Protecting Hot Tub Covers From Wear
Posted on January 31, 2008
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One of the biggest factors in why hot tub covers fall apart too soon is water absorption. Over time, and hopefully not too soon, water will seep into the foam core of a hot tub cover, and soon it will get heavy, moldy, and eventually, destroyed.
One way to ensure that a hot tub cover stays protected and working is buying one that has a polyethylene vapor barrier for sealing their spa covers foam cores.
The better the foam core is protected, the more effective hot tub covers will be.
A 6mil layer of polyethylene vapor barrier is enough to protect a standard spa cover, but thicker layers will be even better.
The foam core of hot tub covers are made out of expanded Polystyrene, which is made out of small plastic beads that are expanded with steam, then dried and “attached together.”
Even though the individual beads are waterproof, water can saturate between the beads and saturate the foam. This water saturation reduces the insulating ability of spa covers and adds greatly to the weight. Heavy hot tub covers sag and look ugly. Furthermore, they don’t insulate as well when they get heavy.
Foam cores of hot tub covers are usually sealed with polyethylene, a protective chemical that naturally breaks down over time when mixed with the other compounds found in hot tubs. When it starts to break down, the cover will start to take on water and the effectiveness of the spa cover will be greatly decreased.
This is one thing you definitely want to avoid. The more protective a hot tub covers coating is, the longer it will protect your hot tub. When you are shopping for a spa cover, you want to make sure the model you consider has the proper coating.
Hot Tub Cover Basics
Posted on January 22, 2008
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What hot tub covers provide you the spa owner.
Vinyl hot tub covers typically are treated with UV, cold crack, and mildew inhibitors. These treatments help preserve the life of hot tub covers at the same time the cover preserves the life of your spa.
Deterring mold is a very important part in protecting the life of hot tub covers because mold makes them susceptible to wear and horrible smells. There is nothing worse than a smelly hot tub cover.
You can get hot tub covers custom made to your own spa, or just choose from the many options there are available to you. If you live in an area of extreme weather temperatures, you may want to look into purchasing a thicker, more durable cover. But for most people, a typical vinyl hot tub cover will suffice. They are strong enough, and unless you are expecting heavy snow or rainfall, this type of cover will work for you.
Aside from the fact that hot tub covers protect the inner-workings of your hot tub, they also protect it from plant life, mold, insects, and prevent animals and children from falling in. A lot of spa covers have locking mechanisms that add to the protection they provide.
How to make hot tub covers last
Posted on January 15, 2008
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After you have researched hot tub covers and have decided which one to buy, you’re going to want to think of one more thing.
Taking care of your hot tub cover.
You not only want your hot tub cover to protect your spa, you also want to protect the cover from wear.
Hot tub covers that are well kept and cleaned regularly will benefit you greatly and will save you money over the long haul.
Hot tub covers aren’t difficult to maintain, but if you want them to last, there are some things you should know about how to protect them.
Use a quality UVA/UVB vinyl protectant four or five times a year. Do not use protectants that have petroleum or alcohol in them, like Armor-All, which will damage the vinyl on hot tub covers.
If you choose to use bromine, use as little as possible and make sure to wipe the surface of the cover down very well. You don’t want gas from the strong chemical to get stuck beneath the underside of the cover, which will make it brittle and wear it out.
Make sure to leave your hot tub cover open for a half-hour jet cycle just to clear out the system and make sure no such gases are caught inside the spa.
One thing that destroys hot tub covers (or at least makes them ridiculously heavy) is seepage of water getting into the foam core. The foam core has a plastic covering that you don’t want to get punctured. If it does get punctured, water will begin to seep into the very dry core of the cover and it may mold and will definitely get heavier.
To fix the problem of water getting into your hot tub covers core, use clear packaging tape to patch up any holes or tears in the plastic covering.
Hot tub covers tend to sag after a few years of use and after water seeps into the inner core, which will happen over time.
You can take the inner core out of hot tub covers and flip it over. This should reverse any sagging.
If you do this every six months as well as check the inner plastic seal for holes, then you shouldn’t have to look for hot tub covers anymore. Yours will last for years.
See the rest of this site for more information on jacuzzi covers.
Why you should consider a custom hot tub cover
Posted on January 4, 2008
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The hot tub covers that come with hot tubs with the initial purchase tend to be of lower quality than custom hot tub covers. In order to ensure that you protect your spa to the fullest extent, you may want to consider purchasing a high quality hot tub cover.
If you already have a high quality cover, then you just want to make sure that it fits well and forms a perfect seal.
The quality of the seal on hot tub covers is very important because it determines how well the temperature on your spa will be controlled and how well you will keep things out that you don’t want to get in.
The investment in high quality hot tub covers is minimal when you consider how much money it will save you in the long run on your larger investment in your hot tub. A better hot tub cover will preserve more heat and will protect your hot tub more effectively than the lower quality cover that comes with your spa.
The R-value of hot tub covers is the measurement used to express how well a cover retains the flow of heat. The main factor that affects this measurement is the thickness of the cover. The higher the R-value, the better the cover insulates the hot tub.
An R-value of 15 is considered good enough to protect your hot tub and keep it at the proper temperature. Anything higher is not really distinguishable from the quality of an R-value 15.
The better hot tub covers retain heat, the better your hot tub will function, the more enjoyable it will be for you, and the more money you will save.
The ultimate goal is to keep the water inside the hot tub warm and to keep everything else out of the tub.
A better insulated spa cover offers more protection and heat maintenance. In addition to these positives, you want to remember that a good hot tub cover will be mildew-resistant. This is another thing to keep in mind because you don’t want to have a smelly or moldy cover.
Different Types of Hot Tub Covers
Posted on January 4, 2008
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Just like any product, there are different kinds of hot tub covers that you may consider using to protect and preserve your spa.
Insulated hot tub covers are designed to protect a spa’s water temperature. These types of covers will pay for themselves in a short amount of time. The skin on the outside of the cover is made out of plastic that will protect the interior foam of the cover and keep it resistant to mildew.
Aluminum hot tub covers are very strong and offer the best protection against snow, rain, and other things that could damage your spa. Aluminum covers are the strongest type out there and can often withstand up to 1000 pounds of weight without breaking. These can last the lifetime of your hot tub.
Rolling hot tub covers are a great option in terms of convenience. Some of the other covers can be unwieldy and more difficult to get on and off the hot tub. Rolling covers often are the best choice for people who will be using their hot tubs frequently.
If the spa will be covered for a good portion of the year, the aluminum or the insulated hot tub covers may be a better option because they offer more hearty protection.
For good overall protection, though, you can’t go wrong with a rolling cover. If you look hard enough, you may be able to find a good discount hot tub covers.
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