Quality Assurance

How to Keep Your Spa Clean

In Ask the Pool Experts by Platinum Pools

If your pool has a spa, you need to watch for cloudy, milky, or foamy water. But don’t worry, as these are easy to resolve by using the proper care. Let us instruct you about the methods you need to get your spa water sparkling again!

Cloudy Spa Water

Cloudy spa water means that there appear to be small particles floating around in your hot tub water, and they are not large enough to touch but appear just floating particles. It is a recurring situation with other types of water issues, too, such as:

  • Unbalanced core levels (disinfectant, PH, alkalinity) 
  • Low disinfectant levels are more likely with cloudy water.
  • Insoluble suspended solids
  • dead algae
  • organic debris
  • poor filtration
  • heavy use leads to an imbalance in core levels
  • aeration with nozzles turned on

 

How to Correct Cloudy Spa Water

  • Check your filter(s) for water quality issues, especially if the clarity is an issue. If the filters cannot catch small particles, resolving the problem is extremely difficult. Get your filters, rinse them thoroughly, or soak them overnight in a filter cleaner. 
  • Check the water balance. Your second port of call is the water balance. Check that the PH is correct and change it if necessary. Ensure the sanitizer level is accurate, neither too high nor too low. Keep in mind that high sanitizer levels can cause problems with the water clarity. 
  • Shock the spa. If you use a shock without chlorine, you can usually clear the water quickly without having to set the sanitizer level too high. With your clean filter, the shock will eliminate the particles and, in most cases, solve the problem.
  • Try using a clarifying agent. A product like Spa Sparkle is similar to a flocculant in that it clumps all the small particles together to filter efficiently.
  • Empty the spa. It is the last resort if none of the above work. Drain the spa, flush the system with a pipe, and start with fresh water. Occasionally, this is the best solution, especially after heavy use (like after a hot tub party!).

Milky Spa Water

Often, spa water can look like milk, giving the water a white tint and making it difficult to see the bottom of the hot tub. Like cloudy spa happens by the following: 

  • Imbalanced core levels (sanitizer, PH, alkalinity). If the water is milky, it is probably too much disinfectant.
  • Insoluble suspended particles
  • dead algae
  • organic debris
  • poor filtration (dirty filters)

How to Fix and Clear Up Milky Spa Water 

  • Check the filters. Get them rinsed or soak them overnight in a filter cleaner. 
  • Check the water balance. Your second port of call is the water balance. Check that the PH is correct and change it if necessary. Ensure the sanitizer level is accurate, neither too high nor too low. Keep in mind that high sanitizer levels can cause problems milky looking water. 
  • Shock the spa. If you use a shock without chlorine, you can usually clear the water quickly without having to set the sanitizer level too high. Together with cleaning the filter, the shock will eliminate the particles and, in most cases, solve the problem.
  • Try using a clarifying agent that helps clump all the small particles together, making it easy to filter.
  • Empty the spa – if nothing works, drain the spa, flush the system with a pipe flush, and start over with fresh water. Occasionally, this is the best solution, especially after heavy use (like after a hot tub party!).

Foamy Spa Water

Foamy spa water means that foam forms on the water’s surface, which can sometimes cause a film to start on the water’s surface and around the waterline. The cause of this problem is somewhat easier to determine than for cloudy or milky spa water. Non-organic products such as cosmetics, such as deodorant, makeup, and cleaning products on swimwear create foam and are also due to an imbalance in the PH, but this is less common.

How to Fix and Eliminate Foamy Spa Water 

  • Prevent inorganic substances from getting into your hot tub water. Also, rinse your bathing suits under the faucet and get them to dry so detergent does not get into your spa. 
  • Shock your hot tub and clean your filters. If you use a non-chlorine shock, these non-organic products will oxidize and dump the particles on your filters. Clean your filter thoroughly with a filter cleaning solution. 
  • Empty the spa – if nothing works, drain the spa, flush the system with a pipe flush, and start over with fresh water. Occasionally, this is the best solution, especially after heavy use (like after a hot tub party!).
  • Flushing the pipes will help flush the system before draining. By draining the spa, you remove the water affected by the foaming and refill with fresh water to reduce the foaming.

Remember that Platinum Pools is your place where we custom-build the pool of your dreams. Call us at 281.870.1600 or visit our website for a free quote.