Soft covers are just that - soft. They work similar to a pool cover. They are easy to use, no Styrofoam, easy to store with an inflatable cover support underneath, and great for snow loads. Secure with 10 to 12 childproof locks.
Four models to choose from that fit 90% of all portable spas.
https://replacementhottubcovers.com/products/soft-hot-tub-cover?_pos=1&_sid=994d626e0&_ss=r
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Let's explore some of the options:
Cover Valet
Economy Cover Lift
Rock-It
The lifespan will depend on many factors. The top three being maintenance, weather and water chemistry.
Cover Maintenance:
You want to make sure you are using a cover cleaner and protectant with a UV inhibitor; weekly if exposed to the weather and monthly if it is under cover. This helps to prevent the breakdown of the vinyl casing/skin of your cover.
Weather:
Weather can shorten the lifespan of your cover in several ways. If you live in an extreme climate that has heavy rain or snow, your cover will take a beating. You can help extend the life of your cover by increasing the density of your foam. Most standard covers are made with 1# foam. The more dense the foam, the more weight it can support. Even with a more dense foam such as 2#, you will still want to remove any snow that accumulates on your cover. Increasing the taper of your cover helps with run off from rain or melting snow.
Water Chemistry:
Lastly, your water chemistry affects how long your cover will last. Proper water chemistry ensures not only that your hot tub water is safe to bathe in, but it also helps to ensure longevity of your cover. All aspects of water chemistry affect your cover; High Ph, hard water, elevated sanitizer levels, just to name a few. However, your sanitizer plays the biggest role. When adding any chemical to your spa, you should always open your cover and run the jets for a complete 20 minute cycle - longer if possible. This allows any chemicals, especially sanitizers, to gas off into the air and not into the liner of your cover. It is also not recommended to use a floater in your hot tub. When using a floater, the cover is down for the majority of the day. The gasses produced from the sanitizer have no where to go except into your spa cover. This will cause deterioration of your liner and foam. Not only that, but you will see negative affects on you hot tub components as well.
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