If you have a cover lifter
installed on your spa, this can do major damage to the lifter. I have seen the wind blow open a waterlogged cover and snap the metal lifter arms and tear the spa skirting right off the spa.
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| Rick the Spa Guy |
Why is my spa cover getting so heavy? I'll tell you why.
This topic goes along with one of my other blogs. "Think You Need A New Spa Cover".
If you need to go to the gym to be able to lift your cover there is a problem. Lets talk about why a spa cover gets so heavy.
This topic goes along with one of my other blogs. "Think You Need A New Spa Cover".
If you need to go to the gym to be able to lift your cover there is a problem. Lets talk about why a spa cover gets so heavy.
The cover manufactures tell us that while their covers are very durable they are not meant for excessive snow loads, weight bearing etc. What does that mean??
Those of us in the cold snowy climates know what excessive snow can weigh. While an inch of snow is not a problem 6-12 inches would be. The snow will freeze and get even heavier. Spa cover's are only supported at the outer edges. Therefore there is no support in the middle of the cover. So you have to be diligent about not putting anything heavy on the cover.
The cover is there to keep the heat in and the rain and snow out, not to be a shelf for your flower pots, or a bed for your animals: When anything too heavy rests on the vinyl it can crack the inner core of the cover. This is a foam core with a thin protective wrap around it and when that wrap is penetrated(broken from weight) the exposed foam starts to absorb the moisture of the water from underneath or on top. As this absorption continues the foam gets heavier and heavier until you can't lift up the cover.
Those of us in the cold snowy climates know what excessive snow can weigh. While an inch of snow is not a problem 6-12 inches would be. The snow will freeze and get even heavier. Spa cover's are only supported at the outer edges. Therefore there is no support in the middle of the cover. So you have to be diligent about not putting anything heavy on the cover.
The cover is there to keep the heat in and the rain and snow out, not to be a shelf for your flower pots, or a bed for your animals: When anything too heavy rests on the vinyl it can crack the inner core of the cover. This is a foam core with a thin protective wrap around it and when that wrap is penetrated(broken from weight) the exposed foam starts to absorb the moisture of the water from underneath or on top. As this absorption continues the foam gets heavier and heavier until you can't lift up the cover.
If you have a cover lifter
installed on your spa, this can do major damage to the lifter. I have seen the wind blow open a waterlogged cover and snap the metal lifter arms and tear the spa skirting right off the spa.So what have we learned so far? A spa cover has an average life span of 3-5 years. Do not use your spa cover as a storage spot and do not let snow build up on top. You can extend this life with just a little care and maintenance.
Every 6 months or so you should clean the vinyl and add a new coating of protectant
to give your cover the protection from the sun that it needs. So if you notice that your cover is a lot heavier than it used to be, you probably should be thinking of replacing it before more damage is done.
Every 6 months or so you should clean the vinyl and add a new coating of protectant
to give your cover the protection from the sun that it needs. So if you notice that your cover is a lot heavier than it used to be, you probably should be thinking of replacing it before more damage is done.Until next time......
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