Have your crystal clear spa water turned into a hazy grey color? If you find yourself in this situation, there is no need to panic. You don’t have to buy a new hot tub. It is a common problem among many spa owners.
But who�s to blame for the cloudy water? Don�t worry because this article will guide you on the various reasons that can cause your hot tub�s water to be murky and the practical steps you can take to fix them. Make sure to stick until the end.
What Does It Mean When I Have A Cloudy Hot Tub Water?
If you�re giddy about taking a warm bath, you should be wary of a milky appearance and an abundance of foam. There is a big chance that your hot tub water might suffer from a cloudy condition that indicates a problem. This is typically brought on by water-suspended material that is just too tiny to feel or be captured by your hot tub filters.
You should not risk taking a bath in your hot tub when this happens. It is not safe because potential contamination might be its cause. Your hot tub needs to be hygienic and clear for safety. There may be too many germs present or a possible chemical imbalance. Before utilizing the hot tub again, you should focus on making your hot tub water clean. Part of this is knowing what causes the water to be cloudy in the first place.
5 Top Reasons Why You Have A Cloudy Spa Water
Understanding the cause of your hot tub’s cloudy water is crucial. You should understand how to avoid murky hot tub water more than anything else so that your spa is set anytime. It’s time to look into the potential reasons behind your hazy hot tub. These are some of the top 5 reasons your hot tub water is cloudy.
Hot Tube Sanitizer Level Is Low
Some hot tub owners try to run the spa sanitizer as minimally as possible since they are hypersensitive to bromine or chlorine. If you have additional sanitizers operating, like an Ozonator or a mineral cartridge, ensure the water chemistry or pH level is regulated.
If using chlorine, hot tubs should always have a bromine concentration of 2-3 ppm or 3-5 ppm. Foreign substances in the water become widespread when the sanitizer concentration falls below 1.0 ppm, and organic pollutants multiply more quickly than you can eliminate them.
Total Alkalinity Level Is High
A spa should have an alkalinity of between 80 and 120 ppm. Cloudy water can develop from carbonates dissolving out of the solution whenever there is high calcium hardness. The pH might change when the alkalinity becomes too low as well. Too acidic or alkaline water might damage your hot tub and you. The calcium’s hardness could also be off, which is another possible reason. Your source water’s excessive calcium hardness concentration is most likely where this problem occurred.
Boy Care Products
All you put on your skin and overall body can alter the water entering a hot tub, making your hot tub water cloudy. Products like body lotion, moisturizers, shampoos, and body oils can result in a variety of problems, from cloudy and foaming water to “eating up” the sanitizer. This is a perfect breeding group for bacteria. You can notice that the water in your hot tub is not sparkling and clear if more individuals utilize it.
Before jumping in and doing a hot tub party, washing off your swimming costume and then taking a shower could seem like a hassle. But it can stop many problems with cloudy, hot tub water.
Filtration System Issues
Your hot tub filter is an essential part of the hot tub. The filter will assist in preventing contaminants from cycling in the hot tub water, such as grit, debris, bacteria, etc. Essentially, any particle added to your water could result in a problem and cloudy water.
Your hot tub filter won’t work effectively and may lead to cloudy water if it is obstructed or improperly placed. The filter’s purpose is to collect and eliminate any space junk from the water, but while it does so, particles ultimately build up and may cause your filter to get clogged. Water becomes hazy if you have dirty filters obstructed and are unable to filtrate the water as effectively.
No Proper Water Maintenance
An inadequate maintenance plan could cause cloudy water and bacteria growth. Use the proper hot tub water chemical levels, check the water and air valves, and empty and reload the hot tub every 60 to 90 days. Cloudy water can develop in the water due to utilizing the wrong or inexpensive chemicals.
3 Methods To Fix Cloudy Water
Now that we have identified the top reasons why your hot tub is cloudy, let�s get into the practical and proven methods to get that sparkling water and hot tub clean
Get The Right Alkalinity And pH Level.
A test strip and drop-style package are tools you can use to test your water. You should check if it follows the basic hot tub chemistry. pH levels should be at 7.4�7.6, alkalinity level at 100 to 150 ppm, and Chlorine levels at 3-5 ppm with Bromine levels at 4-6 pp.
You might also bring your water samples to a hot tub, spa, or swimming pool with retailers so they can use specialized equipment to evaluate your water for you. You can modify the hot tub chemicals based on the results of testing.
Open And Clean Your Filters With A Filter Cleaner
Filters can also change the degree of water cloudiness. Regular cleaning of your hot tub’s filter is necessary. Ensure filters and hot tub cover are washed because clogged filters indicate improper performance. You can also remove oils and occasionally greases by cleaning with a filter cleaning solution to the hot tub cover and filter.
Your hot tub’s filters may become clogged with debris like dead algae, affecting the water’s purity. Use a filter washer to clean them once a month, check them weekly, and rinse them regularly. It is also advisable to have clean filters, so change them every six to twelve months.
Do A Shock Treatment
You can opt for a hot tub clarifier if the minerals in the hot tub water cause your water to be hazy. Use powder chlorine if your cloudy spa utilizes other minerals or a chlorine sanitizer.
If your hot tub employs bromine sanitizers, consider powder bromine. Adding disinfectant to your hot tub water removes organic waste by converting it into a gas. Treat the water in your hot tub using 30g� of powdered sanitizer to keep it from becoming hazy and ensure the level returns to a standard limit. But you can still opt for a non-chlorine shock treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions�
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the matter to further guide you through fixing your cloudy hot tub water.
What is the turnaround time for hazy hot tubs to be clear?
The method you choose to cleanse your cloudy hot tub water makes a difference. However, after cleaning or shocking, you may often anticipate it to take the spa water 24 hours to return to its clear form.
What Is The Last Option To Use?
When none of the aforementioned solutions work, the best action is to drain the cloudy, hot tub water with a garden hose, disinfect it, make sure it is rinsed regularly, and then re-fill it with clean and fresh water to ensure your hot tub is clean.
How Long Will the Water Clear Up After Shocking?
When you use a chlorine shock treatment, it takes at least 24 hours for the water to clear up. If you think this is long enough to wait, you can use a non-chlorine shock.
Conclusion
Witnessing your hot tub water turning into hazy, murky water is not a good sight, especially when you look forward to soothing sparkling water. But this is not a big problem now that you already know why your hot tub has cloudy and foamy water. Work on assessing which among them is the culprit so you�ll know what to avoid the next time. Ensure the problem is addressed with an appropriate solution to clean your hot tub from the above methods. Enjoy a comfortable, warm bath!
