ByRossi

A hot tub cover lifter is an excellent accessory for spa owners who want to reduce the effort required to fold/unfold the hot tub cover. The tub cover can weigh up to 75 pounds, and lifting it yourself is challenging, so using a lifter will also benefit your health.

If you want to upgrade your hot tub, getting a spa cover lifter is a great choice. However, choosing and installing it can be difficult, so we created this all-in-one guide for you.

In this article, we will go over hot tub cover lifters in detail and answer all of your questions:

• What is a hot tub cover lifter?
• How to use it?
• How to install and fix it?
• What types do exist, and which models are the best?
• How to make it manually?
• Is it worth your money?

Let’s find out how to upgrade your hot tub!

Comparison of the Best Hot Tub Cover Lifters

What Is a Hot Tub Cover Lifter? 

A hot tub cover lifter is a functional accessory that reduces the effort required to fold/unfold the hot tub cover. It will be useful for all owners. 

Moreover, this accessory allows you to fix the cover in almost any convenient position. You can easily clean it without having to remove it from the mounts.

A cover lift is a helper that will make hot tub maintenance more comfortable. However, despite its simplicity, several types have distinctive features. 

3 Types of Cover Lifters + Best Models

In total, there are three main types of hot tub cover lifts:

• Shelf;
• Manual pivot;
• Hydraulic.

When choosing the best cover lifters, users primarily focus on the following criteria:

• Solidity and durability;
• Ease of use;
• Ease of installation;
• Reducing efforts when folding/unfolding a cover.

We ranked the top-rated products according to these and other quality criteria and selected the best three hot tub cover lifters. Below you can find a detailed review of each type of cover lifter and the best model for each type.

Shelf Cover Lifter

The shelf cover lifter is not quite a lift because it does not lift your cover. However, it copes with the main task of this accessory – to simplify the process of folding/unfolding.

The shelf is the cheapest and simplest hot tub cover lift. It consists of two metal holders with rollers located on their surfaces. You can fold your cover in half and roll it up on the shelf.

Uceder Cover Roller – the Best Shelf Cover Lifter

Uceder Cover Roller is the best shelf cover lifter and has twice the quality rating of the next best model, according to our QC analysis. However, what makes this model the best?

Firstly, Uceder Cover Roller is compatible with all types of covers, unlike manual pivot and hydraulic, as you may have difficulty attaching the round cover to them. As for the shelf cover lifter, you place a cover of any shape on the wheels and make a little effort to remove it.

Secondly, Uceder Cover Roller is the easiest to install since it only takes 20 minutes, which is one and a half times less than Spa Depot Slider Spa Cover No-Lift Remover. Also, when you’re not using the shelf cover lifter, you can fold the arms, so they don’t take up too much space.

Manual Pivot Cover Lifter

The manual pivot cover lifter is a classic take on this accessory. It is a high bracket that looks like a stroller handle. 

This cover lift is in the middle price range. The average cost of a manual pivot accessory is $120. It is about 2x the price of a shelf and 2x of a hydraulic. It is essentially a “hanger” for your folding cover. Therefore, in the horizontal plane, it will take up less space than the shelf but will close the view from the side on which it is installed.

UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift – the Best Manual Pivot Cover Lifter

UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift is the best manual pivot cover lift that scores two points more than #2 Cover Valet Cover Rock-It. However, what makes this model the best?

Firstly, the UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift has the highest versatility score, as 60% of users (20% more than other models) report that they can use it with covers up to 109″, which is 13″ more than MySpaCover Hydraulic Cover Lifter. Moreover, the UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift does not require you to drill holes in your hot tub, as you are installing it under the hot tub.

Secondly, UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift has clear instructions that are available in two languages: English and French. Therefore, you will not face any difficulties during the lifter installation. Also, the manufacturer provides a one-year warranty, unlike other models.

A trick to make it easier to place a lifter: 

“Take a board and place it against the back of the hot tub. Then, simply slide the entire guide assembly onto the board.”

Hydraulic Cover Lifter

A hydraulic hot tub cover lifter is the ultimate solution that requires a lot of investment. Structurally, it is the same as the manual pivot, but hydraulic pistons are installed inside the brackets. Unlike other lifts, this one allows you to remove the cover with one hand!

However, due to structural similarity, hydraulic has the same drawback as manual one. It is the overlap of the view from the side from which the accessory is installed. You can find hydraulic models that allow you to drop the cover directly to the floor but be prepared to pay up to 3 times the average price.

MySpaCover Hydraulic Cover Lifter – the Best Hydraulic Lifter

MySpaCover Hydraulic Cover Lifter is the best hydraulic lift as it has twice the QC analysis score of the #2 SpaEase Hydraulic Hot Tub Cover Lift. However, what makes it the best choice?

First, nearly 100% of users, twice as many as #2, report that the MySpaCover Hydraulic Cover Lifter reduces the load required to lift the cover to the lowest possible. Thus, you can move the lid with one hand.

Secondly, you can install a hydraulic lifter on a full hot tub. You do not need to lift the tub, as you would when installing the UltraLift Under Mount Cover Lift. Just drill holes, follow the instructions, and within a couple of minutes, the lift will be ready for use.

Thirdly, 60% of users note (three times more than other models) that the MySpaCover Hydraulic Cover Lifter conveniently stores a cover. You can set this up a few feet off the ground, and the cover will still provide the privacy you need for comfortable relaxation.

How to Use a Cover Lift

Using the hot tub cover lifter is very simple. It consists of a foldable cover and a bracket. To unfold this accessory, you need only three steps:

1. Put the bracket on the cover;
2. Lift the part of the lid that is free from the bracket and wrap it with another one to make a “sandwich”;
3. Take the “sandwich” at the top and place it perpendicular to your hot tub.

Voila, in just 15 seconds, you have easily prepared your hot tub. To fold the cover, you need to do the same steps in reverse order.

However, if you want to remove the accessory, follow these instructions:

1. Close both sides of the cover and raise the bracket;
2. Lift the part of the cover closest to the bracket and place it on top of the other to make a “sandwich”;
3. Remove the cover from the hot tub.

Spa Cover Lifter Maintenance

Cover lifts are made from anti-corrosion materials. Therefore you don’t have to worry about rusting. However, for the accessory to serve you as long as possible, you should perform two simple actions.

• Inspect the levers and mounts. The cover becomes saturated with moisture over time and becomes heavier. Because of this, the structure can become loose so you will need to re-tighten the screws and reconnect the mounts.
• Wipe lift. Small debris and sand constantly fall on its surface. It can penetrate the joints and complicate the operation of the mechanism. To avoid this, wipe your accessory several times a week with a soft cloth and detergent.

Also, hot tub owners are interested in not only maintenance but how to install cover lifts, so we have explained in detail this process below.

Installing the lifter

Installing the shelf and cover lifters with bracketsManual and hydraulic cover lifters. is different. Therefore, we decided to create a table and indicate the main stages of their assembly.

Save Your Money: DIY Hot Tub Cover Lift

What if you need a hot tub cover lifter, you don’t want to spend a lot of money, and you know how to make things? It’s time to check out the DIY guide!

Let’s start by listing materials and tools.

Now we have everything we need and can start making the spa cover lifter.

1. Lay both 3/4″ stainless steel pipes over the seam of the cover, center them, and mark where the pipe no longer rests on the cover;
2. Place both pipes in the bender. The arrow on the tool should point to the line you drew earlier. Bend the pipes 90° on both sides so they look like a “U” with long middle and short ends.
3. Attach one of the bent tubes to the base of the hot tub with three two-hole conduit straps. The curved edges of the pipes must point towards the hot tub.
4. Lay the second bent pipe over the seam of the hot tub.
5. Point the ends of the upper and lower tubes towards each other. Next, measure the maximum distance between them. Now take a 1″ stainless steel pipe and divide it into two pieces of the same length (according to your measurements).
6. Insert the ends of the 3/4″ pipe into the pieces of 1″ pipe and screw in 4 Tek screws on each side.
7. Cut the 40″ strap into two pieces. This will act as a stop and prevent the cover from falling off. Next, drill one end of both straps into each side of the hot tub. Drill the other end into the 1″ pipe. It is important that the measurements are accurate and that the components on each side are of the same length and are fixed in one place.

Now everything is ready! You can start using your DIY cover lifter.

Summary: Is Cover Lift Worth It?

Earlier in this article, we told you what a hot tub cover lifter is, how to use it, listed 3 different types, described how to install and care for them, and showed you how to create one manually. Now it’s time to make a verdict and find out whether it is worth buying a hot tub cover lift.

A hot tub cover lifter is not just an accessory that makes folding and unfolding easier. It allows you to extend the life of your cover. It will always be neatly folded so it won’t rub against other surfaces and holes won’t appear.

Therefore, if you wonder, “Are hot tub cover lifters worth it?” the answer is – it is definitely worth buying and using!

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