You may have cloudy hot tub water if your hot tub is not properly maintained. It’s no secret that maintaining your hot tub is the least enjoyable part of owning one. The better care you take of your hot tub, the less maintenance it will require, and the less cloudy your hot tub water will be.
Cloudy hot tub water is a common hot tub problem. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to identify the causes. Plus, cloudy hot tub water can be easily fixed and even prevented. Read on to discover how.
Why do I have cloudy hot tub water?
There are many causes of cloudy hot tub water. Cloudy water in your hot tub is typically caused by a chemical imbalance or tiny dirt particles floating in the water, undetected by the filter. Here are the main cloudy hot tub water causes:
Chemical imbalance
To keep your hot tub clean and safe to use, you'll need hot tub chemicals such as chlorine or bromine. These chemicals will kill off any bacteria and viruses in the water, and maintain the correct water balance. Chemically imbalanced hot tub water will likely result in issues like discoloured, foamy or cloudy water.
Read more: What Should I Put In My Hot Tub?
Poor filtration
Your hot tub’s filter removes things like dirt and debris from the water. However, hot tub filters don’t last forever, and factors such as overuse, incorrect installation and wear and tear can prevent your filter from doing its job efficiently. A malfunctioning filter can lead to dirty, cloudy water. So, it is recommended that you replace your hot tub filter when needed.
Poor circulation
Stagnant water can quickly become cloudy. If you don’t use your hot tub very often, make sure you run it regularly to keep the water circulating.
Bacteria build-up
Hot tubs can be ideal environments for bacteria and algae to grow if not properly maintained. A build-up of bacteria can cause cloudy hot tub water. Sanitising the water regularly will help to prevent this.
Personal hygiene products & detergents
You should always shower before using your hot tub. Any personal hygiene products on your skin can contaminate the water and make it go cloudy. To avoid this, always shower with clean, warm water (no soaps) to remove any leftover moisturisers, make up, or deodorant before getting in the hot tub water.
Detergents on swimwear may also come off in the water, so giving your swimming costume a quick rinse before entering your hot tub is a good idea too. If you find your hot tub water becomes foamy, it may be as a result of dead skin cells in the water – another reason why a good wash before hot tubbing is important.
Falling debris
When your hot tub is uncovered, it is vulnerable to pollutants in the air like as dust, pollen and bugs. When these build up, it will affect the clarity of the hot tub water. To avoid pollutants making your hot tub water cloudy, use a hot tub cover as soon as you’re finished using your hot tub. Your filtration system should also suck out debris, so make sure it’s working properly.
How to fix cloudy hot tub water
While there are a lot of possible causes of cloudy water in your hot tub, you’ll be pleased to know that there are nearly as many simple fixes!
To fix cloudy hot tub water you may need to…
- Check the chemicals are balanced - To check if your hot tub water is chemically balanced, you can use test strips. If the results show the levels of one or more chemicals in your tub are incorrect, you can use a pH balancer to get your hot tub back up and running safely.
- Check (and possibly replace) the filter - While it’s the filter’s job to keep your hot tub clean, the filter itself needs cleaning too! Give your filters a regular rinse to keep them working efficiently. You should also deep clean them using a filter cleaner. If that doesn't help, you may need to replace the filter. Hot tub filters tend to last around 1 year before they need replacing. Shop replacement hot tub filters here.
- Use a liquid clarifier – If it’s tiny dirt particles causing the problem, using a fast-acting liquid clarifier can be a quick and easy fix. Simply add it to the water while the pump is running. Then, watch as it collects all the dirt together, making the small particles into larger ones, so that the filter can remove them. Your hot tub water will be crystal clear as a result.
- Shock the water – Shocking your hot tub will remove any bacteria and other contaminants from the water using a high dose of hot tub oxidiser. Regardless of whether your hot tub water is cloudy or not, you should shock your hot tub once a week.
- Drain and replace the water – If all else fails, it might be time to drain the water and refill your hot tub. Depending on how often you use your hot tub, we recommend that you completely drain it at least once every 1-3 months. If you haven’t drained your hot tub recently, it might be the cause of the cloudy water.
Fixes for cloudy hot tub water: video guide
If you're more of a visual learner, check out this super handy video guide:
We hope you found this blog useful, and your hot tub water is now clear as a crystal! If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.
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