Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Tatooed_Lady on February 16, 2006, 07:28:25 am
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Here's one for everyone....the spa cover seam area on the tub we're buying is NOT a "tight seal". Should it be? Here's why I ask, I can justify either way, yanno...
a) it SHOULD be tight seal to keep the heat in (duh)
b) it should NOT be tight seal, so excess chemicals (chlorine and ozone, anyone?) can 'vent off' instead of wrecking the underside of the cover.
I'm guessing it REALLY SHOULD be sealed better. If that's the case, what's a common fix that'll last? It's all new, and I really don't want to have to buy ANOTHER new cover to replace this one til it's shot...here's what I'm talking about.....
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/TatooedLady/DSCF0043.jpg)
That, my friends.....is a gap of EPIC proportions.
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Most Spa covers have a boot attached to the cover at that point. You could probably get a piece of foam,wrap it in plastic film and stitch it in there, it may not be pretty but it will fill the gap to retain more heat & moisture.
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Could you, or would you take the credit for this cover and purchase one that already has a filler in that gap?
I do a lot of sewing but, I don't think I would try to sew a filler into your cover...to make it work properly would probably be really hard. :(
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Here's one for everyone....the spa cover seam area on the tub we're buying is NOT a "tight seal". Should it be? Here's why I ask, I can justify either way, yanno...
a) it SHOULD be tight seal to keep the heat in (duh)
b) it should NOT be tight seal, so excess chemicals (chlorine and ozone, anyone?) can 'vent off' instead of wrecking the underside of the cover.
I'm guessing it REALLY SHOULD be sealed better. If that's the case, what's a common fix that'll last? It's all new, and I really don't want to have to buy ANOTHER new cover to replace this one til it's shot...here's what I'm talking about.....
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/TatooedLady/DSCF0043.jpg)
That, my friends.....is a gap of EPIC proportions.
That is not a good cover for insualtion to me. A good insualting cover should have a boot (an insulated block of foam) that fills that gap. No?
I would not use that cover in colder climates. If you do, make damn sure you push both ends of the cover towards the middle to seal that gap.
The taper on the cover is pretty dramatic. (more so than mine) I wonder if this is ment for warm, rainy environments?
Doc has covers. He's the guy to tell you what's what. :)
If you could maybe talk to you dealer about changing that cover and see what can be worked out?
Any halfway decent cover company on the web goes into detail about what makes a good insualting cover and they say that gap should be filled.
Hers what our own good Doc has to say:
http://www.rhtubs.com/covers/insulate.htm
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i agree, that is not a good cover for insulation.....i just have 1 thing to ask (beg).......please dont say EPIC in a bad way lol. im looking at my floor model right now and their is the linear heat seal looking proud!!! ;D matter of fact, all of the covers for my Marquis have that heat seal.
sorry, just saw " gap of EPIC proportions." and i cringed ;)
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Linear heat seal is where it's at! Let's not get the Arctic people started though...
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Linear heat seal is where it's at! Let's not get the Arctic people started though...
Whats Linear heat seal?
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Whats Linear heat seal?
Looks like this;
(http://www.hot-tub-spa-covers.com/images/seam-seal.jpg)
As opposed to the basic sealing fingers;
(http://www.hot-tub-spa-covers.com/images/finger.jpg)
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*LOL* Oops, hadn't recalled there's a tub called "epic"...well, I meant it in the NICEST way... ;D
I don't know what geographical area that lid's meant for....but I'm guessing (as I'm watching the
additional 6 or so inches of snow blanket the 4 we got last night..and still falling) that it wasn't made
for Wisconsin winters. Now...if it's a crappy cover, they can keep it, and give me credit toward a GOOD
cover......or, they can take the price of the cover OFF the sale price (let me know in advance though so I
can coordinate this all), and I'll hook up with Doc to get a new GOOD one. I just thought that a bit strange,
after looking at all the pics I've got of the tub (they're not pinned up in the bathroom...HONEST!), and
that gaping hole staring at me finally made me wonder.
By the way....I'm NOT gonna dink around after using
the tub at all hours of the night and day, pushing, straining and grunting trying to make the two ends
meet. *lol* It's probably doable, if I were so flat broke I couldn't afford any other options....but uh.....I'm old
and cranky enough that now I won't drive a "rigged" car, and I ain't gonna soak in a "rigged" tub.
And there we go.....another newbie learned a few things about what makes a quality cover vs. what makes it crap.
Thank you, everyone, I'm gonna go browse Doc's site, check out the covers, "just in case". ;)
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ooooh. I like the linear seal.
Tatoo, what type of tub did you buy? ( I thought from your Epic quote, it was a Marquis.)
I have the boot fingers on my cover, and even still I give it a little nudge (no pushing or grunting required ;) ) to make sure it's tight.
Doc, I still get some icecles forming around the flap around the cover (I assume from steam condesing and dripping then freezing ) Is this normal?
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drew, Great Lakes Leelanau (last year in production is '05). Naw, I was thinking Epic in the grandiose way, not the tub way. *lol*
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ooooh. I like the linear seal.
Doc, I still get some icecles forming around the flap around the cover (I assume from steam condesing and dripping then freezing ) Is this normal?
Normal? If I use you as a base line............ ;D ;D ;D J/K
Depending on the quality of the manufacturing process for your covers foam cores, it's not unheard of for the foam to actualy warp slightly over time. This could cause the cover to not sit prefectly flat all the way round the entire spa, causing some steam leakage, and ice formation.
You might be able to test this by putting some weight on top of the cover where the steam/ice is forming and see if it goes awway.
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I was just thinking.....if the dealer doesn't want to do a trade-up to a better cover, or only offers me
minimal value off the tub for me to replace it anyhow... maybe I'll just take it, keep it, and use it for summer.
I figure it this way:
Winter in Wisconsin can be harsh, and I NEED a heavy duty cover to keep the heat in. That being said, summer in Wisconsin can get HOT, and I could just rotate to the lighter cover, since I won't be fighting
to keep the heat in so much.
Has anyone here used a rotational schedule for covers? Theoretically, shouldn't BOTH covers last longer this way, since each will have plenty of time to completely dry out over the course of several months?
I'd really like to think the dealer will cut me a sweet deal, but since I can't guarantee it, I'd rather think of
alternative avenues.
Thanks!!
EDIT: (NOT EPIC): does anyone know if there's an aftermarket piece like the Arctic brand has that gets
sandwiched in the seam? A piece that maybe velcros to one side or something?
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The covers for the Great Lakes spas DO have a heat seal!!
It's black......That's why you can't see it in the pic.
Open the cover and it should be there.
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The covers for the Great Lakes spas DO have a heat seal!!
It's black......That's why you can't see it in the pic.
Open the cover and it should be there.
I hate to be the one to throw a bag of ice in your tub, but.....I don't see one.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/TatooedLady/DSCF0045.jpg)
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There isn't one...there's Two!
What do you imagine those two BLACK FOAM FILLED NYLON DOOHICKIES conveniently placed at each end of the cover are for? ;D
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There isn't one...there's Two!
What do you imagine those two BLACK FOAM FILLED NYLON DOOHICKIES conveniently placed at each end of the cover are for? ;D
Actually they look more like handles to grab onto from the side to help lift the cover than as an insualtion block. Perhaps they are dual purpose. ? :)
Actaully Tatto, if they close up and seal the gap you should be ok.
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yep, I'm thinking HANDLES.....They didn't strike me as anything else......they're nylon webbing.
EDIT: I'll check and recheck to see if they do anything.....however, I wonder what the actual level of workable insulation is in that cover, if that's all they provide.....I may get a second cover just for peace of mind.
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Drewstar, If you felt them you could tell that they are meant as a seal. With both sides of the loop together (as it would be with the cover closed) they are almost an inch thick!
the main point being that in the original picture it appears as if there is a gap between the two sides of the cover....'Tis not the case, it is sealed.
Would a linear seal be better? Probably. That being said the vast majority of Mfg. only have seals on the ends. As does Great Lakes.
Peace Out
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I think that was hym's way of saying
"told ya so! :P "
Hehehe....at that rate, I THINK I was wrong....but I'm still going to go heavy on the insulation worries for winter.
Thanks!
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Drewstar, If you felt them you could tell that they are meant as a seal. With both sides of the loop together (as it would be with the cover closed) they are almost an inch thick!
the main point being that in the original picture it appears as if there is a gap between the two sides of the cover....'Tis not the case, it is sealed.
Would a linear seal be better? Probably. That being said the vast majority of Mfg. only have seals on the ends. As does Great Lakes.
Peace Out
....and they look like they would compress to ensure a fairly tight seal.
:)
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yep, I'm thinking HANDLES.....They didn't strike me as anything else......they're nylon webbing.
EDIT: I'll check and recheck to see if they do anything.....however, I wonder what the actual level of workable insulation is in that cover, if that's all they provide.....I may get a second cover just for peace of mind.
Tatted Lady,
Great Lakes tubs come standard with a cover that has a 4" to 2" taper. They offer a cover with a 5" to 4" taper as an option. We get an extra $150 for it. Ask your dealer.
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Tatted Lady,
Great Lakes tubs come standard with a cover that has a 4" to 2" taper. They offer a cover with a 5" to 4" taper as an option. We get an extra $150 for it. Ask your dealer.
Hymbaw
How are these tubs insulated? I couldn't find any info on the web site.?
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Tatted Lady,
Great Lakes tubs come standard with a cover that has a 4" to 2" taper. They offer a cover with a 5" to 4" taper as an option. We get an extra $150 for it. Ask your dealer.
Another silly question then.....is the 5/4 cover WORTH the $150 over the cost of the 4/2? If it's that much better, I might bite on upgrading right off, if it's an option.
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Drewstar,
They are insulated with closed cell foam covering all the plumbing but not "full foam".
Tatts,
Tell your dealer to throw one in or no deal. He'll do it.
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tat
no worries on the "EPIC" quote. just trying to keep that "quality brand" rating in good standing ;)
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Tatts,
Tell your dealer to throw one in or no deal. He'll do it.
After seeing how the "other half lives" (dealers that ENJOY seeing people happy with spas) not bloody likely
the GL dealer will do anything for me other than flip me off when I leave their lot.....There are a few "smaller"
things that bug me about the GL dealer....and there's a HS/Jacuzzi dealer up the road that is MORE than happy
to bend over backwards like the liquid lady ...unbelievable. Actions and attitudes speak louder
than all the perks they could drag themselves to add....because, ya KNOW I wouldn't want to put anyone
OUT when they're at work..... ::)