Maintaining a well-functioning and clean hot tub is essential for enjoying the benefits of relaxation and hydrotherapy. One often overlooked but critical component of hot tub maintenance is the hot tub cover. Over time, hot tub covers can deteriorate due to constant exposure to the elements and wear and tear. In this blog, we will explore the all-important question “When Should I Replace My Hot Tub Cover?” and the signs that indicate it’s time to replace your hot tub cover, helping you ensure the longevity and efficiency of your hot tub.

On average, a hot tub or swim spa cover will need to be replaced every 5–7 years as it begins to show signs of wear and tear from facing the elements every day. With each hot tub cover lasting a different amount of time, here are Blue Lagoon Wellness top signs to replace your hot tub cover.

How Do I Know If My Hot Tub Cover Is Waterlogged?

Another common issue with spa covers is water absorption. Over time, covers may begin to lose their water-resistant properties, leading to what is known as waterlogging. A waterlogged cover becomes heavy, saggy, and inefficient at retaining heat. If you notice your spa cover becoming heavier or sagging excessively, it’s likely saturated with water and potentially needs to be replaced.

Before you decide to replace your hot tub cover, there are a couple of tricks you can try to clear some of the water trapped within the foam lining of your hot tub cover.

Start by removing the hot tub cover from the hot tub, once completely separated from the hot tube, carefully unzip the vinyl ‘skin’ removing all of the internal foam. Once removed, lay the foam in an open part of your garden that has the most sun coverage, this will allow the sun to evaporate some of the water trapped inside whilst allowing air to actively flow through the foam.

Turn the vinyl cover inside out and use a towel to dry off any water on the inside. Lay the hot tub vinyl cover alongside the foam. Once they have become dry, spray the inside of your vinyl cover and each surface of the foam pieces with a mildew inhibitor and let them dry to prevent further issues from arising.

This process has a high chance of recovering your waterlogged hot tub cover, although if you don’t notice any significant changes it is time for your hot tub cover to be replaced.

How Do I Get Rid Of Mold In My Hot Tub?

Providing an ideal environment for mould and mildew growth due to the presence of moisture and warmth, an unfortunate consequence of hot tub waterlogging is the potential build-up of mould and mildew within the hot tub cover.

Commonly seen as black or green patches on the hot tub cover, any hot tub mould can cause significant issues such as unpleasant odours and compromise the cleanliness of your hot tub water.

Similarly to when a hot tub cover is waterlogged when you see mould, the first thing to do is to completely remove the cover taking out the foam core so both the vinyl and foam can be cleaned separately. Specific hot tub cover cleaning solutions are available to purchase although if you do not have any readily available you can use a mix of:

• One gallon of water
• A teaspoon of mild detergent
• One cup of bleach
• A soft bristle brush

Wear rubber gloves in a well ventilated-area pour some of the cleaning solution onto the separate components of the hot tub cover and let it set for a while depending on the amount of mould present. Gently scrub the mould with a soft brush or a sponge until the mould has seemingly vanished. Once the mould is no longer visible use a hose to rinse off the cleaning solution and the mould.

How Do I Stop My Hot Tub Cover From Losing Heat?

As we’ve previously discussed over time, the materials within your hot tub cover will deteriorate with several variables taking effect, including your climate, the quality of your hot tub cover, and how well you take care of your hot tub and its cover in general.

With the impact of waterlogging and mould on your hot tub cover over time both the vinyl and internal foam of the hot tub cover will begin to showcase damage that causes the cover to be heavier and misshapen, causing it to seal improperly, allowing the heat to escape through the seams.

To prevent this heat loss from occurring we recommend following the above step to slow down the deterioration of your hot tub cover, however, when this reaches a certain point the cover can become irreparable and you will need to replace the entire hot tub cover.