Common Water Quality Issues in Your Hot Tub

If you own a spa, at some point you will probably encounter some very common water quality issues. The good news is that they are easy to fix!

Cloudy Water

Symptoms

If the water in your hot tub or spa seems to have small particles floating around in it, but the particles are not large enough to touch, and they seem like they could be air bubbles, then you have “cloudy water.”

Causes

There is no one cause for “cloudy water.”   It could be caused by suspended insoluble particles, dead algae, organic debris, poor filtration (dirty filters), heavy usage or poor water chemistry, but it is difficult to diagnose the reason exactly.

How to fix it

• Check your filter(s). This should be your first response to any water quality issue especially a clarity issue like cloudy water. If your filter is not properly picking up small particles, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fix cloudy water. Remove your filters, rinse them thoroughly or soak them overnight in a filter cleaner.  It may also be time to replace your filters.
• Check the water balance levels.  Test your water to see if the PH balance is correct and alter it if necessary.
• Shock the spa. Using a non-chlorine shock, you can usually clear the water fast! Working with your clean filter, the shock will clear the particles and in most cases will solve the issue.
• Try a clarifier. A product such as Spa Clear 4 in 1, by Natural Chemistry, is designed to clear cloudy water. It’s a natural product, made from recycled crab shells, that helps attract and remove small particles of debris in spa water.
• Last resort, empty the spa. If you eventually decide that you have lost the battle, drain the hot tub and start again with fresh water. Sometimes this is the best way, especially after a period of heavy usage (e.g. a hot tub party!). 

Milky Spa Water

Symptoms

If you can’t see the bottom of your hot tub, and the water looks like diluted milk, then guess what? You have “milky water.”

Causes

Similar to “cloudy water” there is no single one cause of “milky water.” It could be caused by suspended insoluble particles, dead algae, organic debris, poor filtration (dirty filters), heavy usage or poor water chemistry. But again, it is difficult to diagnose the reason exactly.

How to fix it

• Check your filter(s).  If this suggestion sounds familiar, it’s because a filter check should be your first response to almost any water quality issue. If your filters can’t pick small particles, then it will be extremely difficult to resolve your “milky water” issue.   Take your filters out, rinse them thoroughly or soak them overnight in a filter cleaner. You may find that rinsing the filters more frequently will resolve the problem.
• Check the water balance levels.  Check the PH is correct and alter if need be. Check that the sanitizer is not too high or too low (a common clarity problem can be caused by high sanitizer levels, making the water look milky).
• Shock the spa. Using a non-chlorine shock, you can usually clear the water fast! Working with your clean filter, the shock will clear the particles and in most cases will solve the issue.
• Last resort, empty the spa. If you eventually decide that you have lost the battle, drain the hot tub and start again with fresh water. Sometimes this is the best way, especially after a period of heavy usage (e.g. a hot tub party!).

Foamy Spa Water

Symptoms

If you see a build-up of foam that floats on the surface of the water in your hot tub, then guess what? You have “foamy water.”

Causes

The causes of foamy water are a bit easier to identify than the causes of milky or cloudy water. Most often, foam build up is caused by a reaction between body and cosmetic oils and the alkalinity of the hot tub water. Body oils and cosmetics such as deodorant, makeup, and detergents on swimsuits cause foaming.

How to fix it

• Shower first! Solve the problem by tackling it at the start. It may be a hassle to make people shower before using the hot tub but it’s the most important thing you can do to prevent foam build-up. Showering first also helps prevent the spread of germs that can make people sick. (Even though there are sanitizing chemicals in your hot tub, the time it takes to kill each germ can vary from one minute to 10 days!!)
• Rinse your bathing suit in water, not detergent. Washing your bathing suit in detergent seems like a good idea but it is not wholly necessary. In fact, it is better for your hot tub if you rinse them under the tap then hang them up to dry. This method helps keep detergent from sneaking its way into your hot tub.
• Use anti-foam products. While an anti-foam product Spa Defoamer, by Natural Chemistry can help, the problem may recur. Plus, you don’t want to use too much of this product because it is an emulsion and cannot be filtered out of the water. This is more of a quick-fix product to quickly clear the foam from the waterline, but it is best not to rely on it.
• Use an enzyme product. Foaming spa water can also be controlled and eliminated with the use of Enzyme Products and avoiding “soft” water conditions.
• Drain down the hot tub and flush the system. A system flush using a product like Spa Purge will help flush the system through before draining. Spa Purge attaches the root cause of most spa maintenance problems, like the build-up of non-living organic waste. Oils, lotions, cosmetics, hair products, and other non-living organics build up in your spa water and can produce cloudiness, unpleasant odors and foaming. These contaminants collect inside the circulation systems and filter. By purging the spa, the symptoms of non-living contaminants will be reduced or eliminated.