When new hot tub owners shop for a hot tub, they sometimes forget about one of the most important parts: The hot tub cover. A high-quality, well-fitted hot tub cover doesn't just enhance the appearance of your hot tub, it's a vital part of your hot tub that saves you money, enhances the enjoyment of your hot tub, and protects your hot tub.

First, a hot tub cover saves money. Without a hot tub cover, your hot tub will lose substantial amounts of water and heat to the ambient environment. Adding a cover to your existing hot tub can cut the day to day heating and water costs by as much as seventy-five percent.

Second, a hot tub cover keeps out small debris such as tree leaves, insects, and dirt. Without a hot tub cover, you can end up with clog in your hot tub's filtration system that can cause a loss of efficiency and sometimes even a complete equipment failure. The cost of a hot tub cover is nothing compared to the cost of having a trained professional come out and try to fix your hot tub - or worse, the cost of a complete replacement!

Third, a hot tub cover keeps out pets and wildlife. Any long-time owner will have stories about the dead animals that they've had to fish out of their pool ranging from mice and birds to even cats. A well-planned romantic evening out in a hot tub could be be ruined if you walked out, glanced down into the tub, and saw a dead bird looking back at you.

Many people have asked me whether it's worth buying a more expensive hot tub cover. Hot tub covers, unlike some consumer products, have real, noticeable differences in quality depending on price. Where an inexpensive cover might collapse after a heavy snow fall,

or after a child jumped onto it, a more expensive one won't even dent. Two cheap covers will cost you more than one expensive cover, so my advice to just buy the higher quality one. It'll look better, last longer, and save you money on your hot tub heating bill thanks to improved insulation.