A hot tub cover is a very important piece of equipment and caring for it should be included in your regular hot tub maintenance. The cover protects your hot tub from unwanted debris, harsh weather conditions and backyard animals. Covers also help you save on energy costs by keeping the heat inside your hot tub when you aren’t soaking in it.
Hot tub covers are a necessity for all hot tub owners and can be a costly purchase in your overall hot tub maintenance budget. This is why you will want to make sure that you take the appropriate measures to take care of your hot tub cover for as long as possible. If you neglect your spa cover it will most likely deteriorate and lose its effectiveness very quickly.
This infographic illustrates important guidelines for hot tub cover care that will help save you money and keep your cover in working condition.
Maintaining your hot tub cover requires only minimal effort in your overall hot tub maintenance routine. All you have to do to take care of your hot tub cover is clean it thoroughly once in a while, frequently remove debris from the top of your cover, and fix scratches and tears before they become a problem.
The Basics of Hot Tub Maintenance
The importance of caring for your hot tub cover fits into your overall hot tub maintenance routine. While it is essential to keep filters and chemicals up to date and regularly cared for, the same is true for your hot tub cover!
Just like the rest of your regular care and cleaning of your hot tub, your hot tub cover also needs to be properly looked after when taking care of your hot tub. This is an easy step to add to your overall hot tub routine and helps to prolong the life of your hot tub cover and ensure that your hot tub cover continues to be efficient and working properly.
Cleaning your Hot Tub Cover
The first step to maintain your hot tub cover is to remember to always remove any debris from your cover such as leaves, branches, snow and ice as soon as possible.
Then, rinse, wipe down and condition your cover. The rinsing helps to remove dust off the surface and can be done with a common garden hose. It’s recommended to do this every 2 weeks or whenever you feel like your cover needs it.
Once the cover has been rinsed, wipe it down with a cleaner specially designed for hot tub covers. Some regular vinyl cleaners can cause a lot of damage to the vinyl of a hot tub cover, so make sure you’re using one that is specifically formulated for hot tub maintenance.
Finally, once all the vinyl surfaces have been rinsed and wiped down, apply a protectant. A protectant is a special treatment that makes your hot tub cover resistant to dirt and dust, and also protects it from UV damage, which can cause discoloration and cracking of the vinyl over time.
While you’re cleaning, don’t neglect the underside of your cover. The top of the cover has to contend with the elements. The bottom has to stand up to constant exposure to heat, moisture, and water treatment chemicals. While you are cleaning the cover, also wipe down the plastic underside with a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach, 9 parts water). Remember to first take the cover off the tub.
Inspecting your Hot Tub Cover
Once the cleaning is done, you can easily inspect your hot tub cover as part of your regular hot tub maintenance routine.
Look for Rips and Tears
Rips and tears will allow water to penetrate the cover, so it’s best to fix them as soon as you see one. Furthermore, once a year or so, you should take the foam core out of the vinyl and do a more thorough check. If you find any holes or breaks in the vinyl, they can usually be patched with a vinyl repair kit.
Look for the vapor barrier
While the foam is out, check it over carefully. The foam is wrapped in a plastic moisture barrier that prevents it from soaking up water. If you find any holes or tears in the plastic membrane, the barrier won’t work properly. These can also be repaired. Wiping the plastic down with a 10% bleach solution is also a good way to prevent mildew buildup inside your cover.
Leave the Lid Off
One of the best things you can actively do to extend the life of your hot tub cover is to take it off regularly. This allows the vapors to dissipate before they can become strong enough to damage your cover.
In the gap between your cover and the surface of the water, there is a layer of warm humid air. This air is filled with chemical gasses from the tub. Chemical products are the single most common cause of hot tub cover damage.
Take care of your hot tub cover by leaving the cover off your hot tub for at least an hour once a week or so, and every time you shock your tub. If you’re using your hot tub weekly, then you won’t need to do this.
Additional tips to help maintain your hot tub cover:
- Don’t sit or walk on your hot tub cover.
- Stick to your maintenance plan, don’t use more chemicals than necessary.
- Once in a while, flip the foam inside of your cover like you would a mattress.
- Use a hot tub cover lifter.
- Use a hot tub cover cap.
- Keep it dry.
In Conclusion: Hot Tub Maintenance Includes Your Hot Tub Cover
Hot tub maintenance includes the regular cleaning and conditioning of your hot tub cover. This helps to improve the longevity of your hot tub cover. Cleaning will help the materials resist the ravages of time and weather. Debris such as leaves, branches and snow need to be cleared off as they build up. If you don’t remove debris, it tends to rot and develop mildew. If it’s time to start thinking about a new hot tub cover, explore our variety of options to suit your custom needs.
