Hot tub maintenance: keep the water clean and sparkling
Hot tub maintenance is required to keep the water clean and sparkling. This will enhance your enjoyment of your spa. Although maintenance can take some time, it is worth the effort to have a clean and healthy spa that you can immerse yourself in after a long day at work.
There are many reasons why your hot tub water can be cloudy, too foamy, discolored, or cause skin irritation. Most of these can be cleared up very quickly with testing and adding the proper chemical component to the hot tub water. A few tips will enhance your enjoyment of the hot tub …
Cloudy water
– Try cleaning the filter to remove dirt and particles.
– It can also have a high level of total dissolved solids (TDS). If this is the case, it is recommended that the hot tub be completely drained and refilled.
– Test the pH level in the tub. If it is not at the correct level, use the pH solution to bring it to the correct level.
– If you have a high calcium level, drain the tub halfway and then refill – If there are dissolved solids in the water, add a little clarifier to do the trick.
– If you have a high level of bacteria, you should add a little disinfectant to the water.
Discolored water
– If the water starts to turn brown, green, yellow, discolored, or dirty, you may have several problems.
– You may have a high mineral count to which you will need to add a stain and tartar preventative.
– Test the alkaline level and add pH or Alkalinity to the hot tub water to clarify it. Yellow water generally means that there is a low pH and a pH or Alkalinity Up needs to be added. – Check the sanitizer level and add a little more if it is low. Green water can indicate algae growth which can be deterred by adding disinfectant.
White scaly deposits
– White scale deposits indicate a low level of disinfectant in the water. This can be improved by simply adding a few.
Excessively foamy water
– The water is very soft.
– The water is contaminated.
– The water has a high TDS level.
– Add a stain and scale preventative, pH or Alkalinity Up and disinfectants to the water.
Ring around the hot tub
– Filtration problems. Check the filters and clean them thoroughly. This is the most common reason.
– Too many oils present in the water. Add a chemical cleaner like Natural and Clear or Scum Bug to clean the ring quickly.
Skin irritations after soaking
– Reduction of the level of disinfectant. Try this and add sanitizer if necessary. If your skin is sensitive to this, always wait twenty minutes before entering the Jacuzzi.
– Staying too long in the hot tub or submerging too long at too high temperatures. Consult manuals, dealer or doctor for duration of use and temperature.
And you thought you’d be working all night in the hot tub 🙂
Wear proper protective gear when handling spa chemicals and cleaning filters. And wait the recommended time after adding chemicals or cleaners. But the most important thing is that you take a break from your work and enjoy the benefits of your now spotless and sparkling hot tub.