Your hot tub cover is vital to the energy efficiency of your hot tub. If your cover is not working effectively, you are losing heat, and raising your electricity bill.
You could be losing money month after month in heating costs that could be easily prevented with the right cover and the right maintenance routine.
Knowing what to look for in a hot tub cover, and how to correctly maintain it, will cut your energy costs and prolong the beauty and efficiency of your cover for years to come.
Features to look for in a high quality hot tub cover
- Foam core protection. Thermospas uses Antaeus protection—a special material that protects the foam core from water vapor and keeps the heat trapped in the foam.
- Insulation: The density and thickness of the foam core determines it’s energy efficiency, safety, and weight load. If you have children or pets, or live in an area with heavy
snowfall—a durable walk-on cover like the Super Cover is a good idea. - Handles: They should be durable since they will be used for the opening and closing of the hot tub cover. ThermoSpas uses padded handles for added comfort.
- Straps: ThermoSpas straps come with locking attachments to keep out intruders out, ensure safety, and restrict wind damage.
- Vinyl is the most common material used for the exterior of your spa cover. It needs to be treated occasionally so that it is protected from mildew, moisture and UV rays that can cause
fading. ThermoSpas uses SpaTechTM vinyl, a beautiful, lavishly textured vinyl that comes with a variety of designer colors. - Skirts are the part of the cover that hang over the top edge of the hot tub. The skirt helps to keep debris out of your hot tub, lock the heat in, and adds a nice, clean look to your
cover. - Heat seal: The fold in the cover is the #1 area for heat loss. Standard covers neglect this important feature, but ThermoSpas has added a heat seal gasket for an added layer of heat
protection. - Center support is needed to strengthen the foam core and reinforce the center to prevent sagging.
- Dual stitching: A high quality cover will have both bottom and top stitching as well as triple stitching on areas that get more use like handles and straps.
How to care for your hot tub cover
Covers don’t last forever, but some simple routine maintenance can go a long way in preserving the life of the cover.
Since the vinyl on the hot tub cover is the area that is most exposed to the elements, it’s a good idea to use a vinyl cleaner and protectant on a regular basis.
A good rule of thumb is to clean the cover each time you clean your filter.
Here is an easy hot tub cover maintenance routine to go by:
- Remove dirt, residue, and chemical build-up on the underside of the cover with a cleaner that doesn’t interfere with your chemistry, like our all-purpose
spa cover wipes. - Apply a protectant to prevent cracking. Our multi-use spa cover conditioner contains a silicon based ingredient that protects the cover from
the harsh rays of the sun. You can also use it on any metal, chrome, or tile surfaces around your home. - It’s a good idea to leave the hot tub uncovered after a shock treatment. This protects the cover from erosion caused by chemical vapors.
- Once each year, flip the inner foam core between the cover skin.
- Try to steer guests, pets and children away from sitting and standing on the cover.
- During the winter, periodically brush the snow off the cover to minimize wear.
- A thermal blanket is a small investment that goes a long way. It floats between the water and the hot tub cover and not only traps more heat, but protects the underside of the cover.
Balancing your chemicals-an easy way to take care of your cover
Keeping your chemicals balanced is one of the most important things you can do to keep your hot tub in top shape.
Imbalanced chemistry causes damage not only to your hot tub, but also to your cover. If your hot tub cover has any of these signs, it’s a good indication that your cover has suffered from poor
water chemistry:
The 4 stages of delamination:
- Discoloration – Bottom side of cover will become discolored.
- Ruddy and Bumpy – Bottom side of cover will become bumpy.
- Blistering – Bottom side of cover will blister, sometimes in large blisters.
- Disintegration – Bottom side of cover will fall off and disintegrate.
When to replace your cover
If your hot tub cover has any of the symptoms above, you need a new cover.
Other signs you need to replace your cover are if you notice cracks, rips, or tears; and if your cover is so waterlogged and heavy that it’s difficult to lift.
ThermoSpas hot tub cover options
Our covers are some of the best on the market today, and we have several options to choose from
to fit your needs and budget.
ThermoSpas hot tub covers:
- Genesis Cover – this is the standard cover for all Genesis series spas and is 50% more dense and 40% more energy efficient than standard industry covers.
- Thermo Cover – a step above the genesis, this cover comes with all ThermoSpas Designer Series hot tubs. It’s lightweight construction along with easy to grip handles, make this a
favorite with customers. - Super Cover – The king of all covers, the Super Cover is the strongest and most efficient cover we offer. It includes all the features above, but is more energy-efficient,
durable, and longer-lasting.
To learn more about the specifics of these covers and to compare them against other hot tub cover brands,
visit our buyers guide to choosing a hot tub cover.
