Your hot tub is meant to be a beautiful oasis where you can cast your worries aside for a moment, kick back, and relax. But what if you pull the hot tub cover off and find cloudy water? That can make it a whole lot harder to enjoy your time in the tub. In fact, you may not want to jump in at all until you’ve solved the issue.
There are many reasons why your hot tub water might be cloudy, and fortunately, all of them come with a simple enough solution. But before you can find that solution you’ll first need to accurately diagnose the problem. Take a look at some of the most common reasons for cloudy hot tub water.
Water Balance Issues
You should be taking care to balance your hot tub’s water levels by testing it once or twice a week and then adding the necessary chemicals. If you haven’t been keeping up with it, your cloudy water is likely a related issue. Water chemistry issues that can result in cloudy water include:
Low Chlorine or Bromine
Your water sanitizer eliminates many of the particles that can gather in your hot tub water. If you don’t have enough of it, then cloudy water is likely to be the result. Check your chlorine or bromine levels using a test kit or test strips for a more definitive answer.
If you use biguanide as an alternative to chlorine, you should know that cloudy water is a fairly common issue. To remedy this, you may need to go for a full drain and refill.
High Total Alkalinity or pH
While low sanitizer levels can result in cloudy water, the opposite is true of your total alkalinity and pH levels. Drop a test strip in the water, and if you see that either level is too high, that’s most likely the reason why the water looks the way it does.
Too Many Contaminants
Over time, all kinds of oils, lotions, hair products, and other contaminants will find their way into your hot tub water. The sanitizer and filtration system can do a good job of clearing them out for a while, but after a certain point, the amount will be too much to handle and your water can eventually start looking murky because of it.
To prevent this issue, you should drain and refill your hot tub once every three to four months, depending on how frequently you use it.
High Water Hardness
Hard water contains mineral content, and it can result in not only cloudy water but scaling, as well. Test your water to better gauge this issue. You may need to drain and refill your hot tub if the water hardness level is too high.
Issues With Your Hot Tub
If the water chemistry is balanced and your spa water is cloudy anyway, then it may have something to do with the hot tub itself. Any of these issues could affect the appearance of the water in your hot tub:
Pump Issues
The spa’s pump helps to circulate water through the filtration system to keep it fresh and clean. If there’s an issue with the pump, then the water may end up not being as fresh or clean as it should be. It could simply be that you’re running the pump too infrequently. It could also indicate a mechanical issue with the pump.
Filter Issues
If your water is not being properly filtered, it only makes sense that it can wind up with a murky, opaque appearance. To make sure your filter is working properly, rinse it regularly, soak it in a filter cleaner a few times each year, and replace it annually.
Air Leaks
Tiny air bubbles from a leak somewhere in your hot tub’s filtration system can give the appearance of cloudy water. It can be difficult to identify the source of a leak on your own, so reaching out to hot tub maintenance professionals is likely your best option.
Hot Tub Maintenance From New England Spas
If your spa water is cloudy and you can’t figure out why, New England Spas can help. Contact us today to learn more.
