Lockdown life combined with amazing weather means we’re all using our spas much more frequently! Heat and sun can also eat at your free chlorine levels as well as heavy use so your water might need a little more tending to than normal. 

If you’ve noticed your water is starting to get a bit cloudy or foamy, then firstly don’t panic! It is very unlikely to be anything wrong with the hot tub itself. Follow this checklist to get your water looking crystal clear and foam free again.

1. Test your water checking for your sanitiser, pH and total alkalinity levels. TA and pH are just as important as your chlorine or bromine as they allow your sanitiser to be more chemically efficient. Disruption to of any of these 3 levels can cause cloudiness. Correct your levels and follow with your standard weekly dose of spa sparkle which will help your filter collect and remove small particles. Add a dose of foam away directly to the worst areas will also dispel any foam.

2. Wait a few hours and retest your water again. If your sanitiser level has dropped off (showing only as very pale or even white on your test strips) and your water is still cloudy or foamy, then there is a contaminant in your water that’s eating at your sanitiser. Apply a dose of your weekly shock treatment to oxidise the water and again, re-test your water after a few hours or the next morning to make sure it has held this level overnight.

3. If your water still looks cloudy and is only showing as pale or white, then add a strong dose (8-10 scoops) of chlorine/bromine granules to the water as an extra heavy dose. Follow with a double dose of spa sparkle. Although it sounds extreme, this is usually then enough to overdose your bacteria and kill off whatever is lingering in the spa water. Test in a few hours and don't be afraid to repeat if necessary if the test strip is showing as white or pale and the water is cloudy. Sometimes this is what's necessary in order to kill off lingering bacteria.

Other things to check if your water is still cloudy would be:

1. Filters. Paper filters have a shelf life of 9-12 months depending on use and require weekly hosing down and monthly deep cleans. If your filter is looking a little past its best or if you can’t remember the last time you changed it, it’s time for a new one.

2. Water age. Hot tub water shouldn’t be left any longer than 3 months as you’ll get a build-up of spent chemicals and total dissolved solids. If you’ve been using the spa heavily and it’s not far off the 3 month point then you might be best to drain down and start over rather than trying to rescue it with lots of chemicals. 

3. Your ClearRay bulb or Ozonator. If you spa is over a year old and due its service then your ClearRay Bulb on Sundance and Jacuzzi spas will need replacing. If your spa has an Ozonator then these also require checking. Purifiers such as ClearRay or Ozonators work in the background to reduce your dependence on a background sanitiser.

Of course prevention is obviously better than cure so here’s a few top tips to help keep your water sparkly for longer:

1. Test your water daily and especially before use. It is much easier to make micro adjustments to your sanitiser, pH and total alkalinity rather than trying to correct it after a few days.

2. After heavy use (several adults for a few hours at a time or after standard use on sunnier days), apply what would be your usual weekly dose of shock (Spa Revive or Spa Fusion sachets) followed by a dose of spa sparkle to help with water recovery.

3. Remove your paper filters once weekly and hose down remove any surface debris and deep soak them once monthly in a specialised solution to remove built-up grime.

4. We know it’s tough! But try to shower before use and to reserve one set of swim wear that’s for hot tub use only. Rinse your swim wear in warm water and don’t use standard detergent.

We hope this helps you enjoy your spas more during these lovely sunny days! If you’re still struggling then give us a call and we’ll be happy to advise.

Happy hot-tubbing!