Insulating Properties of The AIRCAP 1™ vs. The Competition

A very good question customers have is, foam must insulate better right? Also, does your cover provide insulation and what is the R value?

R-Value is an industry standard key word.

R-Value is defined as: The temperature difference between the warmer surface and colder
surface of a barrier and can be defined as the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat
flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

The industry standard OEM cover, meaning the cover provided to you with your new hot tub
purchase is a 1LB density cover. Manufacturers send the least dense cover to cut costs. A
1.5LB cover is considered to be an upgrade or what you would typically buy from a
retailer/online after the original cover failed.

Hot Tub Foam Cover Insulation:

Foam density is a measure of how much material is packed into a given volume, usually
expressed in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3). Here's a breakdown of the differences between foam
densities of 1LB, 1.5LB, and 2.0LB:

1LB Foam Density:
● Weight: Lighter, with 1 pound per cubic foot.
● Feel: Generally softer and less supportive.
● Durability: Lower durability; tends to wear out or compress over time more quickly.

1.5LB Foam Density:
● Weight: Middle ground, with 1.5 pounds per cubic foot.
● Feel: Offers a balance between comfort and support. Not as plush as 1LB but not as firm
as 2LB.
● Durability: More durable than 1LB foam but not as long-lasting as higher density foams.
It provides a good compromise between comfort and longevity.

2.0LB Foam Density:
● Weight: Heavier, with 2 pounds per cubic foot.
● Feel: Firmer and more supportive. It's less likely to "bottom out" or compress under
weight.
● Durability: Higher durability, withstanding more wear and tear over time. This foam
retains its shape and support for longer.

It is very important to understand the density of the foam used and its water absorption
properties. The less dense, the foam the more air is in the foam and therefore the more water
can be absorbed. A 1LB foam cover will absorb more water than a 1.5LB cover and a 2LB will
absorb the least amount of water because it is the most dense material with the least amount of
air.

The AIRCAP 1™ and Dead Air Space Insulating

The best way to understand dead air space insulation is to think of multi pane windows. Dead
air space insulation is a method of trapping air between two spaces to create insulation. In
practice, it's difficult to achieve a completely sealed dead air space, which makes it an imperfect
insulator, however we are able to attain a dead air space within The AIRCAP 1™.

How it works
● In theory, air is a great insulator if it's kept still.
● However, air in walls is constantly moving, which creates convection currents that
transfer heat.
● In winter, this convection flow moves heat out of the house, and in summer, it moves
heat into the house.

Real-world application
● Dead air space insulation is often used in double wall construction.
● It's also used in storm doors and windows, where the air is trapped between panes of
insulated glass.

R-value
● The R-value of a dead air space depends on many factors, including the thickness of
the air space, the smoothness of the surfaces, and whether there's air leakage.
● A 1-inch dead air space has an average R-value of 3.5.
● Combining multiple dead air spaces can increase the overall R-value
Drop Stitch Fabric, also known as double wall fabric, has been explored for its insulation properties, particularly in
the context of inflatable structures.

Continuous R-Value of Foam Covers vs. The AIRCAP 1™

A traditional replacement 1.5# foam cover has an R-Value of 4.15 per inch of thickness. Most
covers are a 4-2" taper so the average thickness is 3". That thickness multiplied by 4.15 is the
foam covers R-Value when brand new. 12.45 is the R-Value of a brand new 3” thick 1.5LB
density cover.

Brand new needs to be stressed and understood because from that day on, the
foam cover's R-Value is dropping. After a year when the cover has absorbed 1-5 lbs of moisture
the R-Value has been cut in half and by the 4-7 year point it is providing at, or near zero R-value
and the consumer has to buy another $800 cover due to product failure.

The AIRCAP 1™ designed with a 3” core will have an out of the box R-Value of 10.5 but it will also
maintain that R-Value for the life of the cover which is expected at 10+ years. 

Conclusion

We agree that new and out of the box, a foam cover does provide a higher R-Value. However, 40 years of real world studies show that the foam cover begins failing
immediately, sacrificing insulation whereas The AIRCAP 1™ will never absorb moisture and it will
maintain its insulating properties in a far superior manner compared to traditional foam hot tub covers.