Owning a hot tub comes with many gadgets and extra parts to maintain your jacuzzi’s longevity. A hot tub cover is one of those extra parts you don’t want to skip out on. From providing safety to keeping the hot tub clean, a hot tub cover offers many benefits for regularly replacing it when needed.
A cover keeps the hot tub clean and adds safety, so no one accidentally falls in. It can last 4-5 years and comes in three different types: standard, extreme and deluxe. A hot tub cover can range from 3-6” thick, though the best thickness is 4” to prevent waterlogging but provide ample protection.
Having a hot tub cover might feel like an expenditure you want to skip, but it is beneficial to retain heat and keep everyone safe. Finding the right cover for your needs is easier than you might expect and doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
What’s the Use of a Hot Tub Cover?
A hot tub cover (example on Amazon) is made from solid foam cores with sealed plastic cases that prevent water from being absorbed. Often they are enclosed in vinyl covers to protect the materials within.
Owning a hot tub cover is almost required when it comes to having a hot tub. It offers extra insulation to keep the heat in and the cold out and improves safety. It stops animals and children from falling in when the hot tub is not in use and can also keep the water clean.
Leaf debris, sand, and other elements of nature could easily fall into a hot tub, clogging the filter and making maintenance more expensive and needed more frequently. However, it can also prolong the life of your hot tub by preventing harmful UV rays from damaging the lining and interior.
How Often Should You Replace Your Hot Tub Cover?
Generally speaking, a hot tub cover lasts roughly 4-5 years. However, depending on where your hot tub is located, UV rays, falling debris such as ice or tree branches, and user damage could lower the average lifespan of your cover.
What to Look for When Buying a Hot Tub Cover
When buying a hot tub cover, there are a few things you should be looking for to get the best value for your money.
You want to ensure the cover has a thick outer shell since cheap, thin vinyl skin will rapidly degrade under UV sunlight. This shouldn’t be an issue if your hot tub is indoors. You want to ensure the stitching is well done and there are no loose threads to avoid unintentional ripping.
The foam is also necessary to consider when purchasing a hot tub cover. The thicker the foam, the more insulated the hot tub will be, but the heavier the cover, and if it becomes waterlogged, more stress will be placed on the cover and cover lifter.
So even though you might want a thicker cover to insulate the hot tub better, the issue with it being waterlogged easier lowers the cover’s life. To help curb the waterlogging problem on any cover, there is a vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is usually 2ml to 10ml; the thicker, the better.
When dealing with foam, you will also want to ensure it has a foam sealer, preventing water evaporation. This insulating foam fills the area between the two sides of the hot tub cover, although some covers only come with a rubber bar.
How Much Does a Hot Tub Cover Cost?
A hot tub cover can range from $300 to $500, depending on the thickness, density, and type of cover. You could get three types of covers: standard, extreme, and deluxe.
For a standard cover with a thickness of 4” and 2” on the side, you are looking at roughly $300. This cover is best for indoors since it will degrade with UV lighting faster than the others.
The extreme hot tub cover has a thickness of 6” and is about $400. This type of cover is great for places with harsh winters as it will retain heat the best and protect from more extreme weather like heavy snow and rain.
The last type of cover is the deluxe, the most popular on the market today. It’s just over $300 and is a great well-rounded cover for all weather and climates. It is 5” thick with 3” on the side, offering excellent heat retention.
