Hot Tub Covers: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
This content was previously featured on the Hot Tub Works website. Leslie’s is proud to partner with Hot Tub Works to bring you this helpful content on lesliespool.com.
When shopping for new hot tub covers, you should know your options.
But I’m not talking about spa cover options like Foam Density or a Double Wrapped Core, but I’m talking today about the types of spa covers on the market.
There are 3 main types of spa covers – Soft Spa Covers, Hard Spa Covers and Aluminum Spa Covers.
Spa Soft Covers , are a durable vinyl fabric that is stretched over the spa top and fastened to the spa cabinet with rubber straps. They are used with an air filled vinyl pillow floating underneath the soft cover, to reduce pooling of rain water.
The Good: Lightweight and much less cumbersome than traditional folding spa covers. Lowest cost for a spa cover, $150-$200.
The Bad: Not a thermal spa cover, very low R-value which makes it unsuitable for most heated hot tubs.
The Ugly: Even with the air pillow used underneath, heavy rain can cause water to collect on the cover.
Hard Spa Covers are the traditional vinyl wrapped foam cores with a center hinge for folding. The most popular type of spa cover, hard spa tops are made to fit the spa dimensions exactly, and are fastened to the spa cabinet with straps and clips.
The Good: Seals tightly to spa edges to perform at the highest possible R-value for heated spas. Affordably priced from $294-$500.
– Jack
Aaden Spa Water Resistant Hot Tub Cover
If your tub is meant to be placed outside or in the veranda, this hot tub cover from Aeden is specifically made to provide the utmost protection for outdoor furniture. This square-shaped tub is made from polyester, the best material for snow, heat, and rain protection. It is also UV resistant and waterproof perfect for any type of season.
The cover has straps to assure it sticks to the tub during windy conditions. By looking at the welded seams, you know that materials are high quality and durable. This is the best cover that will compliment whatever patio decor you have at home.
Highlighted Features:
What We Donât Like:
- Can be easily stained
Extra Durable Vinyl Exterior
“I reviewed my hot tub cover on rateitall, but forgot to mention how quickly the covers were constructed and shipped. Another plus! I was so pleased with this company, that I referred the company to my mother-in-law as well and she ordered her cover from them too. Now, one must always stay in good standing with the “in-laws” so you must know that if I referred the hot tub covers to her, they MUST be a good company, right? My covers were well-made, beautiful, we had great color choices, size and shape choices. We received confirmation and update emails throughout the process. When the time comes for a new cover, I will definitely use Hot Tub Cover Depot again!”
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How To Clean And Care For Spa Covers
A little care goes a long way toward keeping your spa cover in excellent shape for the long run.
Aim to clean your spa cover about every three months or so. You should also give it a good cleaning whenever you notice stains or a mildew smell.
A few simple steps are all it takes to prevent cracking, fading, waterlogging, and mold and mildew.
There are also a few things you should avoid when cleaning your spa cover. Namely, dont use detergent, dish soap, abrasive cleaners, or harsh chemicals on your cover, since they can damage the coating and cause it to degrade prematurely.
On warm days, you can pop the cover off and let it sit out, fully unzipped and flat, to give it a good sunbath which will dry it out completely, zapping any waterlogging and making it lighter and easier to handle.
What Are Spa Covers
A spa cover is a piece of material that fits over the top of your spa, hot tub, or all-season pool and protects it while it is not in use.
Ideally, a spa cover is put in place as soon as you get out of the hot tub or all-season pool, so you dont lose any steam, heat, or water from leaving it uncovered and open to the elements.
Spa covers come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and materials, but they can be broken down into four main categories:
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Types Of Retractable Hot Tub And Spa Covers
Hot Tubs come with a ton of health benefits, besides the pleasure theyre renowned for providing. This is all the more reason to keep yours safe when it is not in use.
How do you avoid debris accumulation or other inconvenient problems, though? Well, most people turn to the different types of retractable hot tub covers for help.
There are automatic hot tub covers, soft and hard tops, aluminium, and sliding covers. If you want to find the one that best suits your needs, keep reading!
Classic Accessories Ravena Medium Square Hot Tub
Are durability, style, and convenience your criteria in looking for the best hot tub covers? Well, Classic Accessories is best known for that. This cover is meant for square hot tubs with a size of 94 x 94. It comes with double-stitched seams for security and style and padded handles for easy removal.
If your tub is not as big as the size mentioned above, worry not, for the elastic hem cords are adjustable to achieve your ideal fit. It has structured vents with mesh barriers for wind lofting. This the most practical cover that will protect your tub from any weather conditions and elements.
Highlighted Features:
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Top 5 Rated Hot Tub Cover Reviews
If you are looking for a great place to buy a cover that offers a quality item at a great price, our best hot tub cover reviews below are a great place to start. Whether you prefer a hard or soft hot tub cover, these products have you covered . If you are looking for a great hot tub to use these covers with, check our list here.
Can It Withstand The Climate And Weather
Many hot tub covers are better at withstanding the cold, whereas others excel at protecting your hot tub from intense sunlight. In other words, you need to take the weather and climate where you live into consideration.
For instance, if you live in a region with frigid cold temperatures, youll need to get a cover with excellent cold resistance. On the other hand, if you live where its hot all year round with harsh sunlight, itll be better if you find a cover with outstanding UV protection.
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Deluxe Hot Tub Covers
Take your spa experience to the ultimate level of comfort and relaxation with a fully automated cover. These spa covers consist of one piece that is lifted straight up. It only takes a turn of the key and 20 seconds later your hot tub is open. A water-tight seal means reduced spa heating costs for you.
Find The Right Core For Your Climate
Since your hot tub cover will be installed in the exterior of your home, you have to ensure that you invest on one that will be able to withstand changing climate without showing signs of wear and tear. If you live in an area that experiences four seasons, then you should find a cover that will be able to maintain quality despite these changes.
It will be best if you find a cover that will be able to withstand the coldest winters, so you should definitely check out the best hot tub cover for winter. If done right, you will be able to invest your money on the right accessory that you will use for an extended amount of time.
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Soft Vs Hard Vs Solar Vs Seasonal Covers
Spa covers are an obvious necessity. However, as with anything else in life, you have to make sure to get the best one for your needs. Luckily, choosing the right spa cover should be a straightforward process, considering all the details we shared above.
Depending on where you live, its best to start with considering a hard shell hot tub cover. These covers provide:
- reducing your heating cost
- trapping the heat inside
- protecting your family members when climbing the cover
The major flaw of hard shell spa covers is that they dont always stay in place. A solution for this is to also get a soft hot tub cover, especially if you live in a windy area, that just might get loads of snow as well. Soft hot tub cover will provide an additional layer of protection to help keep your hard hot tub cover in place, using additional straps and clamps to secure it in place.
And finally, seasonal spa covers are usually only recommended in case you live in an area that gets extreme winters or you are simply trying to maximize the energy efficiency of your spa. Not only do they help to trap in heat from every side of your hot tub, but they can also extend the life of your spa.
Solar hot tub covers come simply handy if you want some free energy to help maintain the heat of your spa water.
The Cover Guy Deluxe Hot Tub Cover
- Vinyl Weight: 30 oz
With the ability to choose from just about any shape, color, and quality material, The Cover Guy cover reviews praise the ease of their step by step tutorial and excellent customer support. They also provide customization for odd shaped tubs as well as oversized models. Almost all brand name shapes and sizes are included in their inventory of preset measurements as well, making choosing your cover that much easier.
Their Deluxe cover is a mid range cover that is very popular due to its detailed customization that you can choose from and the durability of the workmanship. It is considered a high end, yet affordable choice. Before finalizing your order, the company always double checks to ensure a quality fit!
Pros
BeyondNice offers deluxe custom made covers with their square tub design being one of their best sellers due to the thermal insulating properties that are guaranteed under warranty for 5 years. The design your own wizard ensures you are getting exactly what you need and want with every order.
Having been in business for over 3 decades, the company has a dependable name that is revisited by consumers time and again. This 4 inch thick model tapers to a 2 inch thick edge to provide water runoff and is a standard 1 lb density. It also comes complete with 4 locking straps.
Pros
Pros
- Strong elastic strap for secure fit
- Stays put in even high winds
Cons
Pro Tip
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Sign #: The Cover Is Much Heavier And Difficult To Remove
Try lifting your hot tubs cover. Is it significantly heavier than you remember? No, youre not getting weakerits your cover that has gained weight!
This is primarily the result of your covers insulating foam core becoming waterlogged. This core is designed to retain the heat of your hot tub by trapping warm air inside the bubbles of the foam. Over time, however, the vapor barrier can fail and allow water to be absorbed.
An overly saturated core will not insulate nearly as well, causing your monthly energy bill to skyrocket. If you dont replace the cover soon, the extra weight will add strain on the seams and may even damage your automatic cover lifter.
How To Buy A Hot Tub Cover
Durability, function and aesthetics are essential factors to consider if you want the best hot tub cover. Heres what to look for:
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Buy Highest Quality Hot Tub Covers And Spa Covers
The SpaCoverSpot offers the absolute best custom built premium hot tub cover at an unbeatable price. In addition, today we are offering many upgrades for FREE. Please take minute and visit our website for more information and to order your new spa cover.
SpaCoverSpot proudly offers only the highest quality hot tub covers at the lowest price. All spa covers are custom built to order right here in the USA and shipped direct to you. This week we are including a Double Wrap Vapor Barrier for free. This alone is a $29.99 value. This double wrap barrier is two separately sealed plastic barriers which gives our spa covers double the protection against water saturation . In addition, all covers today are built with upgraded heavy duty vinyl handles and tie downs. Looking to get your cover fast? This week we are also including expedited production. Our premium hot tub covers come with an unmatched 5-year warranty and we absolutely have no hidden charges. The SpaCoverSpot offers free shipping on all our covers and cover-lifters.
We offer three types of spa covers:
Customer satisfaction is our utmost concern and we strive to make your experience as pleasant as possible. Please browse our hot tub covers and feel confident that you are purchasing the best spa covers available for your hot tub. If you have any questions feel free to contact use for further information
Copyright 2017 Stonewood Manufacturing, LLC. |
Why You Need A Cover For Your Hot Tub Or All Season Pool
A good spa cover completely seals your hot tub or all-season pool, providing a stable and secure barrier between it and the surrounding environment.
There are several reasons why this is important:
- It locks the heat in so the water stays at a constant temperature, making it easy to take a dip at a moments notice.
- It improves the energy efficiency of your spa and lowers your energy bill.
- It offers protection against the elements, including wind, rain, and the suns UV rays.
- It keeps debris from falling into the water.
Hot tubs and all-season pools function best when they arent constantly being turned off and on. Its good practice to keep the water heated and circulating all the time so that your water getaway is available whenever you want to use it and its actually more energy-efficient than switching it on only when you want to use it.
A spa cover helps keep things in this desirable ready to go state while also keeping dirt, leaves, and critters from getting inside and creating a mess.
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Hot Tub Works Custom And Commercial Spa Covers
- Vinyl Weight: 30 oz
Not only does the Hot Tub Works company carry a ton of brand name spa covers, it also will customize any size or shape you need! These covers are top notch and can reflect exactly what you need for your tub. With specialized designs and 4 inch tapers to ensure no water will pool, these products are sure to last.
Steel bracing, reinforced handles, and your choice of reinforced security straps make this a durable choice. They also can be designed with cut-outs for speakers, waterfalls, handles, and control panels.
Pros
- Company offers huge range for any tub
- Thick, tapered foam tops for long lasting durability
Cons
- Locking straps not offered
Pro Tip
If you have an odd shaped tub, or an oversized option, this is the cover for you. Check out their range of styles and models to fit anything you need!
Why Trust The Spruce
Erica Puisis has been covering the best products for outdoor and indoor living at The Spruce since 2017. Her research and areas of expertise have included pool heaters, cleaners, and water testing equipment.
To find the best options for hot tub replacement covers, Erica considered the thickness of each cover, foam density, customization options, and the length of any warranty periods. Most options on this list can be ordered to fit your hot tub specifically, providing the best protection against heat loss and evaporation.
The 3 Best Hot Tub Covers, According To Reviewers. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/life/best-hot-tub-covers
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