Don't believe everything that you hear! At Northern Hot Tub Covers we hear quite a few myths and misconceptions surrounding hot tub covers. Here are a few of the most common!

Myth #1 - R-Value Is The Best Way To Judge A Hot Tub Cover

R-value is the measurement of the resistance to heat transfer that a material has. The higher the R-value, the more the material will resist changes in heat and the better insulator it is.

Some hot tub cover manufacturers use the R-Value of their covers as their main selling point. While a high R-value is normally the best judge of a materials insulating ability, there are a couple of problems when quoting the R-value of a cover.

R-value is measured at around 75 degrees and in dry conditions. The high temperatures and moisture that hot tub covers are exposed to can greatly alter the insulating ability of a material. There are no recognized independent tests for the R-value of a hot tub cover. This means that any number stated by a hot tub cover manufacturer is an unregulated interpretation of the covers insulating value, rather than an independently proven number.

How Do You Judge The Insulating Value Of A Hot Tub Cover?

So if you can't use R-value, how can you figure out the insulating ability of a hot tub cover? The best way of determining which hot tub cover will provide the best insulation is to look at:

• The thickness of the cover. The thicker the insulating foam is, the more insulating ability the cover will have. 
• The density of the foam. The denser the foam is, the more efficiently it will trap heat and the more insulating value it will have. Foam density is typically rated in pounds with the industry standard being 1.0lb. All of our hot tub covers are made with 1.5lb foam for superior insulation and strength.

Myth #2 - Corner Radius And Skirt Length Don't Matter

Over the years that we've been in business, we've come across many people who seem to think that as long as their hot tub cover is the right dimensions it doesn't really matter what the corner radius and skirt length are because the hot tub will still be covered. In truth, both of these measurements are crucial to ensuring that the cover functions properly.

Most hot tubs - and hot tub covers - have rounded corners. Corner radius is simply the measurement of those curves. Skirt length is the measurement of the piece of fabric that extends below the foam part of the cover.

Getting both of these measurements right is crucial in ensuring that the cover fits snuggly on the cover. If the cover is loose, it will not form a proper seal on the top of the hot tub; costing you hundreds of dollars every year in added energy costs.

To see how to properly measure corner radius and skirt length, see our free hot tub cover measuring guide.

Myth #3 - You Need To Purchase Your Cover From The Manufacturer

This hot tub cover myth seems to stem from certain retailers that tell their customers that they must get their replacement covers from the manufacturer of the hot tub or the cover will never fit right. The reality is that most manufacturers don't even make their own hot tub covers, and many 3rd party hot tub cover providers offer better quality covers at a considerably lower cost.

Myth #4 - Hot Tub Covers Don't Require Any Maintenance

While most hot tub owners understand that they need to regularly maintain and clean the hot tub to ensure that it works at peak capacity, few extend that same level of care to their hot tub cover.

The reality is that doing some basic maintenance on your hot tub cover can help it improve your hot tubbing experience, and can extend the lifespan of the cover itself! For more information, consult our hot tub cover maintenance guide.