Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: observer on April 04, 2014, 09:33:22 am
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I'm looking for advice on hot tub covers. My hot tub is outdoors (no shelter). A bit of snow where I live but a LOT of rain.
I replace my cover every 2 years for about 5-600 dollars; this seems exhorbitant.
No sunlight problem because I never have a cover long enough to have any sun damage.
One problem is that the covers allow rain to enter and overflow the tub; do there exist watertight covers?
Also there are birds who peck at the cover and make holes; every hole grows huge in a few weeks and looks awful.
Where can I find a good cover? Should resist rain, have a thick layer to resist birds. The websites never give enough information on the composition of the cover. Also the WEIGHT is important: they should tell me the weight so I can decide if I can lift the cover or I need a lift device.
Any suggestions?
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Hi Observer,
What tub do you own, where do you live and what brand covers are you using?
I just picked up a "cover" for my cover. I had problems with sap and tulip poplar "flowers" dropping on my old Coleman spa and getting the cover dirty/sappy. So, with my new Artic Klondiker, I decided to get a cover to protect the cover. It cost around $60 and I'll be putting it on, tomorrow. If the birds attack it, it is a lot cheaper to replace than the insulated cover. :)
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I'm not the expert in this forum but I think I've seen a couple of cool covers.
http://www.sterlingcovana.com/prod-c3.html
http://www.strongspas.com/features/titan-hardcovers.html
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The Cover Store at coverstore.com has a number of very good covers that will add years to your hard cover. :)
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Maybe look at getting a smart top from leisure concepts. They are expensive but should last 10 years plus
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But remember with hard covers like the smart top and the other plastic one from strong you give up almost all of your insulating ability of your cover.
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Do you know this for a fact tman? Have you seen a smart top in person? They claim to be as energy efficient as a regular cover. I have wondered about that with the smart top myself.
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Hi Observer,
What tub do you own, where do you live and what brand covers are you using?
I just picked up a "cover" for my cover. I had problems with sap and tulip poplar "flowers" dropping on my old Coleman spa and getting the cover dirty/sappy. So, with my new Artic Klondiker, I decided to get a cover to protect the cover. It cost around $60 and I'll be putting it on, tomorrow. If the birds attack it, it is a lot cheaper to replace than the insulated cover. :)
Rosewood, what cover for the cover did you get? That is pretty reasonable for $60. Just curious so maybe I can recommend that to others in the future if you are happy with it.
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Observer, tell us about the covers you have bought, internet? dealer? cost?
When ordering a cover, there are things you should include which will increase cost, and are commonly neglected when consumers order, i.e. double wrap, heat sealed foam insert cores.
When using a cover, there are thing you shouldn't do.
Birds are pecking holes in the cover? Can you see or feel the foam insert?
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[/quote] Rosewood, what cover for the cover did you get? That is pretty reasonable for $60. Just curious so maybe I can recommend that to others in the future if you are happy with it.
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Water Boy,
I picked it up on Amazon for $62 and some change. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FEUT80/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Just to add, my total price was $62.11. That including shipping.
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Do you know this for a fact tman? Have you seen a smart top in person? They claim to be as energy efficient as a regular cover. I have wondered about that with the smart top myself.
It's pretty logical to speculate that 1/2" of foam will insulate 1/5th as good as 3 inches of foam.
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We have sold the smart top and this winter we had to go out and work on the tub. the smart top had no noticeable heat loss or steam loss. I am not saying that it insulates as well as a 6 inch cover but i have had some thin covers before and did notice any usage change after a certain point it is just over kill. Case in point Watkins covers are fairly thin from the factory and they work great.
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What is considered "noticeable heat loss"?
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Here in Northern Minnesota 6" of foam insulates better than 3" and 3" better than 1/2" Might be different where you live? We build our walls out of 2x6's rather than 2x4's so we can get more insulation in our walls. And we put 24'-36" in our attics.
Following the logic of a 1/2" is enough, I wonder why we do this?