Buying a New Hot Tub Cover

Measuring your existing hot tub cover for a replacement is not difficult but it is very important. We can rarely make hot tub covers based on the make and model of your tub because the manufacturers change their designs so often that it's very likely that the cover you receive won't fit properly and, therefore, it won't insulate properly. But don't worry, we have the simple tips to ensure that your cover fits perfectly. HOT TUB COVER MEASURING TIPS When measuring for a new hot tub cover, there is one important thing to remember IT HAS TO BE BIG ENOUGH TO FIT! A bit too big is much better than too small Make sure the measurements are big enough. It is okay for the cover to be a bit big. It still does it's job. However, a cover that is too small will never insulate properly. Don't forget that, even though your hot tub might look square, it might not actually be square, so always measure both the length and width to confirm that they are either the same or different. Always err on the side of adding surface area to the cover and don't skimp on the measurements. You need to specify the length along the hinge and and the length perpendicular to the hinge when you order.  Get these the correct way round because these measurements will determine if the hinge is at the centre of the longest side or the shortest side.  Unsually it's in the centre of the longest side, but not always. Hot tub covers can fit in one of two ways. The most common is a cover that fits only over the acrylic shell (in most hot tubs, the acrylic shell comes out further than the wood or plastic skirt) and in this case, you should measure either the dimensions of your current cover, or, if that is missing or doesn't fit well, from the outside edge of the hot tub shell. However, if your hot tub resembles the diagram below, with a wood or plastic sill on the outside of the acrylic shell, and you would like your new hot tub cover to cover both the shell and the sill then, obviously, you must measure from the outside of the sill. The cover will perform equally well either way, as long as it is big enough to fit completely over the hot tub shell, but if it covers a wooden sill from the elements then the wood will survive much longer.   X - You should specify your skirt length to be a bit more than this. Y - Outside dimension of the acrylic shell. This is the normal measurement to specify unless you have a sill and prefer your cover to fully enclose it, in which case specify measurement Z. Z - Outside dimension of the hot tub cabinet. Above is an illustration of the best way to measure the corner radius. Measure the distance from the imaginary corner, A, to the point at which the curvature stops, B. Round down any dimensions of cut corners or radius corners. If the radius is too big (ie there is too much curvature) or if the cut corner is too long, the cover will never fit the corner properly. But if the curvature is a bit too small (or the cut is too short) that is absolutely fine; there will just be a slight overhang at the corners which actually makes the cover easier to get on and off. If your cover corners aren't perfectly rounded or cut at 45 degrees then that is not a problem, but you will need to send us a template work with.

Remove the existing insert from the vinyl skin - there will be zippers that you can open to enable you to do this. Measure the length of the insert across the side that buts up to the hinge. Measure the width of the insert perpendicular to the hinge. Measure the radius of the corner of the insert A-B as shown in this diagram. Do not make this measurement too small or you will find that the vinyl skin will be stretched too tightly around the curve. When measuring for a replacement insert, if there is any doubt always err on the side of a larger corner radius. Measure the thickness of the insert on the side next to the hinge.  This will be bigger than the thickness of the  side furthest away from the hinge because your cover, and therefore also the insert, is tapered away from the hinge to allow the rain to run off.NB It's the thickness at the hinge that you need to be concerned about. Don't worry too much about the thickness at the thinner edge quoted on the product ordering page, this is the measurement of the complete board that the insert will be cut from, which is 1.22 metres wide. Your insert will only be as thin as the measurement quoted at it's thinnest point if the insert is actually 1.22 metres wide ie the whole of the width of the board is needed to produce your insert. 

Your hot tub cover can look way past its best very quickly if it is not maintained and cleaned regularly! By caring for and regularly cleaning your hot tub cover and ensuring its environmental conditions are at optimum level you will prolong its life by many years – and get a return on your investment.  WHAT CAUSES A COVER TO DISINTEGRATE? 1. Too much chemical in the water Chemical in the water vapour that comes into contact with the cover eventually causes the plastic wrapping around the inserts to become brittle and crack. Once that happens the foam inserts will quickly absorb moisture, become heavy and stop insulating properly. Poor water chemistry can also cause bleaching, puffiness within the vinyl and disintegration of the stitching. If you use too much chemical this process can occur very quickly and your cover could rapidly start to look like this... 2. Incorrect, or non-existent, cleaning The most common cause of the vinyl cover fading and cracking is the use of damaging products – abrasive products will strip the top, protective layer from the vinyl causing it to fade, crack and disintegrate. The outer layer of nearly all hot tub covers is made from poly-vinyl chloride (PVC). In the manufacturing process the PVC is sealed with a special top coat containing compounds called plasticizers, plus softening agents to keep the material supple and attractive. Vinyl is a UV-sensitive material which can degrade over time, particularly when exposed to sunlight or mildew. Sunlight breaks-down an unprotected vinyl surface, the plasticizers escape and the vinyl cracks, fades and fails. Maintaining the integrity of the top coat and protecting against UV damage is the key to keeping your cover looking and performing like new. A proper vinyl cleaner will provide an extra layer of UV protection for your cover.  Buy our specially formulated hot tub cover cleaner here.... HOW TO USE LESS CHEMICAL AND PROTECT YOUR COVER INVESTMENT? 1. Use ecoONE Spa Monthly ecoONE Spa Monthly contains natural compounds that target grease, oil and organic matter, breaking then down before they accumulate in your hot tub.  One bottle of ecoONE lasts a month and enables you to dramatically reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine that you use which is better for you and certainly better for your cover. Find out more about ecoONE spa monthly.... 2. Use eco3spa natural hot tub water treatment eco3spa is chlorine and bromine free .  It is a natural hot tub water treatment that relies on the disinfecting qualities of  Active Oxygen to keep your hot tub water sparkling clean.  eco3spa is kind to you, kind to the environment and kind to your cover! Find out more about eco3spa....

What is a cover lifter? In their simplest form, hot tub cover lifters comprise a tubular, metal frame that is permanently fixed to your hot tub with the horizontal part of the frame resting along the cover's hinge. Once installed, one side of the cover is folded back over the frame and the cover is then lifted off the hot tub by pulling the frame, with the cover attached, over the side of the tub. Why should I have a cover lifter? Cover lifters extend the life of your cover by protecting it from physical damage Cover removal and and replacement becomes a one-man operation Potentially damaging condensation on the underside of the cover is allowed to drain away when the cover is open, thus reducing the potential for cover rot What are the different types of hot tub cover lifter? Cover lifters are generally one of two types: Lever/fulcrum type - these use a bracket that is either screwed to the side of the hot tub or fixed to a flat base plate.  The latter do not require screws to be used in the side of the tub, instead they rely on the weight of your hot tub to hold the cover lifter in place. With a one-handed operation, the cover lifter frame then pivots around the bracket with the cover attached to it. The cover then drops down behind the side of the tub.  Gas assisted type - these use a bracket that is screwed the side of the tub and utilise gas assisted struts (similar to a car's hatchback/tailgate) to assist with the one-handed lifting of the cover. This type of cover lifter places the cover upright along one edge of the spa, rather than dropping it down the side. Some covers have a vinyl pouch above the hinge for the cover lifter bar to slot into.  This is not really necessary, but if your cover has one of these pouches that yiu want to re-use you'll have to choose a lifert with a bar that splits in the middle.  Be careful though because theese lifters tend to be a lot less robust. Many HotSpring tubs are fitted with a cover cradle, as shown in the image.  These lifters are quite robust.  They can only be purchased from a HotSpring dealer. Which lifter is right for me? Here are some things to consider... The lever type lifter is the cheaper of the two types and is ideal where there is no constraint on storing the cover behind the spa side. The most populare and hard-wearling lever type lifter is the Covermate II which requires no drilling into the hot tub shell/ The gas assisted lifter is ideal for hot tubs in a confined space and/or where the owners want the folded cover to be stored high up to restrict the view of any potential onlookers!  By far the best hydraulic cover lifter is the Covermate III. The less expensive lifters are, fairly obviously, lest robust and cabable of lifting less weight over an extended period of time so, if you have a big hot tub with a big cover it's worth spending a bit more on your cover lifter. If you have a round hot tub you have very little choice, you'll need the pneumatically assisted Covermate Freestyle.