Let us help you troubleshoot your Hot Tub Problems.
Persistently Cloudy
Please answer ALL of the following 4 questions.
1. Are your filters properly cleaned? (To properly clean a filter, you should use a filter cleaning agent such as Spa Marvel Filter Cleaner to soak the filters in prior to rinsing. After soaking and then rinsing the filter, the filter media should look like it did when new, and not be dingy, stained or stink.)
2. Is total alkalinity less than or equal to 150ppm?
3. Is your spa programed to filter water for a minimum of 4 hours per day?
4. Do you struggle to maintain a sanitizer (i.e. chlorine/bromine) reading? i.e. you add sanitizer and a very short-time later it is gone?
Answers
4. Problem: Your spa is likely harboring a contaminant, a mould, algae, fungus or bacteria of some type.
Solution: Decontaminate the spa. To decontaminate, you need to super-chlorinate the water with granular chlorine (or substitute granular bromine or lithium for chlorine). Our goal is to maintain 20ppm or more of chlorine for 72 hours.
Add AT LEAST 2.5 ounces (5 tablespoons, 75 grams) of chlorine for every 100 gallons (400 litres) of spa water or part thereof (adding more is fine and never a bad idea). For this treatment to be effective it is imperative that the chlorinated water is distributed throughout the entire plumbing system. Ensure that diverter valves are midway and that all jets, valves, waterfalls, water features, and aerators are open and are subjected to the chlorine. If your tub has a drain next to the pump or at the base of the cabinet to which you can attach a hose to facilitate draining, ensure that some of the chlorinated water is bled through the drain at the onset of this procedure. This is very important to do because any built-in drains are a dead end in the plumbing and the chlorine will not naturally make its way down to that part of the plumbing, but the contaminant will.
Check the chlorine reading after 24, 48 and 72 hours. If at any of these intervals the chlorine is anything less than ridiculously high (if it shows less than the maximum on your test strips) treat the tub again with chlorine and start the clock over on the 72hour time period. Do not use the spa during the decontamination process.
After 72 continuous hours of successful chlorination:
- Remove your filter and clean it.
- Use a plumbing cleaner such as Spa Marvel Cleanser.
- Drain the spa.
- Install the clean filter and refill the spa as per manufacturer’s directions.
1. Problem: Dirty Filter
Solution: Clean your filter. Properly cleaned filters are pivotal to successful spa care. Using a filter soak such as Spa Marvel®Filter Cleaner is recommended. After soaking the filter in filter cleaner it is critical that the debris is thoroughly removed from the pleats of the filter. The water pressure from showers, dishwashers and kitchen sinks is often not strong enough to remove the debris. If after rinsing your filter there is still discolouration in the pleats or if it still smells dirty, then it is not clean and you need to re-evaluate your current filter cleaning techniques. Many people use a pressure washer (gently and carefully) to quickly and effectively remove the debris after soaking the filter. If you do not have access to a pressure washer, the sprayer at the coin-operated car wash works well. Most reusable hot tub filters ought to be replaced after 6 months of use.
2. Problem: Water with a high total alkalinity will become cloudy.
Solution: Lower your alkalinity to between 80-150ppm.
3. Problem: Insufficient filtration.
Solution:Ensure that you have sufficient filtration. Spas with low volume circ pumps (often referred to as ‘hush pumps’), are designed to filter water 24/7. Spas that have scheduled filtration should filter a minimum of 6-8 hours a day to maximize chemical performance and filtration. If you are unsure of the system that your spa uses, consult your owner’s manual or contact your professional spa retailer.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
1. Problem: Dirty Filter
Solution: Clean your filter. Properly cleaned filters are pivotal to successful spa care. Using a filter soak such as Spa Marvel®Filter Cleaner is recommended. After soaking the filter in filter cleaner it is critical that the debris is thoroughly removed from the pleats of the filter. The water pressure from showers, dishwashers and kitchen sinks is often not strong enough to remove the debris. If after rinsing your filter there is still discolouration in the pleats or if it still smells dirty, then it is not clean and you need to re-evaluate your current filter cleaning techniques. Many people use a pressure washer (gently and carefully) to quickly and effectively remove the debris after soaking the filter. If you do not have access to a pressure washer, the sprayer at the coin-operated car wash works well. Most reusable hot tub filters ought to be replaced after 6 months of use.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
2. Problem: Water with a high total alkalinity will become cloudy.
Solution: Lower your alkalinity to between 80-150ppm.
“Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.”
3. Problem: Insufficient filtration.
Solution:Ensure that you have sufficient filtration. Spas with low volume circ pumps (often referred to as ‘hush pumps’), are designed to filter water 24/7. Spas that have scheduled filtration should filter a minimum of 6-8 hours a day to maximize chemical performance and filtration. If you are unsure of the system that your spa uses, consult your owner’s manual or contact your professional spa retailer.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
1. Problem: Dirty Filter
Solution: Clean your filter. Properly cleaned filters are pivotal to successful spa care. Using a filter soak such as Spa Marvel®Filter Cleaner is recommended. After soaking the filter in filter cleaner it is critical that the debris is thoroughly removed from the pleats of the filter. The water pressure from showers, dishwashers and kitchen sinks is often not strong enough to remove the debris. If after rinsing your filter there is still discolouration in the pleats or if it still smells dirty, then it is not clean and you need to re-evaluate your current filter cleaning techniques. Many people use a pressure washer (gently and carefully) to quickly and effectively remove the debris after soaking the filter. If you do not have access to a pressure washer, the sprayer at the coin-operated car wash works well. Most reusable hot tub filters ought to be replaced after 6 months of use.
3. Problem: Insufficient filtration.
Solution:Ensure that you have sufficient filtration. Spas with low volume circ pumps (often referred to as ‘hush pumps’), are designed to filter water 24/7. Spas that have scheduled filtration should filter a minimum of 6-8 hours a day to maximize chemical performance and filtration. If you are unsure of the system that your spa uses, consult your owner’s manual or contact your professional spa retailer.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
1. Problem: Dirty Filter
Solution: Clean your filter. Properly cleaned filters are pivotal to successful spa care. Using a filter soak such as Spa Marvel®Filter Cleaner is recommended. After soaking the filter in filter cleaner it is critical that the debris is thoroughly removed from the pleats of the filter. The water pressure from showers, dishwashers and kitchen sinks is often not strong enough to remove the debris. If after rinsing your filter there is still discolouration in the pleats or if it still smells dirty, then it is not clean and you need to re-evaluate your current filter cleaning techniques. Many people use a pressure washer (gently and carefully) to quickly and effectively remove the debris after soaking the filter. If you do not have access to a pressure washer, the sprayer at the coin-operated car wash works well. Most reusable hot tub filters ought to be replaced after 6 months of use.
2. Problem: Water with a high total alkalinity will become cloudy.
Solution: Lower your alkalinity to between 80-150ppm.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
2. Problem: Water with a high total alkalinity will become cloudy.
Solution: Lower your alkalinity to between 80-150ppm.
3. Problem: Insufficient filtration.
Solution:Ensure that you have sufficient filtration. Spas with low volume circ pumps (often referred to as ‘hush pumps’), are designed to filter water 24/7. Spas that have scheduled filtration should filter a minimum of 6-8 hours a day to maximize chemical performance and filtration. If you are unsure of the system that your spa uses, consult your owner’s manual or contact your professional spa retailer.
Shock the water with granular chlorine or bromine at the ratio of 30 grams (1 ounce) per 1,000 litres (250 gallons) of water. You may also use spa shock as per the directions on the package. Wait 24 hours, repeat application if necessary. Multiple applications may be required.
A member of our solutions department would like to work with you further on the difficulty you’re experiencing. Please provide your contact information and one of our support staff will reach out to you in the immediate future.