Water Care Guide

Water chemistry can be quite the balancing act. Regular use of your hot tub may result in problems like cloudy or green water. Don’t fret! Getting your water back to clean, clear and ready to use is simpler than you think. Below you’ll find solutions to common water chemistry problems. Please feel free to reach out to our team with any further questions and we’ll be happy to help!

CLOUDY WATER

                If you’re experiencing cloudy water in your spa, there are three potential solutions. The cloudy water may be due to inadequate filtration or dirty filters. Check to make sure the filter is securely attached. If it is, it may be time to clean or replace your filters.

 Your next step would be to check the sanitation levels in your hot tub. If you water is not balanced, shock the water with non-chlorine shock or add more sanitizer until it reaches 1-3 ppm.

If you’ve checked the above and you still have cloudy water, there may be unfiltered particles or chemically saturated water. Use Water Clarifier to attach to the miniscule particles so the filter can pick them out. In the case that your water remains cloudy, it may be time for a drain, clean, and refill. Most of our tubs have the CleanZone Ultra system. The UV bulb within the system needs to be changed every 18-24 ^months. A functioning bulb will assist in maintaining the clarity of the water.

CHEMCAL ODOR

                A strong smell of chemicals is the result of a buildup of chloramines or bromamines, by products of the sanitizer in the water. Simply adding non-chlorine shock oxidizer should remove the smell. If the smell persists after the water has been shocked, it may be time for a drain, clean and refill.

MUSTY ODOR

                Musty odors arise when there is not enough sanitizer in the water. This leads to the presence of bacteria in the water. Add spa sanitizer of your choice to reach a reading of 1-3 ppm and use a non-chlorine shock. Re-adjust your sanitizer levels as necessary.

FOAMING

                When your tub has a high concentration of body oils, lotions, or soaps, as well as excessive contaminants, your water may become foamy. If bathing suits are used while soaking in your hot tub, there may be residual soaps within the fabric from washing through a machine. You can add Spa Defoamer and adjust pH and sanitizer levels as necessary or do a full drain, clean, and refill. To prevent future contamination, it is recommended that you shower before use. You can also have a set of bathing suits specifically for use in the hot tub. This bathing suit should only be washed with warm water to eliminate the chances of more residual soap in the hot tub.

                A foamy hot tub could also be the result of low or zero total hardness or calcium levels causing the water to become milky. Adding a calcium booster until the hardness is 150 – 400 ppm should alleviate the foam.

GREEN WATER (ALGAE)

                When algae are present in the water, you tub may turn shades of green. Algae growth is a result of low sanitizer levels or a high pH. Adjusting the water using pH/Alkalinity down and your spa sanitizer of choice until the optimum range is met.

ERRATIC pH TEST COLOR

                If you’re reading a pH color that is off the charts on your test strips, your sanitizer levels may be too high and skewing the results. Test the pH level again when the sanitizer level is below 5 ppm. You can also drain half of the hot tub water, refill, and test again.

CORROSION OR APPEARANCE OF RUST

                Your tub may start to show signs of corrosion or begin rusting. This is caused by a low pH level. Simply adjusting your pH with pH increaser or Alkalinity increaser should reduce future corrosion or rust.

                Rust also may occur when there is excess sanitizer in the water, and it is allowed to sit an oxidize on steel features in the hot tub. Ensuring that your sanitizer levels are within the recommended ppm will prevent those items from rusting.

FAILURE TO GET SANITIZER READING

                A low sanitizer level may not show any color on your test strip. Adding spa sanitizer to raise the ppm to the appropriate range may help. Dirty water will consume sanitizer as soon as it’s added. If there are algae present in the water, the sanitizer is being used immediately in attempt to eradicate the algae. Continue adding sanitizer until it stays within the recommended range or drain, clean, and refill your hot tub.

                If your test strip remains white even after sanitizer is added, the sanitizer levels may be extremely high. The extreme levels of sanitizer may be bleaching the reagents on the test strip and giving a false reading.

TOO MUCH SANITIZER

                You may have accidentally dispensed too much sanitizer into the tub. Don’t worry, the levels will dissipate with time. Activate the jets with the air controls open for 30 minutes to help speed up the process. Continue to test water with a test strip until the desired level has been reached. Do not use the hot tub until the sanitizer level registers below 5 ppm or skin irritation may occur. You can also drain half of the water and refill.

EYE AND SKIN IRRITATION

                Excessive amounts on contaminants or chloramines/bromamines may be present in the water. Shocking the water with non-chlorine shock should reactivate the sanitizer eliminating the chloramines/bromamines. You should also check your sanitizer level at this time and adjust as needed.

                A low pH level may also cause eye and skin irritation. Adding pH/Alkalinity increaser until the recommended range is met should balance your water back.