Hot Tub Covers and taking care for them

The Basics

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.

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, 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

How to Keep your hot tub cover looking New

Hot tub covers, as well as the actual hot tub you own, can be quite an investment.  It is often worth it to spend a little more and get a higher quality cover that will last longer, rather than getting a cheaper one that may start to fray, crack, or become waterlogged sooner.

There are a few things you can do to keep your hot tub cover looking brand spanking new and preserve it so you can use it for a lot longer.

Clean your cover using soap and warm water.  Hot tubs create chemical residue that will damage the outer lining of your cover as time goes by.  If you keep it clean, say by cleaning it twice a month, you will help preserve it.

If you protect the outer lining of the spa cover, this will help prevent water from getting past it and into the inner lining and the foam core because you will help eliminate cracking.  As soon as water gets to foam core of the cover, you are well on your way to needing a new one.  This is when things start to go downhill.

Beneath the outer lining, there is generally an inner lining made of plastic that directly surrounds the foam core.  Check this lining for rips and tears and also see if there is anything inside there that may cause friction against it and possibly rip it.

Cover your hot tub cover.  If you put something-tarps work well-over the entire hot tub, you can help prevent sun damage to your cover.  During times when you are away or aren't using your spa for extended periods of time, consider doing this.

It will help you preserve your investment.