Chemicals Guide - Hot Tubs

Too Much Chlorine

Chlorine is a sanitiser, which helps you keep your hot tub clean and the water fresh. In case you overdose it, allow time to naturally dissipate. Turn the jets on and remove the hot tub cover.

pH Hard to Control

Use test strips to measure the chemical level of your water. Dip the testing strip in your water and compare the colour of the pads on the strip to the coloured squares on the testing strip container. If the coloured pad is the same as the square patch on the container you do not need to add any chemicals. If they are different, you need to adjust your hot tubs’ chemical level, add small amounts of chemicals to the water, re-testing each time until the coloured pads match the squares on the container. Wait about 5 minutes between retests and make sure your hot tub water is running when you add chemicals, because it needs to mix in the water well.

You need to make sure that your hot tub’s pH level is between 7.2 and 7.8. It means that you will need either a pH increaser or a pH reducer to keep the pH within a safe level.

Cloudy Water

Cloudy hot tub water is the accumulation of particles of dirt and impurity reducing the transparency of the water. In short, the water is not clean. If hot tub water has gone murky it is likely that you have either:

• Not been dosing the chemicals correctly or doing daily dip tests
• Have been dosing the chemicals correctly but the hot tub has seen some very intense use recently and therefore the standard amount of chemical dosage is not enough to kill the excess impurities that have been produced
• Not set up the filtration correctly, if at all – or the filter is not clean

Clean or replace filter cartridge, check chemical levels using either Test Strips. Adjust if necessary (chlorine/pH). If problem persists buy a non-chlorine shock to the water and/or water clarifier as well to remove small particles. If the water doesn’t clean up, there’s too much impurity to get rid of, the water is beyond saving.

Green Slippery Sides

Shock dose with chlorine, because you have algae in your hot tub.

Foaming

If your hot tub foaming, you will need to use anti foam, which reduces foam that can occur when incorrect cleaning products or excessive algaecide, hair products or make up, false tan creams or skin conditioners get into the water in your tub. Simply pour a capful of anti foam around the edges of your tub and watch the foam disappear. Reduce water level and top up with fresh water and avoid domestic household cleaners.

Waterline Scum Mark

Scum lines are an accumulation of dirt, oils and body fats that have clung to the surface of the tub shell and congealed into a slimy substance.

This has formed from foam that has been left untreated and it is this that forms the scum. It can also appear as a result of poor chlorine dosage, although foam and scum can still appear even if the chlorine and pH levels are at the good level. Foam most regularly appears as a result of people entering the hot tub wearing cosmetic products such as moisturiser, make up, fake tan, sun screen etc.

If a scum line has already formed, this needs to be wiped away with a damp cloth. If it is particularly rebellious it may require surface cleaner chemical to get rid of it. Ensure people entering the tub are not wearing the aforementioned cosmetic products, or that they have showered before entering the tub. If foam forms while the tub is in use, neutralize it using anti-foam chemical as soon as they have finished using the hot tub. They can put the lid back on when the foam dissipates, otherwise a scum line will form.

White Water Mould

White Water Mold in the tub.jpeg White water mould is small white flakes that look like pieces of skin. It is a naturally occurring fungus, which has a white mucous or tissue paper-like substance. It forms a heavy, protective coating, providing the organism with an uncommonly high level of protection that is very resilient against both halogen-based (chlorine, bromine) and non-halogen sanitizers and germicides, and it can white water re-contaminate long after it was destroyed.

You can remove it by using 1 full bottle of system flush in to the hot tubs water and turn jets and blowers on and leave going for at least 30 minutes, then leave the water to settle down for another 30 minutes. Repeat turning the jets on and off for 30 minutes at a time at least 2 or 3 times. Once this has been done empty the water out and suck at much water out the jets as possible using a wet “n” dry vacuum. Refill tub, once filled turn tub on and see if the white water mould has stopped appearing, if yes fantastic you can start to heat your tub up as normal. If not, then you will need to repeat this process another 1 or 2 times depending on the severity of the white water mould.

Hard Water

Do you have hard water? If your hot tub has too much calcium hardness, it will cause scales to form in your hot tub. You can use our anti scale product to protect against these scales. Just add a couple of capfuls of anti scale to reduce the build-up of scale and any staining that may occur.