How do you covers compare to the competition?
Below you'll discover that no other spa cover outlet meets our exacting standards. Other spa cover dealers can't say the same thing. We back up that pledge with outstanding customer service and an industry leading warranty. When we say we stand by our product, we mean it. We encourage you to shop around and compare covers. The chart below breaks down common differences between our hot tub covers and others you may see while shopping.

	OUR FEATURES	THEIR FEATURES
	Energy-Saving 4" to 3" sheathed insulating cores in all our outdoor covers	Weak, untapered and unsheathed cores, which break easily and suck up moisture.
	Guaranteed 12 month warranty for any defects	Long warranties that are too good to be true, from companies that have not been in business that long.
	Free shipping to ANY UK mainland address	All shipping charges not included in price
	Extra strong recessed handles and reinforced straps	Not reinforced mesh handles and straps.
	Excellent email and phone support	"Nobody's-home" email and phone support.

* Taken from a cross section of competing internet spa cover companies

Shipping details?
Shipping on your cover is free to any address (commercial or residential) in mainland England. There are no additional shipping fees. We typically use our own delivery men to deliver to remove the damage potential usually attributed to using a courier. We hand deliver in the UK direct from our factory with our own drivers, this is because the covers are too big and bulky for UPS or most parcel carriers. It means we can control the shipment and take extra care minimising shipment damage. All shipping and freight insurance costs are included in the price.

Can we ship a cover outside the UK?
Yes, we ship to all European destinations, please view our prices and delivery areas, warranty to these destinations only applies to the skin, please click for full warranty details.

How are your Spa Covers made?
The best way to answer this question is to look at the features of our lid as this gives a good idea of the manufacturing process.

What kind of insulation do you use in your spa covers?
Our spa covers use virgin 4" to 3" tapered polystyrene foam core for their insulation. We do not use recycled foam insulation as it is less reliable. The highest weight rating (density) means increased strength and a reduced capacity to absorb moisture.

What kind of vinyl do you use on your spa covers?
We use Marine Grade Vinyl, the thickest vinyl used on any UK spa cover and it exceeds all specified requirements for "Marine Grade" vinyl. It features mildew inhibitors, UV stabilized coloring (to help prevent fading) and it is resistant to chlorine and bromine. The backing fabric is reinforced 100% polyester that will not rot.

What is the R-Value of your spa covers?
This is a bit of a misnomer, as there is no UK standardized test to calculate the R-value of a spa cover. Our best estimate of our covers R-Value is based on the known properties of our polystyrene insulation plus a small increment for the vinyl encasement. We believe they are as accurate as we can make them and, unlike other claims we've seen, these estimates do not exploit an unregulated marketplace.

• High Grade polystyrene insulation with a 4"-3" taper - R-12

Can you offer additional ways to increase energy efficiency in our cover?
As standard, our lids come with two pads at each end of the center hinge to help prevent heat and moisture from escaping through the sides of the hinge but this leaves a large gap in the center of the hinge. If you live in a cold climate, you should consider a Continuous Heat Seal (£15 add on cost) to help keep heat from escaping through the hinge. It's a dense pad that runs the entire length of the hinge and it's very reasonably priced, and worth every penny.

We also sell a very good insulating spa blanket that floats on top of your water and helps protect the bottom of your cover from heat, moisture and chemical fumes while also saving energy by conserving heat.~

How does your cover protect against moisture absorption ("heavy cover")
Most spa covers must function in a very hostile environment, (especially with our beautiful UK climate). This includes rain, snow, searing summer heat (hopefully) and UV's coming down from above and hot steam, chemical fumes, even ozone constantly bombarding the cover bottom from below.

Spa covers take a lot of punishment from all sides and, over time, they will whatever you do begin to absorb moisture. To slow this down and extend the cover life we use a 140 micron polyethylene vapor barrier to wrap the insulating cores in, this is expertly  sealed. Our barrier is one of the thickest in the industry. As an ordering option, we offer a double wrapped core for those wanting extra protection. This will with the proper care add years to your cover life and you might well consider it, especially if you've experienced this problem before.

How much do your spa covers weigh?
It is the "how long is a piece of string" question and obviously all depends on the hot tub cover size but as a guide an average sized cover with our 4"-3" taper = 40-45 lb. You will be amazed at how light the new cover is in comparison to your existing lid (we don't sacrifice lightness for strength)

Safety straps?
Yes, our 4 lockable straps come with both parts and screws for fitment. Additionally, they are sewn into the cover in four places to make them much more wind resistant. If you want to specify strap position just let us know when you order and we will contact you back to get the exact position.

What about Customer Service?
We pride ourselves on our customer service right from your order to the delivery of your cover and beyond. First, we actually answer the phone during business hours and our trained spa cover specialists are ready to help you. If you call during off hours or during an extremely busy time and get our voice mail system, we'll call you back within one business day or less. If you e-mail us, we'll get back to you even faster. But our commitment to customer service only begins when we take your order.

First, we check your order for any obvious problems and if we have any doubt about what you want, we'll contact you before we go into production. Once your spa cover has been made and goes through quality control checks, we help you monitor your cover delivery and we send you a number of communications along the way:

• Immediately after you order is processed, you get a copy of your order and invoice via e-mail.
• 7-10 days prior to the dispatch date, you will get an e-mail with the ship date.

Additionally, your cover shipment is fully insured against damage and if you should experience a problem of any kind, we are available to serve you.

What causes hot tub lids to fail?
Like we previously stated there is not a lid in the world today that won't eventually fall foul of water ingression. The causes are simple:

Water evaporates from the surface of the spa settling on the underside of the cover; the chemically treated water then gradually damages/burns the sheathed core material. In time the sheathing breaks down allowing water vapour to gain entry to the core insulation, causing the lid to gain in weight. Cleaning the lid underside with a light amount of spa surface cleaner and a soft washing brush before rinsing thoroughly with a hose, will reduce both the chemical attack and the mildew which grows and builds up on the damp vinyl which if you let continue will begin to rot the fabric, accelerating failure.

If you don't leave your lid open for 30 minutes and run the jets after adding shock or high levels of sanitiser then, microscopic holes will burn the core sheath allowing water to ingress into the core, eventually making the lid too heavy to lift. Ozone naturally eats the lid underside but this takes much longer to damage the cover then chemical attack.

How can I lift my hot tub cover off of the hot tub?
Although most hot tub covers have handles to help you get a grip to lift the cover, hot tub covers can be quite heavy, especially the ones that insulate the best. Therefore, it might be a good idea to get a hot tub cover lifter. A hot tub cover lifter is a device that allows you to lift your hot tub cover with ease, reducing the strain it might otherwise cause on your back.

What are your sales policies and procedures?
Policies and procedures:

We guarantee a perfect fit based on your measurements but in the end, you are responsible for your measurements. Please review your order confirmation carefully for errors. You may make changes to your order within two business day, but because covers are made-to-order, all sales are final and we cannot make changes to your order after it is in production.

There are literally thousands of possible shape, size and color combinations for replacement spa covers. Therefore, All covers are custom made and they cannot be returned for re-sale. Once we start making your cover, we are fully invested in it. Therefore, in keeping with standard industry practice, your credit card is charged when you place your order.

We are proud to say our return rate is less than 0.3% but if your new cover does not match your order or it arrives damaged, you must contact us within 48 hours of receipt. Upon confirmation of the problem, we will rush a replacement order and ship it to you at no charge.

Replacement of damaged or defective covers not reported within 48 hours, or covers sent in for warranty repairs after the first 30 days will require payment for all shipping charges.

Covers generally take from 3 to 5 weeks from the time you order to the time you receive it.

Our communication with you depends of the accuracy of the information you provide us. Please provide a good e-mail address and a daytime phone number so that we may serve you better.

What is your warranty?
View our full warranty conditions.

How long should a spa cover last?
Our covers are engineered for longevity and, depending on specific conditions, they are designed to last five years. At least part of your cover's lifespan depends on you. If you can protect the top of your cover from UV (under a Gazebo, for example), that's a good idea. Another important step you can take is to leave your cover off your spa for 30 minutes after you add shock/oxidizers. Lastly, it's a good idea to wash and condition your cover with a good UV protectant at least once every three months. View our Aftercare Guide.

How can I lift my hot tub cover off of the hot tub?
Although most hot tub covers have handles to help you get a grip to lift the cover, hot tub covers can be quite heavy, especially the ones that insulate the best. Therefore, it might be a good idea to get a hot tub cover lifter. A hot tub cover lifter is a device that allows you to lift your hot tub cover with ease, reducing the strain it might otherwise cause on your back.

Where are you Located and how do I contact HotTubLids?
Poolandspacentre.co.uk is not just an internet-only business we are also open to the public. For our full contact details please click here