What is Cloudy Hot Tub Water and How To Fix and Prevent It
Posted: September 22, 2022Nothing can transform the relaxing oasis that is your hot tub into a stress-inducing nightmare quite as swiftly as cloudy water. The moment you feel as if the water you’re soaking in isn’t clean or safe is the moment your spa loses all of its magic.
Fortunately, by understanding the common causes of cloudy hot tub water and the basic tools and tips you need to both solve and prevent this issue, clearing up your tub’s cloudy water is definitely doable and fairly simple.
What Causes Cloudy Hot Tub Water?
There is no single answer to this question. In fact, there are a large number of potential causes. However, the majority of cases of cloudy hot tub water can be attributed to these main issues.
Unbalanced Hot Tub Water
The water chemistry of your hot tub is extremely important. While people know to test for things like pH and chlorine, the balance of your water can be thrown off by all kinds of chemicals and minerals. This unbalance can certainly cause cloudy hot tub water.
Hot Tub Water Sanitizer Level Too Low
This one is kind of self explanatory but is something that can be overlooked. A lack of sanitizer in the water leads to bacterial growth that takes your water from crystal clear to something more opaque.
Contaminants in Hot Tub Water
When people think of contaminants in the water, they usually think of things like bacteria or things falling in their tub, but the most common and problematic contaminants are things you use everyday. Lotion, soap, make-up, perfume, cologne and many other hygiene products can easily transfer to the water making it cloudy.
Dirty or Clogged Hot Tub Filters
This is important to pay attention to because if a filter is doing its job, you don’t have to think about it. That makes it super easy to overlook. But filters do get dirty and clogged from time to time and that can easily make your hot tub water cloudy.
Insufficient Hot Tub Water Circulation
Part of what keeps bacteria from growing and spreading in your tub is that the water is frequently circulated. If your water isn’t being circulated it can start to become stagnant. Along with your hot tub water becoming cloudy, if left long enough, you will notice a foul smell as well.
Your Hot Tub’s CLEARRAY® Bulb Needs To Be Replaced
Jacuzzi® and Sundance®’s CLEARRAY sanitizer system uses UV light to clean your water. Like most lights, this one uses a bulb that can burn out. If that happens, the system will stop sanitizing your water causing it to become cloudy.
The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Levels Are Too High
The chemicals in your tub are always working. When they dissolve bacteria and other contaminants, they aren’t gone completely. Very tiny particles called dissolved solids are left behind. This is usually not an issue, but over time these particles add up, causing your hot tub water to become cloudy
Your Hot Tub Water Is Old
Hot tub water is generally good for a few months before it needs to be replaced. If the water in your tub is older than that, it becomes more and more likely that you will have all kinds of issues.
How to Fix Cloudy Hot Tub Water
Balance the pH Levels of Your Hot Tub Water
Check your pH levels. 7.6 is neutral. Higher numbers indicate alkalinity while the lower numbers indicate acidity in your water.
If pH is Too Alkaline in Your Hot Tub Water:
If your pH level is too alkaline, you can add a pH decreaser to try to get your water back to neutral.
We recommend pH Decreaser from SpaGuard®
If pH is Too Acidic in Your Hot Tub Water:
If your pH level is too alkaline, you can add a pH decreaser to try to get your water back to neutral.
We recommend pH Increaser from SpaGuard®
Shock the Hot Tub Water
By shocking your water, you are adding a large amount of sanitizer that will “shock” the water killing bacteria and other contaminants.
Click here to see our selection of Shock
Add Some Clarifier to Your Hot Tub Water
As we said earlier, hot tubs accumulate small solid particles over time. Clarifier attaches to these particles and binds them together. This process makes them large enough to be filtered out of the water and leaves your hot tub water clear. This is an ideal treatment because it clears up your hot tub water without affecting the pH level
SpaGuard Water Clarifier gives you the benefit of clear water without affecting your pH levels.
Change Your Hot Tub’s Water Filter
Like all other filters, a hot tub filter will accumulate dirt and debris over time. You can prolong the life of a filter by spraying it down and cleaning it. However, if your filter is over 6 months old, it is likely time to replace it.
Change Your Hot Tub’s CLEARRAY® Bulb
As you know, Jacuzzi® and Sundance® model hot tubs use the CLEARRAY® filtration system. If your bulb is approaching a year old, it may be time to replace it.
If you need a CLEARRAY® Bulb Replacement, we’ve got you covered.
Drain, Clean, and Refill Your Hot Tub Water
If the water is becoming difficult/expensive to maintain, the best thing to do is drain your hot tub and start over fresh. For best results, clean the tub thoroughly while it is empty.
- Ahh-Some® Hot Tub Plumbing and Jet Cleaner
- Use this to clean the shell, jets and plumbing
- 303® Aerospace Protectant
- After the tub is clean, use this to add Protective Layer to Shell
- Reuseable Pre-Filter w/ Hose Adapter
- Connect this to end of the hose when filling the tub. Filtering your water during the fill will give you a cleaner starting point and help lengthen the life of your filters and tub as a whole.
How to Prevent Cloudy Hot Tub Water
Preventative Maintenance is the key to keeping your water fresh and clear. Putting in the work beforehand will save you loads of time and money in the future. Here is short maintenance list to get you started.
Check Your Hot Tub’s Water Filter
Check your filters regularly. They should be cleaned once a month to remove excess dirt and debris. This will ensure the filters run smoothly for its lifetime. After 6 months, It’s time to replace it.
Add Sanitizer to Hot Tub Water
Adding a bit of sanitizer or free Chlorine shock once a week will ensure that your water stays clean. In addition to the weekly sanitizer, you may want to sanitize after a party or other heavy uses.
Check Out Our Online inventory of Sanitizers
Test your Hot Tub Water Regularly
Testing your water regularly is key when it comes to maintenance. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know it exists. We recommend testing once per week when you sanitize.
Check out our water testing products or bring in a sample for a FREE water test!
Drain, Clean and Refill Quarterly
This is the same process as above. Do this every 3 months for best results. Or if you’d rather have peace of mind, schedule maintenance with us and we will take care of it for you!
Replace Your Hot Tub’s CLEARRAY® Bulb Every Year
Set a yearly time to replace your bulb. This will ensure that the system is working all year round.
The Bottom Line
Fixing cloudy hot tub water is certainly doable, but you may have to try a few solutions before something works. It is much better for your tub and more efficient to be proactive with your maintenance and care.
If you would like to learn more about keeping your hot tub water clear, stop by your nearby Aqua Quip location, and we’ll be happy to help.
