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Owning a hot tub is like having a slice of paradise right in your backyard – or wherever you have your hot tub! But sometimes paradise can hit a snag.
Is cloudy, foamy, murky, smelly or green water in your hot tub frustrating you? Or do you struggle with too much, or too little chlorine? Are you always trying to get the chlorine levels right?
Don’t worry! We’re here with simple solutions to get your hot tub water crystal clear and inviting again. And we have tips to help get the chlorine levels off the rollercoaster and keep them consistent! You’ve got this!
Cloudy water is the most common hot tub water issue. If you struggle with it, you’re not alone! Once you find the reason for cloudy water, you can correct it, and say goodbye cloudy water.
1. Out of Balance Water
Unbalanced water in your hot tub can cause several issues including cloudy water.
Unbalanced water means that one or more of the following levels are outside of range:
Whether you use chlorine or bromine, sanitizer helps keep your hot tub water clean and clear. Without sufficient sanitizer levels your hot tub can be susceptible to bacteria growth, algae and cloudiness.
Clogged, worn or damaged filters can cause bacteria (dead or alive) and debris to accumulate. That means water is not clean. This impacts your hot tub’s water circulation and can lead to a decrease in sanitizer effectiveness.
Circulate the water continuously for a 24-hour period to improve filtration and chemical distribution throughout the hot tub.
Balance your hot tub’s water. Check these levels and correct as needed and in this order:
Want more details on water balancing? Check out this video, or download the FREE FROG® Water Balancing Guide for Hot Tubs here.
Use a nonchlorine shock like FROG Maintain® to address cloudiness caused by reduced sanitization and filtration issues.
Clean or backwash filters to stop clogs, ensure effective water circulation and promote chemical distribution. Replace them if they’re worn, torn or damaged.
If cloudiness persists, consider draining and refilling the hot tub. This is often needed every 3-4 months, depending on use and your choice of sanitizer. Learn more here!
Note: Clarifiers temporarily improve water clarity by removing suspended particles, but don’t address the source of the cloudiness.
For persistent issues, ask your local retailer for help. You can always bring a water sample in for testing and recommendations.
Start with regular water testing to ensure your Total Alkalinity, pH, Total Hardness and sanitizer levels are balanced. Test your water regularly and keep on top of any adjustments needed. Balanced water is the key to consistently clean, clear water.
Make it a habit to clean your filters every few weeks or replace if needed. Proper filtration keeps debris and oils at bay.
Cover your hot tub when it’s not in use to prevent debris from entering the water and causing cloudiness. Keep your cover clean – inside and out! Mold and mildew love warm enclosed places, like the inside of your hot tub cover.
Regularly shocking your hot tub helps to break down organic matter that might negatively impact water clarity. Some tips include: Use nonchlorine shock to clarify water. Before and after use, check your chlorine levels to make sure they’re within ideal parameters, and add more if needed.
Follow these steps, and you’ll enjoy crystal, clear water every time.
Hot tub foam occurs when water interacts with air and surfactants, which are compounds that lower the surface tension between liquid and gas and form a barrier that results in foam. As surfactants and air increase, so does bubble formation and ultimately, foam.
So why is foam “bad?” Because of what causes it and what it’s made of:
Body oils, deodorants, beauty products and lotions add surfactants to the water, leading to foam buildup over time.
Residues from detergents and soap on swimsuits and skin contribute to foamy water.
This slimy, and often unseen microbial colony attaches to hot tub surfaces, pipes or jets and produces surfactants.
Low Total Hardness (also known as Calcium Hardness) (below 150 ppm) lowers water surface tension and causes foam.
Now that you know the causes of hot tub foam, let’s move on to how to fix it.
Start by checking and correcting these levels in this order:
If balancing doesn’t do the trick, and you still have foam, shock the water. Use a nonchlorine shock like FROG Maintain® to oxidize and break down surfactants.
Add a scum absorber to the water to remove buildup. Multiple absorbers can speed up the process.
If foam persists, biofilm might be the cause. Here’s how to tackle it: Use a spa purge product. You can also use a biofilm cleaner if needed. Then, drain the tub.
Thoroughly clean the filter, surfaces and pipes with a mild cleaning agent.
Rinse the hot tub to remove any cleaning agent residue.
Refill using a hose filter to avoid new contaminants. After the tub is filled, balance the water and add sanitizer.
Here’s an in-depth guide for hot tub purging: “When It’s Time to Purge Your Hot Tub”
Note: Defoamers are only temporary fixes. For lasting results, follow the 4 steps above.
If you’ve battled foamy water, you know you don’t want it to be a constant battle.
Drain and refill your hot tub every 2-3 months to remove dissolved solids. If you use FROG® products, you can drain and refill every 4 months. FROG’s mineral cartridge lasts 4 months, plus, you use much less chlorine or bromine with FROG. Also, don’t forget to replace your FROG Mineral Cartridge whenever you drain and refill your hot tub.
Shock the water weekly with a non-chlorine shock like FROG Maintain® to break down oils, lotions and soap residues. This keeps water clean without adding Cyanuric Acid.
Bonus tip: If you use dichlor as a sanitizer, you’re adding more Cyanuric Acid every time you add dichlor. Too much Cyanuric Acid causes hard-to-manage, itchy, harsh and even smelly water.
Clean the hot tub filter monthly using a suitable cleaner; follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Having an alternate filter helps maintain cleanliness, extends filter life and keeps you going if you find your filter worn, torn or damaged.
Take a quick shower (no soap) before using the hot tub to rinse off lotions, perfumes, deodorants and sweat and stop them from entering your hot tub water.
Choose a swimsuit for hot tub use that isn’t washed with detergent. Rinse it with plain water and let it dry between uses. If you use FROG products, which use much less chlorine or bromine, your swimsuits will stay brighter for much longer!
If your hot tub water is green, algae isn’t always to blame. Oxidized copper, iron, manganese and even biofilm can also be the culprits. Then again, the problem could be algae.
Algae typically appears due to low sanitizer levels, poor filtration, inconsistent maintenance, and organic matter entering the tub. Signs of algae include:
If green water is clear with no slime or smell, oxidized minerals, most commonly copper, might be the cause. Sources include:
Once you’ve identified the cause of the green water, you can correct it efficiently.
Use a chlorine or non-chlorine shock treatment. Follow the product instructions for the correct dosage.
Scrub the hot tub walls, floor and cover to remove all algae.
Clean or replace the filter cartridge to ensure proper filtration.
Maintain proper sanitizer levels, keep the filter clean , cover the hot tub when not in use and follow a routine cleaning schedule – including the inside and outside of the cover.
This will bind with copper to prevent discoloration. Your local retailer can recommend best products – they’ll be familiar with local water sources.
If copper levels are high, partially drain and refill the hot tub with fresh water. Be sure to balance the water afterward, correcting and adjusting Total Alkalinity, pH and Total Hardness if needed.
Test your source water for copper content before refilling. Use a hose filter if copper levels are high.
Regularly test and balance Total Alkalinity, pH and Total Hardness. Balanced water is the key to clean, clear water! Avoid using copper-based algaecides if your water has high copper levels.
Drain, Clean, Rinse and Refill
If green water persists, biofilm might be the cause. Before draining, use a spa purge product – and a biofilm cleaner if needed. Then drain the tub, clean the filter, surfaces and pipes.
Thoroughly rinse the hot tub to remove all residue. Refill using a hose filter to avoid new contaminants. After the tub is filled, balance the water and add sanitizer.
Check out our in-depth guide for hot tub purging: “When It’s Time to Purge Your Hot Tub”
Covering your hot tub when not in use prevents debris from getting into your hot tub water. It also keeps the sun from promoting algae growth.
Frequently test your water to maintain proper balance, including sanitizer levels, Total Alkalinity, pH and Total Hardness. This helps you prevent issues and catch problems early.
The most inexpensive chemicals may seem like the best deal, but they’re often not. For example, some inexpensive chemicals may have lower concentrations, meaning you have to use more to get the results you want. They may also have a shorter shelf life.
Invest in high quality sanitizers, algaecides and metal sequestrants to keep your water clean and clear. Your local retailer will have recommendations.
Regularly clean hot tub surfaces and filters to prevent algae and contaminant buildup. Stay on schedule with drains and refills to maintain water quality.
Test the water and adjust as needed to keep the water at ideal levels: Total Alkalinity (80 – 120 ppm), pH (7.2 – 7.6) and Total Hardness (150 – 250 ppm).
If chlorine exceeds 3.0 ppm, dilute it by adding fresh water or partially draining and refilling the hot tub. And, you guessed it, test and balance the water after adding fresh water.
Use mineral systems or other alternatives to reduce chlorine use and maintain more consistent levels. Consider FROG® @ease® Sanitizing System for your hot tub. It keeps chlorine levels consistent and allows you to use up to 75% less chlorine*
FROG @ease combines FROG Minerals with SmartChlor®, a unique patented form of chlorine. Together, they kill bacteria 2 ways and create Fresh Mineral Water® that feels silky soft with far less odors.
Enough about troubles – what about the top 4 hot tub well-being benefits – that’s why you got a hot tub, right?
We’d like to leave you with the 4 top benefits of hot tubs, so you can say “good bye” to those 4 hot tub troubles you now know how to tackle, and “hello” to your own slice of paradise.
It’s time to get in your hot tub and enjoy:
Here’s to keeping your hot tub a crystal-clear oasis, ready for you to unwind and enjoy at any time. Happy soaking!
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