3 Secrets to Spa Cover Longevity
A hot tub cover is a valuable piece of equipment. But since they're not made of Kevlar, they will eventually need to be replaced. A thrifty spa owner can stave off the inevitable expense by taking action to protect their spa cover, and increase it's longevity.
If you're the kind of person that gets a new car every 3 years, then maybe this post is not for you. You may want to read How to Buy a Spa Cover. For the rest of you, if making your spa cover last longer sounds like a good idea, read on...
Clean & Condition your Spa Cover
This is a lot easier than it seems. The problem is that a lot of people use automotive products, or worse, household cleaners to protect their cover. Most cleaners contain chemicals that break down the UV inhibitors and natural pliability of the vinyl. Spa covers are made with a marine grade vinyl, meant for outdoor use and wet weather, but they break down and dry out if cleaned with harsh chemicals.
To keep your cover looking good, clean and condition it every 3-4 months with a spa cover cleaner, to remove dust, dirt, sap, pollen, bird... you know. Afterwards, restore the brilliance while adding emollients to increase the vinyl's resistance to cold weather, rain, snow and sun, with a spa cover conditioner. Both of these together cost like $15, and will last for years and years.
Lock Down your Spa Cover
High winds can blow your spa cover off of the hot tub. I can't tell you how many times I've heard about this one. Placing chairs or items on top is not a good way to prepare for a storm either. Use the spa cover strap clips, at least 4 of them, to keep most covers secure. If your spa is in a very high wind area, or if you're in tornado alley or hurricane country, use heavy duty spa cover straps. If your spa is sunk into the ground, you can use safety pool cover hardware to make safety straps for the spa cover.
Both of these items also add an element of safety to your spa cover, and make it difficult for others to remove your spa cover. And when those who are inexperienced in handling spa covers are not trying to open and move them, they tend to last longer!
Remove your Spa Cover 2x per Week
Even though our spa covers have foam inserts that are vacuum sealed and heat seamed to lock out moisture, the entire cover; vinyl, scrim, zippers - will do better if it's allowed to breathe every few days. Carefully remove your spa cover to it's off position, if you have a cover lift, or with a helper, fold the cover in half and gently move to a safe location.
Let your cover breathe, or air out, twice a week for an hour or so, or once per week for several hours. If you are using your spa regularly, you may already be doing this, but for hot tubs that don't get much action, leave the cover open and off the tub for a few hours per week, perhaps after testing and shocking the spa.
~ There is one more way to have a hot tub cover that lasts longer, and that is to buy one that lasts longer. There are many ways to make a cheap hot tub cover, and believe me, they are out there. Our materials may not be Kevlar, but they are the best materials to produce a lightweight, durable cover with a strong 5-year warranty. The fact is, our spa covers last twice as long as those spa covers that are only $50-100 cheaper.