Spa Blankets...anyone Here Use One? Pros And Cons?

[synapse8888]

Whats been your experience with them?

I was thinking about this product:

http://www.spadepot.com/shop/ThermoFloat-S...6-P128C637.aspx

Seems like it may be one of the cheaper products though...

1) Does it ever make sense to make one yourself (if I can get a better quality material instead of the above). If so, where do you find the material for it?

2) Any impact on the ozonator?

I was planning on using it year around, to further minimize water heating bills and extend the life of my cover. Does this thinking make sense? I have a 2002 Jacuzzi J-345 if that matters...

Thanks for any input!

[pauldee]

You won't be happy with a cheap blanket. Look at this one from RH Tubs instead:

http://www.rhtubs.com/covers/floating.htm

I have one and I LOVE it. It is rigid enough to be thrown off and put back on with one hand. I've seen no indication of any ozone damage. On really cold nights, I only open half of the cover, then I just lift a corner and slide in under the blanket. I can run the jets at high speed with the blanket in place - you will not be able to do that with the cheaper bubble wrap blankets.

[Dr. Spa]

That looks to be about $6 too expensive *hint hint hint*

Two problems with the bubble blankets. First, they're VERY flimsy, and if you have any surface movement of the water they'll tend bunch up. Second is how they degrade over time. Typically when they start to degrade, they appear to be becoming slightly brittle with a few cracks in them. Then all of a sudden they seem to instantly disintegrate into thousands of little pieces, floating around in the spa. The up side is they're very easy to cut to a perfect fit due to their flimsiness and transparency.

[JerimiahR]

I'm all about making it easy for my customers. Blankets give you one extra step to get in, and out of the spa. They certainly can help 'over all' with energy use (keeping more heat in is good). However, you also have to keep in mind that it takes more effort. For some folks, that means using the spa less.

On the other hand, if you are using it often, the blankets also mean more water loss. We're not talking huge amounts, but every time you pull that blanket off it's wet, and that water gets all over. If you're a daily spa user, it'll mean topping off your water more often.

There are pro's and cons to everything. For longer periods between uses, blankets can help reduce evaporation loss and keep some extra warmth in. If your ultimate goal is energy savings, get a heavier foam type blanket. They can be quite a bit more expensive though.

[Jake the dog man]

I must say I think they are a nuisance. Between the added cost, the added effort, water loss, loss of efficient filtration, etc. I must say I can’t imagine why someone would feel the need to use one. I really do not think it will save your cover life much. I must have a super efficient cover because I only need to add an inch of water every 2 months or so, hardly enough to worry about, using my tub 4-6 times a week. But everyone is different. I own my tub to relax, certainly not to create more and more things to do.

Sometimes people really want to re-invent the wheel!

[sandi]

On the other hand, if you are using it often, the blankets also mean more water loss. We're not talking huge amounts, but every time you pull that blanket off it's wet, and that water gets all over. If you're a daily spa user, it'll mean topping off your water more often.

I disagree that a blanket results in more water loss - I think it cuts down a lot on evaporation. Our first blanket was the 1/8 inch thick foam one from spadepot.com. As Doc said, it bunched up when the spa filtered twice a day, plus it only lasted about 6 months before it developed holes in it just from removing and replacing it. Now we have the 1/4 inch thick one from rhtubs.com (have had it for about a year and a half) and love it. It doesn't affect filtration and I don't find it to be an inconvenience at all. Guess it's all a matter of opinion.

Sandi

[pauldee]

When I flip the blanket off, sure, it drips, just like the cover does. Maybe a 1/4 cup of water? A 1/2 cup maybe? I personally haven't experienced any need to continually top up. I suspect that what clings to, and drips from the blanket is no more than what you lose to evaporation without the blanket.