Can You Run A Hot Tub With The Cover On?
A hot tub cover is really important for trapping the heat inside your hot tub. That will lead to reduced electricity costs and a better bathing experience.
But, can you run a hot tub with the cover one? You can definitely run your hot tub with the cover on.
Besides keeping the dirt off from your spa, a cover prevents heat loss to the environment. Leaving the cover on while heating the tub is a simple way of increasing energy efficiency.
Does a Hot Tub Heat Faster with the Cover on?
Typically, a good hot tub should take about 60 minutes to raise the water temperature by 3-6 degrees. But the time it takes to heat hot tub water to the desired temperature depends on 3 principal factors: ambient temperature, condition of the components, and whether the cover is on or not.
So, does a hot tub heat faster with the cover on? If you want your hot tub to heat faster, keep the cover on.
The reason for this is because spa heat loss mainly occurs from the top of the spa. Therefore, functioning as a lid, a hot tub cover helps to retain the heat and reduce the time required to warm up the spa.
How do you Put a Hot Tub Cover Back on?
Once you are done using the spa, put the cover back on, and lock it into position. You can ask for an extra hand to help you lift the cover from where you placed it and gently place it back on the tub. Ensure you secure the cover using the straps and clips.
With an automatic cover lifter, you only need to press a button and your cover will be back in place. Remember to lock the straps though.
How do you Make a Cover Lift for a Hot Tub?
After a nice afternoon soak in the spa, lifting and replacing the cover is the last thing you want to do. But if you haven’t installed a lifter, the burdensome task is inevitable. Notwithstanding, it is not worth using all your energy when you only need a few tools and less than $30 to make a cover lift yourself.
The materials and tools you need to complete this project include EMT conduits, hole conduit straps, Tek screws, metal screws, hacksaw, conduit bender, screwdriver, drill motor and a level. Follow this procedure to construct your hot tub cover lift. After nine simple steps, you will have your hot tub cover lift up and running without breaking the bank.
How do you Take Off a Hot Tub Cover?
Either spend your energy removing the cover or let the lift do it for you. Did your hot tub come without a cover lifter? Bad for you. But you can salvage the situation by installing one.
Meanwhile, you will have to take off the cover by yourself. Start by unlocking the straps then reach between the tub and the cover to break the seal between them. Hold the cover over and go to the back of the hot tub. Since covers are generally bulky, you can ask for help in removing the cover from the spa. Place it upright in a clean place off the ground.
With a lifter, removing the cover is much easier and faster. Typically cover lifters are either automatic or manual. For the latter, you have to fold the cover over the lifter’s bar until it comes off the tub and stays in place.
How much Space does a Hot Tub Cover Need?
Besides the regular one-foot space you have to leave around the tub, remember to provide room for other purposes including cover removal.
Typically, a cover will utilize a minimum of 18 inches behind the hot tub when placed down. If you intend to take the cover off manually, remember to leave enough room for another individual on both the right and left sides.
How do you Secure a Hot Tub Cover?
Usually, spa covers come with standard straps sewn around their edges. Together with the clips, you can use them to lock your cover in place during light winds and also protect your tub from unsupervised use by children.
However, the standard hot tub cover straps and clips cannot withstand the impact of strong winds and you may find your cover blown far into the backyard following a hurricane.
For maximum cover security even in windstorms, wind or hurricane straps will do. These are made from nylon and are padded with thick foam to protect against rubbing.
Constructed with heavy-duty fasteners, they lock more easily and firmly. Removing these straps requires you to slightly push down the cover as you press the two sides of the clip simultaneously to release the latch.
Why is my Hot Tub Cover so Heavy?
Worried about the weight of your hot tub cover? You are not alone. Several other spa owners have this problem too. But the majority only notice the change when it is already out of hand.
To begin with, a hot tub cover in “good health” should weigh between 50-75 pounds depending on its size. The larger the cover, the greater the weight.
Nevertheless, lifting a new hot tub cover should be a fairly easy task. So, if you notice it has become too heavy for you to remove alone, then this is a red flag you must not ignore.
Waterlogging is the primary cause of increased cover weight. Gradual soaking of water into the foam core makes the cover heavier over time.
But how does water enter the core? You ask. Well, cracks are the main culprits.
When you place a heavy object on the tub cover, it may break or crack. Though the crack may be hardly noticeable, it will slowly permit water entry into the core and the cumulative effect is a heavy cover. That’s why placing heavy things on the cover is contraindicated.
Besides cracks, poor water chemistry of the cover material may lead to corrosion and disintegration of the vapor barrier usually placed around the core. Consequently, the foam core becomes easily waterlogged.
A very heavy cover not only means that you use more energy lifting it, but you also spend more on bills and repairs. The efficiency of a waterlogged hot tub cover is much lower than a healthy one. Therefore, it will not protect your tub adequately and thereby skyrocket the cost of running your hydrotherapy equipment.
If you want the spa to serve you seamlessly in the coming winter, then you need to fix this right away. You can either replace the foam core and buy a new cover altogether. The former may take several days to complete and requires taking accurate measurements.
