How do I stop rain pooling in my hot tub? What pros say
Some people may love using a hot tub during rain, sitting in the warm water, feeling the rain on your head. But others are worried about rainwater pooling in their hot tub, also when it is not used. Luckily there are several solutions how to stop this.
How do I stop rain pooling in my hot tub?
To stop rain from pooling in your hot tub, you must use a good quality water-resistant hot tub cover. Such a cover will ensure that no rain will find its way to the water in the hot tub. If you want to stop rain from entering your hot tub when using it, you need to cover it. Or place it in a covered location.
In this blog post, I will further explain what to do to stop rain pooling in your hot tub. Some other questions will be answered, like what to do if your hot tub cover gets waterlogged and how to maintain it.
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How do I stop rain pooling in my hot tub?
To stop your tub from getting rain pooled, you need to use a durable hot tub cover along with other essential accessories.
The best way to keep the rainwater off your pool is to have a hot tub cover, umbrella, and cover lifter. Usually, a good-quality hot tub will come with an efficient cover. Cover the hot tub whenever you don't use the tub. Make sure that the straps of the cover are fastened. The tub cover also protects your hot tub from harsh sun rays and snow. Ideally, a durable tub cover will be made of weather-resistant materials like heavy-duty vinyl.
Making a roof over your hot tub or installing the tub under a gazebo will also avoid rainwater pooling in your tub.
– Use a water-resistant Hot Tub Cover
In cheaper inflatable tubs, the spa cover is often not water-resistant and only keeps debris out. In such cases, you will see that an outdoor tub will increase water levels after rain. It is because those covers are letting the rainwater slowly seep into the tub. To avoid this, you need to stuff it with a thick water-resistant foam or other water-resistant material.
A hot tub without an efficiently insulating cover also consumes more electricity because the heat loss will be bigger. Without a cover, you'll end up cleaning and draining the water every time, especially during rain.
– Cover your hot tub
Another method to stop rain pooling in your hot tub is by adding a cover. You can add a fixed roof above your hot tub that protects it from rain, snow, and debris. If needed, you can add a sidewall to protect it from the wind.
Another solution is to use a flexible cover that you hand between poles. Ensure that the cover you use is really waterproof, as some of them are more to keep the sun out.
The last solution I want to mention is to place the hot tub in a covered location. This can be on your deck, or other place with a roof.
– Use the hot tub filter twice a day
Ensure to run your filter twice a day, at least for one hour, if your outdoor tub is taking too much rain and your tub cover is not water-resistant. Do it frequently to eliminate any contaminants or debris brought into the tub by rainwater.
Why is my hot tub cover filling up with water?
Your hot tub cover will fill with water if it is not water-resistant or damaged and has a leak or crack. Hot tub covers usually become heavy because the foam gets waterlogged.
Your tub cover may fill with water in certain other instances too. In certain spas which come with the waterfall feature, water may creep into the tub cover, eventually leading to waterlogging. Tub covers with a small tear underneath may get water-soaked from the steam and moisture coming from the hot water in the tub when it is closed.
Many hot tub cover foam has a plastic vapor wall that prevents water penetration. But over time, the vapor wall will be less effective due to wear and tear, or it gets punctured. This may lead to rainwater getting absorbed by the foam and making the cover heavy.
Another reason could be a crack or tearing of the vinyl exterior. This damage could easily let water penetrate the hot tub cover, and thus the cover becomes heavy. Never overlook these damages. Depending on the damage, you can easily repair these cracks or small holes to make your cover free from waterlogging.
It is also good to buy new foam if it is possible to replace it in your cover. But in some cases, the cost is almost similar to a new cover. If you can not fix your cover, I recommend purchasing a new one.
How do I stop rain pooling on my hot tub cover?
To keep rain from pooling on your hot tub cover, ensure that the top is leveled. Often the center will sag somewhat, resulting in water pooling. To solve this, make a slight slope by partially lifting one side so the water will drain to the side. This can be done with a plastic bar that you put on the side of the hot tub underneath the cover. Another solution is to add a roof or place it in a covered area.
How do I maintain my hot tub cover?
Hot tub covers are essential for maintaining your tub in good working order. But these covers also need protection from harsh weather and other elements like the sun and falling objects. First-time buyers don't realize that they have to take care of the tub cover also.
Generally, people enjoy their hot tub during rain or cloudy weather. That is why many hot tub owners prefer their tub to be outdoors. But it means the hot tub covers are exposed to all nature has to offer, including rain pooling. Following are some ways to take care of the hot tub covers that are waterlogged.
- Use cover accessories: A spa cover, cover lifter, and umbrella can protect your hot tub cover from excessive rainwater.
- Keep your hot tub cover dry: If possible, try to reduce the amount of water that your cover experiences. This will protect it from becoming waterlogged.
- Use a spa-safe surface cleaner: Clean your hot tub cover with some spa-surface cleaner. It helps to remove moss and mildew and prevents the cover from developing a heavy mildew smell.
- Brush off rainwater: After heavy rain, ensure that you brush off the remaining water content from your spa cover as early as possible. Leaving the rainwater to stay on top of the cover increases the chances of rainwater seeping in.
- Remove snow build-up: In case of heavy snow, remove the snow on top of the spa cover. Heavy snow build-up makes the spa cover sag which will later lead to water seeping in. Be careful not to damage the spa cover if you are removing the snow when using sharp objects. The colder the material, the less flexible it will be, the easier it will damage.
A high-quality hot tub cover can last for many years. The standard weight of a hot tub cover is around 50 – 75 pounds, depending on its size. It means you can lift it easily. But when the hot tub cover gets absurdly heavy, it indicates that your tub cover has a waterlogging issue.
In some cases, you may hear water sloshing when you lift the tub cover. This is another indication of water-logging in the tub cover. A tub cover soaked with water is less efficient in keeping the tub warm due to an increased heat loss. It will lead to higher electricity bills.
How do you fix a waterlogged hot tub cover?
The first step to fix a waterlogged hot tub cover is to remove the foam. Let it dry in the sun or at another dry location. Clean the vinyl cover, and let it thoroughly dry as well. Use some mold inhibitor and add the foam back into the vinyl cover. Do not forget to fix the source of the waterlogging.
Waterlogging in a hot tub cover is a common problem. The cause behind waterlogging is a porous cover that lets water reaching the insulation foam. Due to its proximity to water, the foam becomes the prime area for water vapor condensation and mildew growth.
Cracks in cover also lead to waterlogging. If the cover cracks, the water will penetrate the foam. Another reason for waterlogging can be poor water chemistry leading to corrosion. However, there are ways to prevent a hot tub cover from getting waterlogged.
If you observe waterlogging early, remove the foam and place it in the sun. Doing so will allow it to come in contact with the fresh air. Thus, the foam will dry out. If it is too late, you will have to replace the cover.
To protect your hot tub cover from mold, prepare a solution by mixing one cup of bleach and seven liters of water. Use this solution in areas affected by mold.
Ensure that the foam is dry before putting it back into the cover. You can also spray a mold inhibitor on the foam before putting it back into the cover.
You should also check whether or not foam has suffered cracks. If it has cracks, apply a patch on both sides of the foam. This process will resolve the issue of waterlogging in your hot tub cover.
– Fix a waterlogged hot tub cover, step by step:
Along with the above points, here is a specific step-by-step process on how to fix a waterlogged hot tub cover.
- Remove the foam from the cover: Remove the hot tub cover by unzipping the vinyl along with each part of the foam core. Make sure to do it gently. Otherwise, it may damage the cover.
- Let the foam dry: Place the foam under the sun for air circulation within the foam.
- Turn the vinyl inside out: Turn the vinyl skin inside out to towel the interior part thoroughly. Now keep it under the sun to let it dry.
- Use a mold inhibitor: Spray the interior of the vinyl cover with a mold inhibitor and let it dry.
- Put the foam back in: Finally, turn the cover, align back the foam pieces, and zip it back. Be careful as there are chances that your hot tub cover may tear.
Will waterlogged Styrofoam dry out?
In general, waterlogged Styrofoam will be challenging to dry out without removing it from the outside cover. If it is possible, it will take an extremely long time. And during this time, depending on the location, new moisture may be even added instead of removed. Ensure that you also fix the reason why it got waterlogged.
Vapors can get trapped between the core and the polythene covering. The average lifespan of this cover is about one to three years. If Styrofoam becomes waterlogged, it will not be able to insulate properly. Waterlogged Styrofoam will be much heavier than the normal one.
Styrofoam, if waterlogged, can be dried in the sun or another dry location. Also, let the vinyl cover dry thoroughly. And do not forget to fix the reason why it got waterlogged. Often the cover is damaged, or it is just too old.
Take the Styrofoam out of the cover and also make sure to remove the plastic cover. Since waterlogged Styrofoam is heavier than the normal one, it might not be easy to lift it. Remove its core and turn the vinyl inside out so it can dry itself on the inside first. Otherwise, moisture may remain trapped inside the cover. If it is possible to lay the Styrofoam in a slanting direction, it will drain the water out effectively. It will feel considerably lighter once it is dry.
However, buying a new hot tub cover is often a better solution. Even if you dry the Styrofoam and the cover, it would probably be damaged. That is why it got waterlogged in the first place.