Hot Tub Water Care Tips

"Bubbling Over" Newsletter Article - March 2006

"Love that dirty water... " They might have loved the muddy Charles River in Boston in 1966, but no one likes cloudy water in their hot tub. This month we look at the reasons for cloudy water and what can be done to fix it.

Culprit number 1: Cosmetics, body lotions, and hair products.

We start with these because, often, they are the hardest to combat. All the stuff that is on someone going into the spa, will eventually come off in the spa's water. Sanitizers may help, but they aren't designed to get rid of oils, fats and synthetics. Enzymes help by breaking down these compounds and allowing them to be filtered out. Products such as our Scum Bug also help by attracting the oils out of the water and into the pad. Lastly, your filters are your final defense. Be prepared to clean them several times before your spa is clear. Instant Cartridge Cleaners and a good soak in Filter Cleaner will help keep water flowing through them.

"But I already make everyone shower before they get in"...

...Culprit number 2: Low sanitizer and poor shocking habits.

This is a common problem for those using the ThermoClear system. Customers put in Activator, wait 20 minutes and then stay in their hot tub for a nice, long soak. Problem is that they stay in longer than the Activator is active for, or have more people in than Activator can keep up with. When you have been in your spa for a while it is a good idea to throw the same amount of Activator in after you exit the spa. This helps the mineral system continue to be effective and destroy all leftover bacteria after you get out.

TIP: All sanitizing methods require an alternative weekly shock such as Chlorine or Activator to help it recover from use.

"I do all that, and my water still doesn't look crisp"...

...Culprit number 3: High pH, soft water and other "water set up" problems.

Everything has a pH factor - even you! When people get in the spa, their pH affects the water you worked so hard to balance. Chemicals all have a pH as well. When pH is high you will have cloudy water, so make sure you are checking pH and adjusting as needed.

TIP: Our Chlorine is pretty pH neutral - we make it that way. But we have had some people call in and tell us they use bleach! Bleach has a pH of about 13 and will drive the pH of your water out of control. DON'T USE BLEACH! It does not sanitize and disinfect, and using it may void your warranty!

Soft water is another culprit - it just won't seem crisp. If you have a well, you probably have a water softener. Most of these over-soften so you will need to bring up the hardness with Liquid Calcium. Once done, you will notice the "crispness" is back to your water.

Suspended metals, minerals and dust come with water as well. Most times these are too small to be picked up by the filter. Water Clarifiers help bind these together and allow your filter to catch them.

"I have tried everything and it still looks 'milky'"...

...Culprit Number 4: Time to change your water.

We mentioned TDS in a previous article. Basically, new water is like a dry sponge, soaking up contaminants, sanitizers, metals and other things that it comes in contact with. Over time it becomes saturated and can't take any more. Your chemicals become less effective and the water becomes hazy, cloudy, then contaminated. It's time to change it and start fresh. Measuring TDS is the best way to determine if it is time for a water change.

Cloudy water is a tough thing to fix. It is disappointing to see and frustrating to deal with. We are always here for you. Our Customer Care department will try their best to help. We offer free water testing and can help figure out this stuff if you need it.

Please call Customer Care at (800) 876-0158.

Happy Hot Tubbing!

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