So many different components go into making a Hot Tub that is energy and cost-efficient. People often look to insulation, pumps and heaters to decide whether or not a spa is high quality. However, something that is often overlooked is your Hot Tub Cover. Making sure that your Hot Tub’s Cover is made with quality materials can help you save thousands of dollars in the long run.
Heat rises, making Hot Tub Covers play a huge role in insulating your spa because heat rises. So if your Cover is not insulating properly, you will lose a lot of heat from the top of your tub. This means your heater will need to run more to keep your water warm, costing you more money. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need to know about Covers.
Fit
Your Cover should be a perfect fit for your tub. Usually, when buying a replacement Cover, you will have to do a custom fitting, which means you will need to provide specific details about your Hot Tub’s size to make sure your replacement Hot Tub Cover fits properly. These measurements can be tricky, as they often involve rounded corners, however, it is important that you have exact measurements.
Did you know that Covers have material that hangs down the sides of your Hot Tub? Although they might not look like much, these flaps play an important role in stopping hot air from escaping your tub. If these flaps don’t line up properly with the sides of your shell, they won’t be able to stop the airflow properly.
Foam
The foam that your Spa Cover is made from is important when it comes to insulating your Hot Tub. The ideal Hot Tub foam is tapered to allow water to run off on either side of the tub after rain. Your Cover should be 4” to 6” thick. Anything thicker is unnecessary and becomes heavy & hard to lift, anything thinner is not enough to properly insulate your spa.
No matter how dense your foam is, when it becomes wet, it does not insulate properly. It can also grow mold, it can become heaving and hard to use. To prevent this, your Cover should be sealed in a material that water is not able to penetrate. This makes sure the Cover’s foam stays dry and insulates your tub properly.
Down the Middle
Hot Tub Covers fold in half, and because of this, there is a seam down the middle of your tub that is about ¾ of an inch thick that is not insulated by your Cover’s foam inserts. Your Cover should have a piece of foam separate from your foam inserts to insulate that middle strip.
Without this piece, your Hot Tub will not be insulated down the middle of your Cover and you will lose a significant amount of heat. During cold months you will even be able to see your Hot Tub losing heat from this area.
Although Covers are often overlooked, they play a crucial role in ensuring that your Hot Tub runs efficiently. Making sure that your Hot Tub’s first Cover is built properly can help you save thousands of dollars by lowering your running costs and also by lasting longer so that you do not have to replace it.