While some hot tub owners may be tempted to view their spa cover as simply an aesthetic item, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Hot tub covers have several distinct practical purposes, from retaining heat in the hot tub to limiting your energy usage, stopping evaporation and limiting the potential for dirt, debris or contaminants to make their way into your water.
At Dolphin Pools & Spas, we’re happy to serve as a licensed Bullfrog Spas dealer in Salt Lake City, offering products from an industry leader in spa technology. Our team will assist you with any questions regarding maintenance for your spa, including its cover – a few pieces of simple upkeep will lead to a cover that lasts for years and even decades, saving you money and time. Here are some of these maintenance areas to consider, plus some tips on when the time has come to replace the spa cover with the health of the entire hot tub in mind.
Hot Tub Cover Upkeep Themes
Some basic tips to ensure your hot tub cover remains in great condition throughout the year:
- Frequent cleaning: Like any other item, particularly one that will undergo wear-and-tear and also spend time serving as a protective barrier, you need to clean your hot tub cover regularly. The cover should be removed completely from the rest of the spa for this process. From here, spray the exterior surface with water and then use mild, non-abrasive soap and water (or baking soda and a sponge) to scrub the entire surface of the cover. There’s no need to press too hard or intensely. Move through the cover in sections, never allowing soap to fully dry. When finished, use a cover shield product. For the interior of the cover, only water and a basic towel should be used (these are generally all that’s necessary, anyway).
- Drying: After cleaning the cover, or after you’ve performed any other kind of spa treatment that requires removing the cover, leave it off for 30 minutes or so. This not only lets it dry, but also allows chemicals you may have added to the water to mix in so the cover doesn’t trap their vapors inside and damage the interior.
- Object placement: One upkeep area for spa covers is simple: Don’t let people sit on the cover, and don’t place heavy items on it. This can stretch the cover and lead to it wearing down sooner. This theme also includes snow or ice during the winter.
When Replacement is Necessary
Now, despite your best maintenance efforts, there may eventually come a time when your hot tub cover wears down to the point you should replace it. If you see significant breaking, cracking, tearing or sagging effects, know that these will impact your entire hot tub – they will allow heat and water out, plus potentially let contaminants in through these openings. In addition, if the cover has become waterlogged due to snow, ice or some other buildup, it offers a convenient place for bacteria, mildew and other contaminants to fester and grow. In both these cases, speak to our team about replacing your hot tub cover.
For more on maintaining and eventually replacing hot tub covers, or to learn about any of our spa or custom swimming pool construction services, speak to the staff at Dolphin Pools & Spas today.