Why Are Hot Tub Covers So Expensive?

The last thing that you want for your hot tub is getting dirt inside your hot tub water. That is why it is necessary to cover the hot tub using a hot tub cover! But buying a hot tub cover comes with the package when you decide to buy a hot tub for your home. Hot tubs don’t come with covers by default, and without one running a hot tub will result in sky-high electricity bills. So if you know what’s best for you, it goes without saying that owning a hot tub cover is a must in the long run.

That being said, most hot tub covers tend to be quite expensive for the simple function they’re supposed to perform. But why are hot tub covers so expensive? If you think that it only acts as a cover for dirt, then you would be wrong! A hot tub cover does more than just protect the hot tub water from getting dirty, which is why it is so expensive! Along with that, there are various other factors that make it expensive as well. In this article you’ll learn not only why hot tub covers are so expensive but the ins and outs of buying and taking care of one as well!

Key Takeaways

• The make and materials of hot tubs are what primarily makes them expensive.
• The more automated and advanced a hot tub is the more the price.
• Maintaining hot tub covers is easy and takes little effort.

What Factors Make Hot Tub Covers Expensive?

The average price of a good-quality branded hot tub cover can range between $350-$500. Of course, there are cheaper ones below the $350 price mark, but as you can guess their quality doesn’t hold up when compared to the more expensive ones. So what are the factors that make hot tub covers expensive in the first place?

Thickness of the Hot Tub

The thickness of the hot tub is the most crucial determining factor when it comes to pricing. You see, the thicker the hot tub cover is the more heat it can retain, requiring less power to bring your hot tub to the proper temperature. The thickness of cheaper tub covers is significantly less than the more expensive ones.

Quality of the Foam

The quality of a hot tub’s foam also plays an important role in the pricing. The foam acts as the insulation layer between the hot water below and the vinyl above, retaining the temperature of the tub at optimal levels. The better the foam quality, the higher the price of the tub cover.

Quality of the Vinyl

Last but not least, the high-quality vinyl used as the top layer of the hot tub also contributes to the high price range. Unlike regular vinyl, hot tub vinyl is UV and mildew resistant which is the result of advanced vinyl treatment. This vinyl can go through a lot of wear and tear, unlike regular vinyl, adding to the cost of the hot tub cover.

Automation Technology

Unlike the plain wooden hot tub covers of the yesteryears, many modern hot tub covers come with some degree of automation. With automated hot tubs, you no longer have to worry about pushing and pulling the hot tub cover every time you want to take a dip- all you have to do is press a button for the hot tub cover to remove itself.

Aside from these three crucial factors, the brand of the hot tub cover you’re buying also plays a role in the pricing. Premium brands tend to charge more than regular brands (between $600-$1000+) even though there isn’t much difference in performance and quality of the components. This is a clear-cut example of how marketing and branding can make all the difference in the world when selling something.

The Different Types of Hot Tub Covers

Hot tub covers can be primarily divided into 3 categories- soft-top covers, hard-top covers, and luxury covers. These 3 categories can be further divided into the following sub-categories:

1. Soft Top Covers

• Vinyl covers
• Solar covers

2. Hard Top Covers

• Aluminum covers
• Fiberglass covers
• Wooden covers

3. Luxury Covers

• Gazebo Covers
• Sliding floor cover
• Folding floor covers
• Sinking floor cover

As you can clearly see, you won’t be suffering from a lack of options when buying hot tub covers. The pricing of each type of cover will vary depending on the size of the hot tub. Luxury covers are the most expensive, easily going over $1000 for even the most basic ones, but they also tend to be very fancy as well!

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Taking Care of Your Hot Tub Cover: A Cleaning Guide

Since you’ll be investing a lot of money in buying a hot tub cover, it only makes sense that you take proper care of such an expensive investment. Usually cleaning the tub cover once a week with soap and mild detergent is enough to take care of the vinyl layer of the cover. But every once in a while it will need a thorough cleaning which you can perform with the following steps:

1. First, detach the cover from the hinges and then lay it on a clean and smooth surface.
2. Using a hose, gently spray the underside of the cover (the foam part) to rinse off any traces of hot tub chemicals or dirt that has accrued over time.
3. Once the underside has been cleaned, turn it over and leave it to dry for a few hours. Once it’s dried, flip it over and hose the vinyl as well after applying a bit of vinyl cleaner.
4. Once the top of the cover has dried, spray it with some UV spray and reattach it to your hot tub.
5. If the hinges or any other part of the hot tub is damaged or feels off, call in a professional hot tub technician to take a look at it and see if it needs any part repairs or replacements.

Follow through with the above-mentioned maintenance steps at least 3-4 times a year and your hot tub will be in optimum condition, lasting for years to come.

3 Key Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Hot Tub Covers

Here are some common mistakes made by new hot tub owners when buying their first hot tub cover. Make sure to avoid them to get the best hot tub cover experience:

1. Don’t buy cheap hot tubs. They’re prone to wear and tear and aren’t as effective at sealing heat as their expensive counterparts.
2. Not buying a hot tub with insulated hinge seals. These seals can make all the difference between heat retention efficiency to drive your electric bills down.
3. Not buying a hot tub cover of the right dimensions. To avoid this mistake consult your hot tub manual or measure the dimensions yourself using a measuring tape.

FAQs

1. Where can I find hot tub cover reviews?

Your best bet to find genuine hot tub cover reviews is the different blogs and forums dedicated to hot tubs.

2. How many types of hot tub covers are there?

Based on make and material there are 3 types of hot tub covers and they all do more or less the same thing for the hot tub in a different way. They are soft tops, hard tops, and luxury covers.

3. Are insulated hot tub covers better than non-insulated ones?

Yes, insulated hot tub covers are definitely better. Keeping the hot tub well insulated helps to reduce water loss through evaporation.

Final Thoughts

Good hot tub covers are expensive, and there’s no way around that fact. If the prices were putting you off, at least now you know why hot tub covers are expensive. It can be very tempting to buy a cheap cover after sinking so much money in the tub itself, but it will only end up costing you more in repairs and replacement.

It’s much more advisable to invest in a good-quality expensive hot tub cover that will last for years to come with proper care than a cheap one that will probably break down in a year or two.

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