your cover withstands years of harsh weather, chemicals and intense sunlight. Like the suit you buy, the shoes you wear, or the briefcase you carry every day, craftsmanship makes the difference in good looks and good function. The strength and integrity of your spa cover is very dependent on the materials used and the craftsmanship.

Warranties

A good cover will give you 3 or more years of life, depending on the environment in which it is placed and how it is cared for. Warranties run from 1 year or more, prorated and non-prorated. A better warranty will be non-prorated and assure you the cover will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, both on the vinyl encasement and the foam core, for the period stated.

Dealer Support

The three keys to your successful hot tub cover purchase are: Is the cover well built, will it last, and, if there are problems, who will help you? That's where your local dealer comes in. Ideally, you want to build a relationship with the dealer who sold you the spa in the first place. Your local dealer knows your product, can send a technician to your home, and will be able to help you solve problems.

They can also order you an original factory replacement. Your local dealer has an established relationship with the hot tub manufacturer, a valued investment in working with you and in your community. Wherever possible, we suggest you purchase your hot tub cover from your local dealer. When you visit your local dealer, you know what product you are getting and you know how they will care for you.