Hot Tub Covers - Spa Covers: How to select the right one for you!
Location
The most important factor to consider is where you live and the location of your hot tub. Consider the amounts of sun, cold, rain, wet snow and snow your hot tub cover will receive. Each of these parameters is a factor in selecting correct hot tub covers, so you get the best value for your dollar.
For example, if you live in a temperate climate, lets say Florida, you will be more concerned with rain than with the insulation to keep you heating bills low. If you live in Buffalo, you will need to consider both cold and snow loads. However, if you live in Buffalo and a gazebo covers the hot tub, the only consideration will be the hot tub covers ability to insulate and keep the heat in.
R-Value = Insulation efficiency
The R-value for hot tub covers is a numerical calculation that tells the insulation factor of hot tub covers. The higher the number, the better hot tub covers will keep the heat in and the cold out, and keep your heating bill down.
The R-value of a hot tub cover is determined by two factors, the thickness of the cover and the density of the foam core.
Foam Core Thickness
Hot tub covers come in varying thicknesses. Most covers are thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges so that rainwater will run off of the cover. This is called the cover’s “slope”. Typical cover slopes are 4” – 2”, 5” – 3” and 6” – 4”.
The R-Value is calculated by multiplying the R-factor of the foam density times the thickness of the foam. For example, if the cover’s slope is 5” – 3” or 4” thick on average, the R-Value would be the R-Factor times 4. The thickness of the cover is a larger factor in the overall R-Value than the density as will be explained below.
Foam Core Density
Hot tub covers come in varying densities of foam cores. Typical densities are 1.0 pound, 1.5 pound and 2.0 pound. The “pound” means the number of pounds of raw material is used per unit when the foam is made. The foam will be exactly the same thickness for each density, but the foam will be denser and therefore stronger.
R-Value Calculations
Thickness is the critical factor for overall R-Value of hot tub covers. Keep in mind that the cover as a whole is a different R-Value calculation. The hot tub covers core is only one of the elements of the overall cover R-Value. The examples below are ONLY for the hot tub covers foam core, and will show that the cover’s thickness is a more important factor than the cover’s foam density.
Lets compare upgrading a 5"- 3" slope hot tub cover to 2.0# foam with a 6" - 4" slope with 1.0# foam.
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5” – 3” slope hot tub covers with 1.0 pound foam
Average foam thickness = 4”
1.0 pound foam’s R-factor is 4.17 at 40 degrees F
R-value of the foam only would be 4” X 4.17 = 16.68
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6” – 4” slope hot tub covers with 1.0 pound foam
Average foam thickness = 5”
1.0 pound foam’s R-factor is 4.17 at 40 degrees F
R-value of the foam only would be 5” X 4.17 = 20.85
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Now, if the same 5” – 3” slope cover is upgraded to 2.0 pound foam:
5” – 3” slope hot tub covers with 2.0 pound foam
Average foam thickness = 4”
2.0 pound foam’s R-factor is 4.76 at 40 degrees F
R-value of the foam only would be 4” X 4.76 = 19.04
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The the 6” – 4” with 1.0# foam has a higher R-Value than 5” – 3” with 2.0# foam !
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BeyondNice.com is a pioneer in the spa cover industry. As of spring 2008, we are the first to offer Design-Your-Own spa covers. This allows the customer to select the spa cover features they need for their specific environment. BeyondNice.com also provides the industry’s first Help Me Choose service so customer’s can get a cover recommendation based on their specific environment.
