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[D425]Discount Hot Tub Covers

by Allison Clarke, All

Instead of selling you something that won't get heavy or broken he keeps selling the same thing, hoping you won't notice. If you have had to replace a hot tub cover because it got heavy, maybe the question you should ask before you buy the next one is, Why?

What causes the foam Hot Tub Covers to get heavy is that it traps moisture inside. Rigid foam board is used in lots of insulation applications. It can be used around refrigeration storage areas like in a super market. Layers of foam board can insulate the cool storage area while the customer area can be kept comfortably warm. But in this type of installation the foam is not subjected to hot moist air. As long as the foam stays dry it has a predictable insulation value. But if the foam were to have moisture in it instead of the little air spaces it uses to insulate, it would have no insulation value at all.

If you wanted to produce the perfect environment for a rigid foam board to become saturated it would be to put it over a source of warm, humid, steam. You couldn't get water into it faster even if you tied it to the bottom of your swimming pool. Why? Because water molecules are bigger than steam molecules. Steam can get into smaller spaces faster than water. And once the steam cools, it condenses back into water, displacing air in the foam as it does.

Long before you notice the hot tub cover getting heavy, moisture has begun to replace the air spaces in your cover. When it does, the little insulation value that cover might have had, goes down dramatically. From whatever it may have been when you first put it on your hot tub it has gone down to as much insulation as a wet piece of plywood by the time you actually notice it got heavy.

You might get fooled into thinking that it is still insulating well because snow won't melt off it. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. Snow won't melt off a frozen pond either but it doesn't mean the ice is insulating the water. When snow falls on a saturated foam hot tub cover, it freezes the moisture in the cover because it is laying directly on the cover. The water of your hot tub is never in contact with the foam since the foam is resting way up on top of the acrylic of the hot tub, usually about a foot above the water surface. What's happening is the warm spa water is evaporating into steam. That steam is rising, because that is what heat does, until it hits the bottom of the frozen hot tub cover. Then the steam cools and turns back into water. The water, now cooled, falls, because that's what cold does, back into the warm spa water, cooling it off.

So if you wanted to invent a radiator to cool off your warm hot tub water this would be the perfect design. Put a block of frozen foam over the water. Load it up with snow so it will keep the spa cover frozen and stand back and watch the power meter spin. Instead of buying another rigid foam spa cover that will positively end up like the one you are replacing now, shop online for one that is designed better. Look for Hot Tub Covers that will insulate the water from the water surface, without rigid.

So, why is a hot tub cover important? Here are the basic facts about covers and why they are important:

- They protect the hot tub from impurities

This is the most obvious function of a cover. Just like any other type of cover for any type of container, the hot tub cover protects the tub from impurities such as leaves, trash, insects and the like. A hot tub cover is mostly important if the tub is located outdoors.

- Hot tub covers protect children and pets from the tub itself

How many times have you heard that a child drowned inside a hottub? This is a risk that parents have to take when they acquire a hottub, and this is a risk that hot tub covers address. Hottub covers make the tub more secure for unattended children and pets since they are usually very heavy. The heaviness of the tub covers is actually a good thing because small children will not be able to lift it up without the help of adults, keeping them away from the tubs when they are alone.

- Covers protect the tubs from direct exposure to sunlight

Direct sun exposure may harm the tub. A good hottub cover should be able to protect the tub against the harmful effects of the sun. The thickness of and the material used for the cover are two of the most important factors to consider in purchasing a cover. Remember that outdoor covers will wear out more quickly than those that are indoors because of the torture it gets from sunlight exposure.

-Covers help retain heat

Maintaining hottubs can be very expensive, especially if we factor in the electricity costs of maintaining the heat inside the tub. The covers of the tubs should be able to help retain the heat inside. These are usually insulated by a material called "expanded polystyrene". Actually, the thickness of the cover is the main determinant of its heat retaining capacity.

Most hottub kits usually come with covers. However there maybe times that purchasing a new one is unavoidable. Here are some important things to remember when purchasing a hot tub cover:

-Size

This is a crucial factor that is sometimes forgotten by those who purchase new hot tub covers. Even though there are written specifications regarding the size of the tubs, it would not hurt to double check with the manufacturer and the hot tub cover dealers.

-Material

The outer covering of the hot tube cover are made from different kinds of materials, as opposed to the insulating foam, which is basically the same in all types of hot tub covers. Make sure that the material is mildew resistant.

-Children

If there are children in the house, it would be better to purchase a cover which is heavier. Again, weight serves as a safety feature for hottub covers. If there are no children, perhaps an easier-access model is more suitable.

-R-value

The covers insulating capabilities are assessed using what we call "R-value." The general rule is that the higher the R-value of a hot tub cover, the better.

-Warranties

Hottub cover warranties are very important. One should read and be cautious about the warranty of the cover that he is going to buy.

Maintenance

Hot tub covers, just like the the tubs, should also be maintained and cleaned. A good rule to remember is that a cover should be cleaned every month. Set a date every month to apply cleaning materials to your hot tub cover.

Another rule that should be remembered is that the cover should be unzipped every 2 months. The foam inside should be left out in the open for at least one day for it to be able to "breathe'.

Hottub covers are an essential part of the whole system. The covers are important for protecting the tub and the family members who use it. Remember the different tips that were mentioned in this article and enjoy your stay in your tub.

Article Source : Pg. 117

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Both Allison Clarke & Lee Dobbins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Allison Clarke has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing and Communications, Home Management and Online College. Allison Clarke, Freelance Writer. We are committed to providing free helpful information about SpaCap Spa Covers - the gigantic leap forward in the technology of Hot Tub Covers. For more information about. Allison Clarke's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.

Lee Dobbins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Diamonds and Install Flooring. Lee Dobbins writes for where you can learn all about caring for and using your. Lee Dobbins's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.