Hot Tubs: We've Got You Covered

By Marcus Sheridan

For all of you hot tub owners out there, if you have not yet had to replace your cover, it is a good chance that you will eventually need to replace this important part. In fact, your hot tub's cover is the most important factor in the tub's ability to retain heat. Because these covers consist of a vinyl outer layer surrounding a 2-piece foam insert, they have a tendency to absorb water over time. Once this occurs, the foam must be replaced, as the cover can get too heavy to take on and off. I have even seen covers get so heavy that they've bent the cover-lifter bar, which can then be quite expensive to fix. The best way to replace this foam is to find a company that specializes in custom fitting foam products. All one needs to do is to take the old insert out and allow the foam company to make a replica. This process can be much less expensive then replacing the entire cover, which usually costs about $400. We find that cover foam usually lasts 2-4 years before it becomes too waterlogged to be useful anymore. There are not a lot of foam sizing companies in our area, but there are a few out there. A cover's vinyl is another piece that will need to be replaced. When this part of the cover has worn out, most people just order a new cover entirely. When this is done, a form with cover specifications and measurements must be filled and signed by the spa owner before the cover is ordered. Cover manufacturing time usually takes 2-4 weeks.

For those of you who are looking to extend the lifetime of your spa cover, one suggestion I would make is the use of a floating solar blanket. The small vinyl covers have the appearance of bubble-wrap and serve two purposes. Their first purpose is to retain even more heat then the regular cover, which in-turn will save the spa owner an additional $5-$10 per month in electrical costs. The second benefit of these covers is that they lessen the amount of condensation within the spa, therefore lessening the amount of water eventually absorbed by the cover's foam inserts. These small secondary covers can be purchased at most pool/spa stores between $50 and $75.