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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| What are the ASTM standards for a hot tub / spa cover and why are they important? |
| ASTM developed standards which include a category intended to protect children five years of age and under. ASTM Standard F1346-91 for hot ub / spa covers includes specific performance tests and labeling requirements. Covers must be able to pass certain tests. The first is Static Load. "In the case of hot tub / spas with a width or diameter greater than 8' from the periphery, the cover shall be able to hold a weight of 485 pounds to permit a rescue operation. In the case of a spa with a width or diameter not greater than 8' the cover shall withstand the weight of 275 pounds". Second is Perimeter Deflection. "The covers shall be designed in such a way that when tested, deflection of the cover does not allow the test object to pass between the cover and the side of the hot tub / spa, or to gain access to the water". Additionally, testing for surface drainage is conducted to see if a dangerous amount of rain could collect on the cover's surface. There are also requirements to include labeling in consumer information and on the cover itself. Labeling must contain proper warnings (as described by the Standard) and identify the product as a safety cover. |
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| How long should I expect a hot tub / spa cover to last? |
| The life-span of a hot tub / spa cover is dependant upon many different things. How much direct sunlight it gets, how well it's cared for or abused, how extreme weather conditions are and how the chemicals in the spa are dealt with all have an effect on life-span. Generally though, if reasonably cared for a spa cover should last five to eight years. |
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| What can I do to extend the life of my hot tub / spa cover? |
| Keep it clean. The main factors in hot tub /spa cover deterioration are sunlight, dirt, and acid rain. A small amount of general care and maintenance can help extend the life of any spa cover. Do not over sanitize the water, and remove the cover when shocking. These are the most important things. Periodically cleaning (mild soap and water), treating and protecting the outer vinyl from the elements is the next important thing. We recommend 303 Protectant® because it is the best product of its kind, and is also Earth friendly. Regular use of 303 Protectant® will keep the vinyl supple, prevent cracking and fading, and seal out damaging moisture. Don't forget to clean and treat the inside surfaces of your cover as well-- this is very important. Avoid any petroleum or silicone based products that claim to condition vinyl. They actually do more harm than good. Remove excessive snow to prevent the cover from sagging and possibly breaking. Never sit of stand on a spa cover. |
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| How is the R value of a cover determined? |
The insulating core of almost all hot tub / spa covers is EPS (Expanded Polystyrene). The insulating value of this product is very specific, and is listed in the table below. Please note, the R-value shown is for 1 inch of thickness
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Foam
Density |
R-Value/in. |
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1.0 |
3.85 |
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1.25 |
4.0 |
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1.5 |
4.17 |
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2.0 |
4.35 |
The average hot utb / spa cover cores, tapered 4" to 2", made of 1 pound density foam, have a total R-value of R-10.74 (calculated by averaging the thickness). Going to a 2 pound foam increases the R-value to R-13.05. Additionally, some R-value can be added for the vinyl and poly wrap that seals the foam cores. But only about R-2. The R-value of a 1 pound density hot tub / spa cover only calculates to, at most, R-13 (2 pound = R-15). |
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| How long does it take to ship a new hot tub / spa cover? |
| Depending upon your location, typical delivery time is 5-10 business days. Frequently delivery time is much sooner, however during busy times it may be slightly longer. Usually most covers will be manufactured and shipped 72 hours. |
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| Why do tie downs rip out? |
| Besides excessive force, most tie downs tear out due to poorly designed or poorly made hot tub / spa covers. While the tie downs shouldn't be use as handles for lifting a cover, they should hold up to quite strong winds. We have virtually eliminated "tie down tear out" by using nylon webbing and sewing it into the cover at 4 different points |
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| How do you keep your prices so low? |
| We actually manufacture hot tub / spa covers in our factory and ship them directly to our customers. We can keep our prices reasonable since there is no middleman marking up the price. |
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| Why do covers get so heavy as they get older? |
| The foam that a cover's cores is made of is called Expanded Polystyrene and is made of small beads that are expanded with steam. The individual "beads" are waterproof! However, water can saturate between the beads. The most obvious cause of water absorption would be a small hole punctured through the cover. Even the smallest hole will allow a large amount of water to enter the foam over time. The most common cause of water absorption is the "natural degradation of the polyethylene". Over time, chlorine, bromine, non-chlorine shock and ozone will break down the polyethylene causing it to become porous. It will become porous enough to allow evaporation and steam to penetrate through it. It WILL NOT be porous enough to allow the steam that has condensed back into water to drip back out. |
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| Can I replace only the outer covering on my existing cover? |
| Just like trying to replace the foam, replacing just the
vinyl outer covering usually isn't cost effective. The additional work involved to make a proper fitting vinyl covering could cost as much or more than a complete new spa cover
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| What outside conditions can shorten the cover's service life expectancy? |
| Any adverse environmental conditions such as salt spray, excessive snow or ice loads for extended periods, build-up of wet leaves, etc., but most of all - the lack of regular seasonal maintenance, such as cleaning and conditioning |
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