Spa Covers and Sunlight
Some scientists say we have a hole in our ozone layer, letting
in more ultraviolet light from the sun. If you don't take care
of your spa cover, you'll have holes in it!
We have always had ultraviolet light from the sun. When your
spa is in Colorado or other mountain states, it get more ultraviolet
light than the spa covers at sea level. The air is also very dry
compared to the lowlands.
If you own a standard vinyl cover with the styrofoam core,
you probably spent from $250 to $475 for it. Even though it is
designed to withstand sunlight and all sorts of weather, you may
want to increase its life a little, and keep the foam insulation
functioning fully.
If your spa is in direct sunlight, you can expect to get a
life of 4 to 7 years, if you care for it properly. A cover kept
either inside or under a roof, with little or no sunlight, can
expect to last from 5 to 10 years when you care for it properly.
The spa manufacturer and the materials used make a huge difference
in the durability of a spa cover. Here is a list of preferred
manufacturing methods
and materials:
1. Marine grade vinyl of a good density and with strong reinforcement.
2. Two pound density foam core. (Doesn't droop as quickly as
one or one and one half (1.5) pound density. The actual weight
of 2 pound density foam helps to keep the cover sealed to the
top of the spa. )
3. The styrofoam core is completely wrapped and heat sealed
in 3 mil vinyl or greater.
4. Metal reinforcement in the foam core at the middle where
it hinges.
5. All of the outer vinyl is sewn with an appropriate strong
non-organic thread. Heat sealed seams on vinyl covers seem to
break down much faster especially in direct Colorado sunlight.
6. Locking tie-downs designed to keep little children out of
the spa.
7. Skirts that breathe (let in some air). Spa covers that have
a continuous skirt tend to overheat the upper spa acrylic and
cause cracks. It is much better to have splits in the skirt.
8. The cover should have at least 1.5 inches or 2 inches of
taper for adequate water runoff.
If you have any questions as to why we recommend the above list,
just contact us at covers@spaspecialist.com
When you attach the cover clips to the spa be sure to allow for
the cover to shrink. If it is exposed to full sunlight you can
expect an 8 Ft. cover to shrink about 1/2 inch all the way around
as it gets older. It is sort of like shrink wrap. If you attach
them tight, you will have to adjust the cover clips after a few
months.
Many people never bother to read the warranty or instructions
that came with the cover. You can invalidate your warranty by
treating the cover improperly.
Almost all cover manufacturers recommend a cover treatment
be applied to the cover regularly. The only product we recommend
is 303 Protectant, made by 303 Products, Incorporated. If your
spa is in direct sunlight, you should apply the product once every
month. It sort of revitalizes the plastic vinyl and works like
a sun screen for the cover. Don't wait to apply this product,
you will shorten the life and looks of your cover.
Always use a closed cell foam thermal blanket on top of the
spa water. Cut it to fit the spa with the spa at the proper level.
When you cut it, try to make your mistakes towards the "too
big" size. It is better to have the blanket press into the
wall, than to have gaps.
If you use a thermal blanket, you can add years to the life
of your "hard cover". Instead of 3 to 6 years you can
get 5 to 10 years. It greatly slows the deterioration by keeping
the chemicals and ozone from "eating" the cover away.
It also helps keep the foam from becoming saturated so fast. When
you lift your "hard cover" you will notice that the
only place that is wet is near the outer edge where the thermal
blanket meets the wall of the spa. See the blanket
A thermal blanket also has the effect of increasing the insulation
by more than R10. Even though the foam is usually rated at R4,
the effective insulation is over R10 because it: 1. Stops evaporative
cooling, and 2. Creates a large dead air space between the water
and the cover.
I personally prefer a spa which is open to the world. I don't
care for a roof over my spa. It greatly lessens my enjoyment of
the spa experience. Even at below zero weather and snowing, when
I am in my spa, I don't feel the cold or the snow. When I get
out, my body temperature has been raised, and I don't feel cold
at all. My spa sits out in our yard about 35Ft from the back door
and is exposed to direct Colorado sunlight (and cold winter).
I greatly enjoy the stars and the moon at night. I usually go
in at night, although the morning is also very nice. I believe
my cover gets the worst treatment of all, and it seems to hold
up quite well with proper treatment. It requires monthly 303 treatments,
and I always use a thermal blanket.
If your spa has a larger cover, one that is difficult for one
person to remove and replace, it may be getting some abuse just
from using it. If you are sitting your cover (no matter what size)
down on the ground, or a concrete surface, that too will cause
some abuse. Most people think using a cover this way is OK, and
it is if you don't mind replacing your cover way too often.
For the longest life, become the proud owner of and user of
a cover lifter that causes minimal cover wear and tear. The best
ones I have used are The Easy Lifter, The Super Lift II, The Cover
Lift, and the Cover Valet. My favorites are the Super Lift II
and the Cover Lift, made by Ideal. A good cover lifter will outlast
several covers, and make each cover last much longer. The cover
lifter should be installed by someone who is familiar with them
or likes to read and follow instructions. You could wind up with
all sorts of holes drilled in the wrong place.
Simply by sitting your cover down on the ground causes holes
in the cover surface after a while. If you wear through to the
inner liner, water begins to rapidly saturate the foam core. Even
a small hole of one eithth of an inch or less allows a lot of
water vapor to enter. The water vapor coming off the spa is a
gas, that gets into some tiny little holes. Once the cover is
water saturated, it is worthless; has almost no insulation. It
becomes a block of ice in the winter, and the only help it does
is the same as the roof on an igloo. "Heavy man heavy"!
It weighs "a ton".
Once the water is inside the foam, it starts to smell and the
fragrance is "o de de skunk". When people ask me why
their cover is worn out after a couple of years, I tell them.
Many cover sales people seem only to want to sale a cover, and
not to serve the customer's best interest by educating them.
Not only does the cover lifter device save the covers, but
it saves your back from lifting the cover on and off the spa.
I know of some people who never remove the cover completely, they
just fold it over in half, and use half of the spa. I like to
use all the seats in my spa even if I am the only one in it.
If you are interested we do offer the best standard 2 pound
density covers available, and the cover liftrers to go with them.
We stock the thermal blanket material at a very reasonable price.
We ship anywhere, take any credit card or any method of monitary
exchange. E-mail us order@spaspecialist.com
We will get back to you right away.
Call toll free 1-888-478-2224
If you have questions about anything dealing with spas contact
us. We offer the best spas for any cold climate (or anywhere)
Reflections Spas by Hercules Products ®and Emerald Spas; Don't
forget to order our 64 page booklet "How
Spas are Made". It's $9.95 plus Shipping and handling
of $2.00. You shouldn't buy a spa without reading it!
We are
The Spa Specialist Inc.
555 Alter Street #19A
Broomfield, Colorado.
(303)404-2224
1-888-478-2224
