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Is Cloudy Hot Tub Water Safe?

The short answer to this question is no, cloudy water in your hot tub is not safe. Your hot tub should be crystal clear when you go to use it and not full of cloudy water you can hardly see through. When the water in your hot tub is cloudy, it points to the presence of a problem.

That problem could be as a result of bacterial growth (nasty!), chemical imbalance with the pH level of the water or a problem with your spa’s circulation system. Let’s break down what causes this problem and then we will talk about how you can solve it...

The Human Element

Even though we don’t like to think about it, we use many products on our skin and in our hair that ultimately get into hot tub water when we are using the hot tub. Over time, there can be a build up of dead skin cells, lotions, oils, hair sprays, etc. that get into the water and lead to it becoming cloudy.

Contaminants in the air can get into your hot tub

If your hot tub is uncovered, you could also have all kinds of air contaminants falling into your hot tub. Yes, we know the air around your house is clean. But did you know there are algae, pollen and seeds that are flying in the air all the time? It’s true. If your hot tub is uncovered, these particulates can accumulate in your hot tub and contribute to cloudiness.

Microbial growth

Bacteria and many other microorganisms love moisture. Especially when it is nice and warm. There are even a handful of bacteria that thrive at hotter temperatures. Bacteria form a slimy substance called biofilm. As the biofilm builds up, parts of it break off into the water. This contributes to cloudiness in your hot tub.

Poor water chemistry

Poor water chemistry can also lead to the water in your hot tub becoming cloudy. How does this happen? The water in your hot tub is supposed to be around 7.8 pH. The pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is. When the water becomes more alkaline (pH over 7.8), cloudiness can occur because of the accumulation of scale. Scale contains calcium and other minerals that all contribute to cloudy water.

Problems with your hot tub filter

A dirty filter or one that was not installed properly can also contribute to cloudy water. The filter in your hot tub is supposed to “sift” your water and remove any particles that your sanitizing chemicals don’t remove. It makes sense therefore that if it is dirty, it will not do a good job of filtering your water and keeping it nice and clear.

Metals in your water can cause cloudiness too

If you’re filling your hot tub up with water from the taps in your house, the cloudiness could be happening because of the metals in your water. The way some people get away with this is to use a hose filter when filling their hot tubs to keep the metals out.

Poor water care

Last but not least, if you’re not taking care of your hot tub water as you should - using test strips to check alkalinity, draining and refilling every 60-90 days and not using the right water sanitizers- you are likely to face hot tub water that is cloudy.

How to beat cloudy hot tub water

None of the scenarios above sound great. So how do you beat all these causes of nasty, cloudy water in your hot tub? Here are our suggestions….

    • Test your water first

If your hot tub water is cloudy, the first step is to test it with accurate test strips. This helps you to make sure the pH and alkalinity balances are within appropriate levels. If the pH near normal, you might only need to “shock” the water in your hot tub. Shock after each use is an excellent choice in this case. Choose a daily shock system that is compatible with your sanitizer system. A few of our highly recommended testing and spa shock systems include:

You will find a whole list of shock and cleaning systems here.

  • Drain your hot tub

Sometimes your water is “out-shocked” and simply needs to be drained and refilled it. Besides, having too many chemicals in your water is not good for you and your loved ones. Our recommendation is that you drain and refill your hot tub every 6 months depending on bather load.

Make sure to test your water and perform sanitizing as is needed. Before you drain your hot tub, make sure to remove any debris at the surface of your water so it does not clog your filters.

Additionally, it is best that once you drain your hot tub, you give the insides a good, good cleaning before you refill it with water. You and your loved ones deserve to enjoy hot tub water that is free of any form of cloudiness.

Follow the steps outlined above and you won’t have to worry about it.

Need professional help troubleshooting a problem with your hot tub? Call us at Master Spa Parts 7 days a week at (888) 436-9515.