Hi! Our fiberglass hot tub was just installed with an auto cover. I understand that it is normal to have some wrinkles in the cover but there is excessive fabric at the edges that doesn’t look right to me. It looks like it is too big (see photos). Does this look correct? Thanks in advance for your help!
Problem with automatic cover?
- Thread starter Hyllgarth
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,854
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
I see what you mean. It does look a bit sloppy doens't it. However I don't use a cover and I'm not sure if they typically allow a little extra material (slack) for any specific reason. Hang tight as I'm sure many others will reply to assist. In the meantime, look around our forum and be sure to bookmark the Pool Care Basics page for lots of great info. Enjoy the forum. 
I see what you mean. It does look a bit sloppy doens't it. However I don't use a cover and I'm not sure if they typically allow a little extra material (slack) for any specific reason. Hang tight as I'm sure many others will reply to assist. In the meantime, look around our forum and be sure to bookmark the Pool Care Basics page for lots of great info. Enjoy the forum. 
Wrinkles are common, especially on your first autocover. The company wants to err on the side of too much fabric rather than too little.
It's only a problem if the wrinkles become creases. Those may eventually leak, requiring patching. (If you don't have any extra fabric for patching, ask your builder or cover company for some.)
Once the original cover wears out and needs replacing, ask them to reduce the size in the appropriate dimension(s) by one inch. The next cover should look smoother.
It's only a problem if the wrinkles become creases. Those may eventually leak, requiring patching. (If you don't have any extra fabric for patching, ask your builder or cover company for some.)
Once the original cover wears out and needs replacing, ask them to reduce the size in the appropriate dimension(s) by one inch. The next cover should look smoother.
The cover must mostly rest on the water surface or it can (usually will) pull the track off of the coping. Given the fluctuations in water level of a spa, I'm not sure you could get them to make one any smaller for warranty liability reasons. You'd have to convince the dealer to send in false measurements, which is unlikely without a waiver for the same liability reasons. Nobody wants to buy you a new cover and fix your coping for free because you don't like wrinkles.
Lower your water level an inch or 2, see if it goes away. If not, call the dealer, those things can slip anchors on the shaft and go loose in one spot.
Lower your water level an inch or 2, see if it goes away. If not, call the dealer, those things can slip anchors on the shaft and go loose in one spot.