Spa & Hot Tub Covers

Things To Know Before Shopping For Hot Tub Covers

This is not really exciting stuff. It hardly compares to relaxing in your hot tub after a hard day. However, if you are in the market for a hot tub cover this is important information about these items that will help you to make a better decision. So….

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is used as the primary insulating material in most hot tub covers. This foam works by slowing the heat in your spa from being conducted into the surrounding air.

Foam density is used to describe the weight of a cubic foot of foam. A heavy duty hot tub cover will generally have at least a 1.0 lb. density. As you go up in foam density you increase the insulating properties and the strength.

The R-value is used to describe the insulating ability of the material. The higher the R-value the more it will hold in the heat. Look for a minimum insulating value of R-12.

The manufacturer will quote the R-value of the hot tub cover you are considering, but keep in mind that this industry is not required to test the R-value according to any particular standard. As a guide, you can use this table to double-check the insulating value.

Find out the density and multiply the thickness in inches of the cover by the R-value per inch, and that will give you the insulating value of the hot tub cover. For example, a 3 inch thick cover made from 1.25 density foam (which has an R-value of 4.0 according to the chart) would be: 3 inches X 4.0/in. = an R-value of 12.

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In the not too distant past, hot tub covers and spa covers were mostly flat and would easily get waterlogged and sag. Because it was flat it would not shed rain well. It was frequently made out of materials that did not last very long when exposed to the sun, weather, chemicals from the water, and heat from the tub. Fortunately, today’s hot tub cover is generally much better constructed.

Today’s covers normally have a sloped foam core. This simply means it is thicker at the hinge in the middle, and when viewed straight on, has a slight pitch like a roof. Some typical measurements are a 4″ thick middle, tapering to 2″ at the edge, or 5″ tapering to 3″. In addition to giving it additional strength, the pitch also keeps rain and water from melting snow from standing on the top.

The foam core is usually wrapped with a 2 to 4 mil thick polyethylene plastic, and this is the main barrier against the core absorbing water. Some manufacturers seal this plastic with an adhesive tape, which can pull loose over time allowing water into the foam core. The better hot tub cover manufacturers heat seal the polyethylene. Also, some manufacturers will double wrap the foam which makes it even more resistant to getting waterlogged.

On top of the plastic wrap is an outer covering of a heavy duty marine grade vinyl. This will be mildew and UV resistant and in the better quality tops will be double-sewn with a commercial thread that is UV resistant as well.

Many tops also use a hinge seal gasket to prevent moisture loss and hold in heat.

To protect from curious children, look for tie downs with fasteners that have a child protective plastic keyed lock. This might take a bit more time to remove when you want to use your spa, but if it is located outdoors the added security and peace of mind will be worth the small amount of time required to unlock the hot tub cover. As an additional benefit, the fasteners will help keep the top in place during high winds.

To keep the neighborhood kids from having a party in your spa while you are on vacation you’ll need to invest in a set of steelcore security spa straps. These are a separate purchase item, and will serve to keep all but the most determined teenager out of your hot tub.

“Walk On” Hot Tub Covers

If there is any chance someone is going to be walking across the top of your spa, or you have children that might climb onto the top, you need a hot tub cover that is made to withstand this weight. Also, if you live in a climate that gets lots of snow each winter, and you have an outdoor spa, you should consider a hot tub cover that can withstand the extra weight of a couple of feet of snow on top.

In what are known as “Walk On” hot tub covers, there are fiberglass sheets laminated on each side of the foam core. These add extra strength so that a normal weight adult can actually walk across the top of the hot tub cover without it collapsing. WARNING: Do not ever place any weight on the top of a hot tub cover unless it is designed to carry that load.

A “Walk On” cover will have a reinforced middle hinge and some extremely heavy duty covers do not have a hinge at all, but separate into 2 parts. Because of the weight of the materials the 2 halves make it safer and easier to remove.

A tonneau (pronounced ta’-no) cover is a soft hot tub cover that is stretched across the top of the tub and held in place with straps. Think of a large tarp. It typically will come with an air bladder that pushes it up slightly in the middle and allows the rain to drain off. The air bladder will also increase the insulation value.

This type of hot tub cover is frequently used with a thermal blanket.

Before you buy your hot tub or spa, you will want to read hot tub reviews about the various types, styles, and manufacturers.

Here are a few of the resources available on the web which have hot tub reviews which you might find useful when deciding on a brand of hot tub. (The links below open in a new window)

Pool & Spa News Online — A good place to start. This link is to an article that warns about how to spot whether you are getting true and objective rating information.

What’s The Best Hot Tub — This is a resource that has individual ratings by consumers. Many of the newer hot tubs and spas entered only have one review, but the older entries might have as many as seven. Almost all the reviews were brief and positive, and if you have a specific model in mind you might find it valuable to check it out here before making a final decision.

Hot Tub and Spa Reviews — Has somewhat of a basic look to the design, but there are lots of consumer reviews and some go into great detail. It’s a little confusing to navigate, but the top part scrolls up and down and the tubs are listed alphabetically by manufacturer and model. Once you locate the one you are interested in and click it, the most recent review is displayed in the lower half of the screen. Below that first review are listed other owners who wrote about that same model.Epinions has a fairly complete list of manufacturers and models, along with consumer reviews.  They have the added benefit of being able to compare models you choose side by side which makes it very easy to see hot tub features and pictures.  It’s a little confusing to navigate, but after you select your brand on the left side of the page, another page will open with thumbnail pictures of all the hot tubs.  to the right of the picture look for a link to “Consumer Reviews” for that model.  If you don’t see a link then the spa does not have any customer opinions written about it yet.

ConsumerSearch seems to be a trustworthy place for hot tub information.  It’s part of the New York Times so the reliability value is high.  Their specific spa reviews are limited to what they consider to be only the best and top rated, but they arrived at this by visiting discussion groups and consulting knowledgable industry professionals.  Might be worth checking out.

After doing your online research you might find it useful to call the National Spa & Pool Institute, the national trade association.  They can help you locate an endorsed dealer that is close to you.  (800) 323-3996.  They will also mail you a variety of printed literature.

You’ve searched the classifieds for a used hot tub and found what looks like a great deal. Or maybe a friend has offered to let you buy theirs, or maybe you have even been given a used tub as a freebie. Is it really a good deal? There is no way to tell for sure until you have it installed and running.

The first and most important thing is never to buy and pay for any used spa or hot tub that you have not seen in operation and tested completely. Buying a “dry” tub is a disappointment waiting to happen. You might get lucky and everything will work fine, but you also stand the chance of having a budget-busting disaster on your hands.

You have to also keep in mind that simply moving a tub puts a whole new set of stresses on the plumbing, tub shell, and frame. An unnoticable crack in the spa sitting at its original location might be made worse by loading it on a truck and moving it. This is especially true if the tub has been repaired sometime in the past. So just because everything was fine when you checked it out, does not mean it will be exactly the same when you finish your move and installation.

Even with a free hot tub you will likely will have some hidden and possibly unexpected expenses:

• You have to find a way to move it. Many “portable” hot tubs will not fit in the back of a pickup truck.

• You have to hook up the electrical (and unless you are a licensed electrician this is something that should never be attempted by a homeowner). This might involve trenching for the electrical line and running a 220 volt drop, in addition to the electrical supplies.

• Once you get it all set up you have to fix anything you broke moving it, and repair damage or defects that were not apparent when you inspected it.

• You will also likely need to buy other supplies (chemicals for the water, a testing kit, a new cartridge filter, and possibly a hot tub cover).

• Does it come with a hot tub cover? If the cover cracked, torn, discolored, waterlogged, or a spa cover is not included in the deal, then you might be looking at a significant additional expense.

• Check the cartridge filter to make sure it is in place and that the filter itself is not torn or just completely worn out.

When inspecting the hot tub, be sure and check the following:

• Use a thermometer to check the accuracy of the hot tub thermostat. If it is out of calibration that is not necessarily a problem, but is information you need to know to operate the tub safely. If it won’t heat the water to normal operating temperature (usually 104 degrees) that is another issue entirely. There might be a heater problem.

• Open up any of the doors that give you access to the equipment or areas underneath the tub. Look for any leaks or signs of water. Check around the pump for any indication that the pump seals are leaking and will need to be replaced.

• Listen to the sound of the pump running. It should be a low steady hum. Any other sound should tell you that you might have a pump replacement in your future.

• Turn on the blower and again, listen to the motor. It should sound a lot like a vacuum cleaner and if you hear any knocking, pinging, or scraping this is not normal and means you might be whipping out a credit card soon.

Any problems that you discover can be used as points for negotiating a lower purchase price. If you point out these issues to the seller, you might get a price concession which will make the deal more attractive for you.

With all this said, there are some great values in used hot tubs. Just check things out carefully and make a wise decision, budget for some unexpected expenses, and cross your fingers.

If you were careful with the steps to winterize your hot tub in the fall, then it should not take long to get your spa up and running again in the spring. Your tub has waited patiently for you all winter long, and is ready now to give you a warm and rewarding soak.

Remove the special winter hot tub cover or the tarp if you put one on top of your foam core hot tub cover. This should have protected your expensive spa cover from the winter elements.

If there is any water inside the tub you might have to use a shop vac to suck it out, or soak it up with towels. If water froze in the spa over winter it might have damaged the acrylic hot tub shell. Any cracks might not be visible but will become apparent when you start filling the spa with water.

Find the filter you packed away in the Fall. If you did not clean it then you need to take the time to do so now. There are special filter cleaners which you can get from your local spa dealer or buy online. If you are in a real hurry, you can spray it down with a garden hose by directing the water at an angle and dislodging all the traped dirt between the pleats. Reinstall the filter.

Most hot tub covers have a foam core with an outer covering of vinyl. Now is a good time to clean and condition the spa cover. There are special cleaners and conditioners that you can buy online or at your local spa dealer. You’ve made a significant investment in your hot tub cover, so now is not the time to scrimp on $20 worth of the proper chemicals necessary to help protect the top from cracking and discoloring.

Inspect the plumbing and look for any obvious signs of cracked pipes. If you find one, unless you are very handy you might want to call a professional to do the repair work.

Close all the drains that you opened in the fall, and reconnect all the lines to the heater and the pump.

Get out the garden hose and start filling! As the water level rises be on the look-out for any leaks or other signs that the spa was damaged over the winter. If you see leaks, stop filling until you can have them repaired.

If you fill the tub and all looks good, then you can turn on the power. Before you turn on the pump or heater, be absolutely certain that all valves are set to allow water to circulate through the network of plumbing. If so, time to turn on your pump and heater.

Check each of the minor functions such as blower and lights to make sure everything is working properly.

Balance your chemicals, and dance around anxiously waiting for the water to heat up. When it reaches that magic temperature, it’s time to enjoy!