Let's face it. Replacing your hot tub cover is kind of like buying a new set of tires for your car. You wait longer than you should to do it, you resent the fact that it's necessary in the first place and the serious money it costs is never in your household budget. All things considered, you don't know much about it and you would just as soon not have to think about it at all. That's why our spa cover team at HotTubWorks.com sat down to write "6 Secrets You Need To Know Before You Buy a New Spa Cover." If you know what you are doing, you can get a great, long lasting cover for a reasonable price and get it over with so you can free up time to do something you really want to do (like painting the house).
1. Why do spa covers wear out?
It feels like a conspiracy, right? Every 5 years or so your spa cover is worn out and ready for the garbage bin. Planned obsolescence? Not exactly. First, you need to know that a spa manufacturer has little incentive to provide a long lasting original equipment cover. Sad but true, spa covers are an afterthought for most manufacturers. Even high end manufacturers will sometimes scrimp on covers because they know the cover isn't what sells the spa. In fact, you probably didn't even see your spa cover until the hot tub was delivered. Since there is little to no incentive for a manufacturer to provide the most efficient insulation, nor the best vinyl, nor careful construction, hot tub manufacturers can add hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional profits. Therefore, many original covers have naturally short life spans built-in from the get-go. Second, spa covers take a serious beating but not for the reasons you might think. As much punishment as hot tub covers get from outside elements (snow, rain, sun, heat, cold, critters, etc.), it's nothing compared to the beating a spa takes from the inside! Think about it… 100+ degree heat, steam and chemical fumes lead to the brutal assault of your spa cover bottom; all day every day ! Unfortunately there is almost nothing you can do to help that. In fact, its hard to think of any other common household item that is subject to that kind of abuse so it's no wonder they need to be replaced every few years. The fact is if a spa cover was made to last a lifetime, it would cost far more than anyone would be willing to pay.
2. All Spa Cover Warranties are not the same
When you are cover shopping, it's a good idea to ask "What's REALLY covered in my spa cover warranty?" Spa cover warranties typically have major exclusions including exceptions for moisture in the core insulation and replacement shipping costs. This language is intended to limit warranty claims. After all, if you have a cover for less than a year and then something goes wrong with it, would you spend hundreds of dollars for shipping the cover back and forth? Probably not. The same is true for the core insulation. If your core insulation becomes water saturated after a year or two, would you expect it to be replaced under your "5 Year" Warranty? Most people would. But the fact is that most warranties exclude the core insulation after one year. So, despite a 4 or 5 or even 7 year "warranty" you could end up spending a hundred dollars for the insulation and another hundred or more in shipping costs. Remember: If you can't read a hot tub cover warranty in its entirety, beware of the reason.
3. All Spa Cover Insulations are not the same
Most spa cover manufacturers use styrofoam insulation in their covers. This is not the same as the wimpy styrofoam you find in coffee cups or those packing peanuts everyone hates. It is a much beefier product that, given the right density and thickness, can insulate your spa as well as high-quality attic insulation can insulate your house. Spa cover insulation comes in 1 lb, 1.5 lb. and 2 lb. EPS virgin foam insulation. The pound rating refers to the insulation’s weight per cubic foot. The higher the weighting (density), the less likely it is to absorb moisture, the more weight it can hold and the better the insulation rating (see R-Values below). Some companies don't list foam density. This is often because they use one pound foam exclusively. The bottom line is this: 1 lb. foam is OK for a limited number of indoor applications bit it's too weak to handle the rigors of outdoor spa use. Real "high density foam" for spa covers starts at 1.5 lb. foam. If you can't find the foam density rating on a cover, beware of the reason.
4. All Spa Cover R-Values are not the same
R-value is a measurement of the heat resistance of specific materials like the fiberglass insulation in your house walls or the insulating foam in our cover. Theoretically, the higher the stated R-value, the better the heat retention. Unlike other industries (like home building), R-Value calculations for spa covers are not regulated by the Federal Government and there is no standardized test to calculate the R-value of a spa cover. This can lead to very interesting "interpretations" of spa cover R-values. Two primary factors affect R-Value: Density and Thickness. If you can't find the R-value on a spa cover or if the stated R-value seems much higher than other covers with the same thickness, beware of the reason.
5. All Spa Cover Construction is not the same
All high-quality spa covers are custom-made to order and many variables go into the construction. More importantly, it's about quality materials, superb workmanship while using the best equipment available. When shopping for a new cover, definitely look for the best available materials including a heavy duty 6mil vapor barrier, 30 oz marine grade vinyl, non-recycled foam core insulation and a reinforced hinge. Some companies skimp on the vinyl or insulation material or they use a nylon mesh for the main handles or even the cover bottom. Others skimp on the inside reinforcements or the vapor barrier. The list goes on. If you can't find the details of your spa cover construction before you buy, beware of the reason.
6. All Spa Cover Companies are not same
Sellers of spa covers run the gamut from overpriced local retailers to home businesses with no customer support staff, to pool and spa retailers who sell everything under the sun to well-established on-line companies that specialize in replacement spa covers. All of these companies are perfectly capable of selling you a spa cover but not all of them are good at the rest of the process. Look for a company that offers real customer service. When you call during business hours, do they answer the phone? When you send an email, is it returned within 1 business day? Most importantly, if something goes wrong, will they take care of it until you are satisfied? Check the company's reputation by asking for testimonials, looking up customer ratings at the Better Business Bureau http://www.us.bbb.org or other on-line resources. If you can't easily contact a real person at the company you choose or the company has unanswered complaints against it, beware of the reason.
In the end, buying a spa cover is not rocket science. If you take accurate measurements and follow the tips above, you'll get yourself a long-lasting cover that will serve you and your family for many years before you have to do it all over again. If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them here at HotTubWorks.com. Please write to us at customercare@hottubworks.com.