Every time I buy a cover I end having to replace it after about 2 years. The cover gets so waterlogged and is such a heavy cover that my husband and I can hardly lift it. We would like to start enjoying our hot tub again. Any help so we can have a light hot tub cover?
Thanks for your help,
Lily from Utah
Hi Lily,
It is quite unusual for a cover to water log in only 2 years. The root cause of that is one of two things. Either the covers you have had were made with really poor quality vapor barriers, or your cover’s vapor barrier is being quickly compromised by your use of chemicals.
That is such a great question and in fact, the vast majority of covers will fail from getting waterlogged eventually. We do hear that quite frequently here at the Pros. To help avoid the cover from getting waterlogged, you can make sure that the new cover you order has an upgraded vapor barrier. Upgrade to the best one you can find.
The vapor barrier is the plastic that is wrapped around the foam inside the cover and protects the foam from absorbing water. When the vapor barrier is compromised the foam will start absorbing water, and you will notice your cover getting heavier and heavier. Over a period of time, sometime quickly, sometimes slowly, this will not only make the cover next to impossible to lift, it can cause serious potential health problems as mold and mildew gather and grow in the foam.
When a cover is waterlogged it must be replaced right away, as other posting here detail. One tip that we recommend is to try to keep the cover off, weather permitting, for an hour to two after you add chemicals to the spa. This will allow the chemicals to out gas without damaging the vapor barrier will eliminate those vapors from rising up from the water and decaying the vapor barrier. Bromine is less harsh on your cover than chlorine, so use bromine if you can.
The Pros strongly recommend upgrading to the best vapor barrier offered as this will lengthen the life of your cover as much as possible.
Happy Tubbing !
Ethel Elliott
