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One
of the best ways to keep debris out of your spa
and hot tub as well as reduce the amount of
heat loss is to use a cover for your spa or hot
tub. Spa
covers are made to rests across the top of the
spa or hot tub, completely covering the entire
perimeter of the spa or hot tub.
Typically, a spa or hot tub cover is
custom fitted for a particular manufacture,
brand, and model of spa or hot tub.
However, over time, it may be necessary
to replace the spa cover, therefore many
manufacturers of cover produce covers, which
can fit several different brands and models.
Whether
it is a custom or universal spa cover, it has
been designed for ease of removal and
replacement once the spa is no longer in use.
Many covers are made with center hinge
so that the cover can be folded back during
chemical maintenance so that the cover does not
have to be completely removed.
Hot
tub and spa covers should especially be used if
the spas or hot tubs are housed outdoors.
As stated earlier, the purpose of a
cover is to help maintain the water temperature
by reducing the amount of heat that escapes
when the tub is not in use.
This actually helps to reduce the amount
of energy used, as well as helps prolong the
life of the heater.
In addition to preventing heat loss,
covers also reduce the amount of evaporation
and chemical loss, thus making maintenance
easier and required less frequently.
Lastly and possibly the most important
reason for using a cover is for safety reasons.
The typical spa and hot tub cover are
heavy and difficult for a small child to
remove, thus they actually reduce the risk of a
child drowning in the spa when an adult is not
around and the spa or hot tub are not in use.
It
is true that heat loss and debris are not as a
significant problem with indoor hot tubs and
spas as they are with an outdoor spa or hot
tub. You
should still invest and use a cover for your
indoor hot tubs and spa as they reduce the risk
of a child or pet from drowning when the hot
tub or spa are not in use.
It
is important for spa and hot tub owners to know
that using a cover will not eliminate the need
for proper maintenance and chemical balance of
their hot tubs and spas.
Even when a cover is used, the chemical
balance of a spa should be checked regularly
and always after it has been heavily used.
If the chemical balance is ignored or
neglected, bacteria growth can occur.
By using a spa cover in combination with
maintaining proper chemical balance and
performing routine maintenance, you can extend
the life of your spa.
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