Is it Good for Your Hot Tub to Be Uncovered?

Electricity and Heater

• Hot tubs have a heater to keep the water temperature warm. If you don't have a cover on the tub, you will have heat lost and the heater will need to run continuously to keep the water at the selected temperature, which uses more electricity. The cover keeps the heat inside the tub so the water is always at a desired temperature and the heater doesn't need to run all the time. The heater that runs continuously to keep an uncovered hot tub warm is going to wear out quickly and need to be replaced.

Debris and Wildlife

• Covers will keep out debris and wildlife. Birds, mice, insects and other wildlife will seek out the water in the hot tub, often dying in it when the do get in. Wildlife will contaminate the water whether or not they drown, and debris will settle on the bottom of the tub. If the debris is not removed from the tub, the water will turn dirty.

Chemicals

• Hot tubs without covers will require more chemicals to keep the water clean. The chlorine in the hot tub will dissipate under the hot sun, which will affect the pH and alkalinity levels of the water. When wildlife and debris land in an uncovered hot tub when the chlorine and other chemicals levels are out of range, algae will start growing and the water will be unsafe for use.

Safety

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends keeping a cover on the hot tub to keep children out when the tub is not in use. Some local ordinances, such as the one that McHenry County, Ill., has, requires a barrier around a hot tub if the tub doesn't have a locking cover.