Simple Solutions to 10 Common Hot Tub Water Problems

There are a number of problems that can go wrong with hot tubs. Water problems with hot tubs can be a good half of those. Despite best efforts, water care can be tricky due to a number of external factors such as metal levels in the local watershed, hot tub temperature, hot tub filtering schedule, hot tub brand, and more.

Hydropool North West’s Signature Self-Cleaning models use the top hot tub technology to ensure each spa is an easy-cleaning low maintenance home spa model. Even with the Signature model letting owners use 50% less chemicals than other brands and our high pressure filtration, if water chemistry is off, a host of issues can arise. 

When your hot tub care routine is disrupted and water care goes off kilter, rest assured we’ve got you covered. We will go through all the possible hot tub water issues we can think of, with causes and solutions for your best hot tub care. And don’t worry, if you’re visiting this post with a swim spa on the fritz, these solutions will work for you just as well. Swim Spas are just bigger hot tubs with more power when you get down to brass tacks.

Find These Solutions to Hot Tub Water Problems

1. Cloudy Hot Tub Water
2. Green, Orange, or Brown Hot Tub Water
3. White or Pink Mould in a Hot Tub
4. Biofilm Build Up in a Hot Tub
5. White Flakes in a Hot Tub
6. Foam in a Hot Tub
7. Black Mildew in a Hot Tub
8. Chlorine Demand Problem in a Hot Tub
9. Scale in a Hot Tub
10. Green Water from Algae in a Hot Tub

1. How to Fix Cloudy Hot Tub Water

If your hot tub water is milky, hazy, or dull you have a cloudy water issue. The problem can stem from a number of things: body oils, lotions, dead algae, calcium deposits, or poor water chemistry. This has a few simple solutions including balancing the water, shocking the water,  adding a hot tub water clarifier, or all of the above in that order. If all else fails, drain, clean, and refill. Prevent cloudy water in a hot tub by regularly testing hot tub water and chemically balancing it. If you need more information, check out our blog post on cloudy hot tub water.

2. How to Fix Green, Orange, or Brown Hot Tub Water

If water has a distinct coloured tint of green, orange, or brown without being slimy, you probably have metal in your water. Copper can come from using pool algaecides (only use hot tub algaecides) or copper pipes and iron oxide can be found in borehole or well water. These metals can have a reaction with hot tub chemicals causing the water colouration. Usually filter cycles on Hydropool spas should remove this colour tint. If they persist, use metal sequestrants or drain and refill your tub using pre-filtered water. Use a hose pipe filter to prevent this from happening again. If you’d like more in depth information on tinted hot tub waters, check out our blog post on the topic.

3. How to Fix White or Pink Mould in a Hot Tub

Slimy floating strands of white gunk in hot tub water. Pink substance clinging to hot tub surfaces. Both really gross (and unsafe) things for a hot tub user to experience. These problems are both unique types of mould. The pink mould you may have seen in an unclean bathroom as it loves damp spaces and feeds on biological matter. Both moulds thrive in warm damp environs and having poor sanitisation levels in your hot tub will result in mould homing itself there in the water. If these moulds are present, the best case scenario would be to do a complete flush, drain, and refill. Clean  hard surfaces with diluted bleach or vinegar. Chemicalise your hot tub water and shock it. To prevent this from happening again, maintain proper sanitisation levels, and regularly clean your hot tub.

4. Preventing Biofilm Build Up in a Hot Tub

Cloudiness, odour, reduced water pressure in jets, and filtration. The presence of off-white or orange scum lines on the hot tub waterline. These may point to sticky, slimy build up in your hot tub plumbing, known as biofilm. Biofilm is a normality in hot tubs, and any product that holds water. There’s a reason we clean our water bottles and bath tubs!  Biofilm may also lead to the above section’s water condition - white or pink mould. By using a hot tub flush every time you drain your hot tub, you will remove any biofilm build up. Reasons it may become a problem include infrequent pump use leading to stagnant water or organic matter build up (dead skin, oils, sweat, from lack of filter cleaning). The solution to biofilm build up in a hot tub is a full flush and drain. Prevent this goopy mess by running your pumps regularly, flushing the system during draining, and maintaining proper chemical levels. Most importantly, shower before hot tub use, exfoliate if needed. Keep your hot tub clear of any lotions and potions. 

5. Solve White Flakes in a Hot Tub

If you have white flakes, your hot tub basically looks like a snow globe. The small white particles floating in the hot tub won’t be slimy. If they are slimy, scroll back up to white mould in a hot tub section. The problem that results in white flakes could be high calcium hardness or high pH. In some circumstances it could be residue from the manufacturing process.  The solution for chemical imbalance leading to white flakes would be to balance water, use scale preventer, and clean the hot tub filter. For the other reason, you may want to flush, drain, refill and rebalance the water. Maintain balanced water chemistry, use scale preventer, and keep your filter clean to prevent this issue from arising again. For more in depth info on the subject of white flakes in a hot tub, see our blog post.

6. Getting Rid of Foam in a Hot Tub

White frothy bubbles, like your hot tub is full of washing up liquid, is how you’ll know you have a foam issue. When the jets are running the foam will accumulate rapidly. This foam hot tub issue comes from lotions, beauty products, laundry detergents, spilled drinks, using cheap chemicals, or high Total Dissolved Solid count. You can use a defoamer for a quick fix, if you need to be able to use your hot tub without foam. The long-term solution for a foaming hot tub is to drain, clean, and refill. Measure and monitor your TDS if you struggle with foam. To prevent a foamy hot tub shower before use, avoid cheap chemicals and possibly even use a filtered hose when topping up or refilling if the foam doesn’t go away after doing the first two preventative measures. For more information see our foamy water blog post.

7. Fixing Mildew in a Hot Tub

Assuming you are looking at this post in England, I’m sure you know the signs of mould. The telltale black or dark spots signal an annoying damp problem. Unfortunately this mould can appear on hot tub pillows or hot tub covers. Mildew comes from damp environments, so it will thrive in the hot tub environment if the hot tub is stagnant or not frequently used/ maintained. Clean it with a diluted bleach solution or with diluted vinegar. Clean these areas frequently to prevent mould growth and simply air out the spa occasionally if not in frequent use.

8. Fixing a Chlorine Demand Problem in a Hot Tub

What is Chlorine Lock

Chlorine demand or chlorine lock is the rapid consumption of chlorine in your hot tub, requiring users to dose frequently to maintain proper sanitiser levels.

This problem arises with heavy hot tub use - from lingering bodily contaminants such as oils, lotions, laundry detergents, or dead skin. It can also happen if there is too much chlorine in the water already, or from high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a measure of the total amount of dissolved matter in the water (sanitiser, calcium, carbonates, bicarbonates, metallic compounds, etc). You can solve chlorine demand with a chlorine shock of the water. Or use the no-fail solution of draining, cleaning, and refilling the hot tub. Prevent chlorine lock by maintaining balanced water and cleaning your hot tub regularly.

9. Solving Scale in a Hot Tub

Scale appearance in hot tubs can look like a crusty white build up on surfaces, much like limescale on a showerhead. The problem is usually hard water, high calcium hardness in water, high ph or alkalinity, or even body oils. The solution is to scrub it with a soft bristled brush or tackle it using a vinegar and water solution. These methods usually will require a drain and refill. Prevent scale in hot tubs by keeping balanced water, using scale preventer, or filtering your water as you fill your tub. 

10. Fixing Green Water from Algae in a Hot Tub

You know you have an algae problem in your hot tub if you have green water paired with slimy residue on water lines and walls. Your hot tub will essentially start to resemble a pond. The problem comes from low sanitiser levels, poor filtration (from lack of cleaning them, low system power, or having filtration systems not running properly if at all), heavy use without cleaning/ chemically balancing, or having your hot tub uncovered. Solve algae in a hot tub by balancing water and continuously monitoring sanitiser levels. Use a hot tub specific algaecide. Drain, clean, and refill if all else fails. Prevent algae in your hot tub by maintaining proper sanitisation levels, properly clean your filters, cover your hot tub, and make sure your hot tub is running a filtration cycle at least once a day to prevent standing water. If you need any more information please check out our blog post on the subject.

The golden PPMs for hot tub care

We hope this proved helpful for your hot tub issues! Overall remember that the easiest solution may be to drain, clean, and refill your spa. You’ll be back to soaking in bliss in no time. If you continue to have problems with your Hydropool spa, please give us a call. We’d be happy to help! If you want us to solve your issue, book a Classic Service with us and we’ll drain and clean your tub for you.