How to Take Care of Your Hot Tub Cover in Canada (So It Actually Lasts)
Owning a hot tub in Brockville is amazing — until you realize just how much our weather beats up your spa cover. Between the humid summers, falling leaves along the St. Lawrence, and heavy Ontario snow, your hot tub cover is constantly working overtime.
And here’s the thing: if you don’t take care of it, you’ll notice the difference on your hydro bill, in your water quality, and eventually in your wallet when you need a replacement sooner than expected.
After years of seeing covers come through our showroom in every possible condition (from almost-new to completely waterlogged), here’s what I recommend to keep yours looking good and doing its job.
Why Your Cover Matters More Than You Think
A lot of people treat the cover as just a lid, but it’s really the insulation system of your spa. If it’s cracked, sagging, or heavy with water, your heater will run twice as long trying to keep up. In Brockville and Ontario winters in general, that can easily mean an extra $50–$100 a month on hydro.
I’ve seen customers bring in covers that looked fine from the outside, but once we put them on the scale, they were so waterlogged you’d think they’d been dragged out of the St. Lawrence.
1. Keep It Clean (Especially in Spring and Fall)
Around here, spring pollen and fall leaves are brutal on spa covers. If you let that grime sit, it breaks down the vinyl and shortens the life of the stitching.
A quick rinse with the garden hose and a gentle soap once in a while is enough. Skip the bleach or harsh cleaners — they’ll do more harm than good. Pro Tip: Saddle Soap - inexpensive and keeps the cover looking new forever.
2. Protect It from Sun and Snow
Our summers may not be long, but that sun will cook a cover if it’s unprotected. A UV protectant rubbed in a few times a year keeps the vinyl soft and flexible.
Come winter, don’t let the snow pile up. I’ve had a customer call in January after a storm, worried because their cover bowed under the weight one heavy snow filled winter . A soft broom takes care of it — never a shovel, unless you want to slice right through.
3. Don’t Let It Get Waterlogged
After years of ownership if your cover feels heavier than usual, it’s probably soaked. That means the inner foam has failed and it’s losing its insulation. Not only is it a pain to lift, but you’re literally losing heat (and money) out the top.
When you start noticing sagging or the vinyl pulling away at the seams, it’s time to think about a replacement.
4. Make Life Easier with a Cover Lifter
One of the smartest upgrades Brockville hot tub owners make is adding a cover lifter. It’s not just convenience — it prevents the cover from being dragged across the deck or leaned against a wall, which destroys it over time.
We’ve installed hundreds, and I always tell people: once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
5. Strap It Down — The St. Lawrence Wind Is No Joke
Living near the river means wind gusts that can rip a cover off in seconds if it isn’t strapped. Every year, we hear stories of covers ending up in a neighbour’s yard or even halfway down the street. Lock the straps — it takes ten seconds and saves you a lot of grief.
When to Replace Your Cover
On average, most covers in Ontario last about 4–6 years, depending on care. But here are the big red flags:
It feels like lifting a wet mattress.
The vinyl is cracked and peeling.
You’re noticing more heat loss (longer warm-up times).
When that happens, it’s not worth fighting with it anymore — a new cover will pay for itself in energy savings alone. We have clients who take great care of their covers and have had them for over 10 years.
Final Thoughts
Your hot tub cover might not be the most exciting part of your spa, but it’s the part that keeps everything else running smoothly. A little care goes a long way, especially in a climate like Ontarios.
If you’re not sure whether your cover still has life in it, pop into our Brockville location and we’ll help. Sometimes all it needs is a bit of TLC — other times, it’s simply time to start fresh.
Either way, we’ve got you covered.