The Myth of R-Value as well as typical foam filled hot tub covers
R-value is a kind of dimension of the capability to resist warmth transfer for products like the fiberglass insulation in your house or perhaps the shielding foam in hot tub covers The intent is that, the better the R-value, the better the warmth storage space and also, heat retention would be the main work of any hot tub cover.
The majority of sectors using R-values are controlled by FTC criteria. Readily marketed insulation must pass independent examinations produced by American Criteria as well as Testing Approaches (ASTM) so as to be marketed or marked using their R-Value.
The Misled Masses: As there is no FTC identified independent examination for spa covers, So ANY mentioned R-value stated by a spa cover supplier remains in reality an uncontrolled, unmonitored “interpretation” of an offered insulation value. It is open to misrepresentation as well as abuse, from adding the R-value of an air space in between the water and also all-time low of the cover, spacing in between the plastic and also the cover insulation, or just blatantly inflating the fictitious number. Some hot tub suppliers specify specifically the recognized R-value of the insulation itself, yet certainly that doesn’t indicate that it was tested and also endorsed to use in hot tub cover applications.
The R-value of the real foam insulation, despite the density, is ONLY rated for usage in DRY structure applications! Which indicates the fact that the R ranking of the foam is only relevant must it happen to be used in a wall, attic room or floor. Since ought to it were to be made use of in a damp environment, that type of insulation would stop working swiftly.
Foam Thickness as well as Foam Thickness.
These 2 elements that spa cover dealers declare impact the R-value of spa covers, when actually that R ranking itself has nothing to do with the foam when it is used in a hot tub cover. Actually, it is as deceiving as the idea that a taper on the cover will actually keep it from getting heavy.
True, the foam thickness as well as density would certainly have a bearing on the insulation homes In case the Use of the foam were in compliance with the created use of a completely DRY atmosphere.
Regardless if the dealer declares his spa covers are made with the most pricey spa cover foam (rigid mobile polystyrene thermal insulation) offered, resists breakage, vapor absorption as well as chemical damage more than all the others they have actually examined. The truth is, R aspect is NOT something they test, as well as RESISTING breakage as well as saturation are not the same as PREVENTING it altogether.
When trying to find and also comparing spa covers, ALL claims associated with R-value of a cover that has foam are entirely unsubstantiated. Foam Thickness as well as Foam Thickness do not have any kind of ADDED R VALUE, considering that the foam is not made to be used over a wet environment. A lot of spa cover dealers repeat precisely the exact same numbers and subsequently hot tub owners have been trained to think the lie. Some suppliers use some fancy charts to substantiate their claims, however the bottom line is those cases could not be in conformity to the ASTM.
Misconception Busted!
R-value testing of products is finished at room temperature, as well as does not take into account wetness and vapor. In the spa atmosphere, there is hot water and excellent amounts of steamy wetness. Each which will considerably reduce the R-value of any foam. A spa at 105 levels will certainly beat the R-value of any foam checked to use in a completely dry application.
Do not enable the R-value of foam be considered the measurement for spa cover top quality. Rather search for a spa cover without any FOAM. Instead, hot tub covers that use air filled chambers as an alternative for rigid foam boards will certainly out preform any other, in any type of test or actual hot tub application. (Hey there, like those from SpaCap.com )
Do not be fooled by claims of high density as well as weight, vacuum wrapped in sheets of heat bonded polyethylene, sealed in heavy gauge marine grade plastic, with chemical resistant scrim as well as sewing. It will not protect as well. It will absolutely still come to be saturated, warped or busted. It genuinely was out-of-date thirty years back.
SpaCap.com spa covers do not use foam panels like the regular rigid foam filled hot tub covers. Instead they utilize air chambers to do the insulating. Other than being much more efficient, the air chambers do not suck up moisture like every foam-filled cover ever made.
Why not go to SpaCap.com as well as buy a hot tub cover for your spa today and obtain the future generation of hot tub covers.
