Cloudy & Foamy Hot Tub Water Explained – A Simple Guide

When you come home from a long day, the first thing on your mind might be to have a nice soak in your Jacuzzi® hot tub.

As you head into your hot tub, the last thing you want to see is cloudy or foamy hot tub water.

How does this happen, and what do you do?

There’s no need to panic. Cloudy and foamy hot tub water happens from time to time, and it is completely treatable.

Crystal Clear or Cloudy and Contaminated Hot Tub Water?

Even if you take the necessary precautions, the water in your Jacuzzi® can become cloudy. It’s often difficult to pin down the exact cause because it could be any number of things:

• Suspended insoluble particles
• Dead algae
• Organic debris
• Poor filtration caused by dirty hot tub filters
• Frequent usage
• Poor water chemistry

After you’ve discovered that your Jacuzzi® hot tub water is cloudy, your first step should be to check the filters. Cleaning them and even soaking them overnight in a filter cleaner may resolve your problem, or you might need to replace them altogether, depending on how long you’ve had them.

Your next step should be to check all of your levels. If the levels of the water are off, that could be the cause of your cloudy water. You will want to check and correct any issues with the levels of the water balance, PH, and sanitizer.

If the water still appears cloudy, it’s time for a shock. Shocking the water with a non-chlorine shock can be very effective for cloudy or foamy hot tub water. Done correctly with brand-new or freshly cleaned filters can do wonders for your hot tub water. If the shock doesn’t clear it up, a clarifier will work to clump together any particles and filter them accordingly.

If all of these techniques are done properly, and your hot tub water is still cloudy, your last option is to empty the spa. This should be done several times throughout the year anyways to keep your hot tub in working condition. Emptying the spa will eliminate any contaminants existing within the current water.

Not Quite a Bubble Bath…

Although similar in looks to bubbles in a bathtub, foam inside of a hot tub is not a sign of cleanliness. A buildup of foam on the surface of the hot tub water is usually due to a reaction between the alkalinity of the water and any oils brought into the tub.

These oils can be brought into the water from a variety of things:

• Deodorant
• Make-up
• Detergents
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Lotion
• Hair products

If you find foam on the surface of your hot tub, the first technique you should try is using an all-natural enzyme solution. Enzymes will speed along the removal process of organic contaminants.

This will help to balance the water and prevent the initial reaction that causes the foam in the first place.

A quick-fix solution is to use an anti-foam product. Anti-foam products are not a preventative solution and shouldn’t be used frequently. Once you have cleared up the existing foam, it’s important to stay on top of the cleanliness of your hot tub and do your best to prevent future contaminants.

If these techniques fail, your last resort should be to completely flush and then drain the hot tub.

A Clean Future

Now that your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub water is clean, it’s important to take preventative steps. You can keep your hot tub clean by sticking to a routine cleaning schedule and draining the water several times a year. Prevent contaminants from entering your hot tub by getting rid of them before entry.

By showering or rinsing off before you enter the tub, you can remove bodily and cosmetic oils so that they do not contaminate your spa.

If you have any questions about cloudy or foamy hot tub water or the products used to treat it, you can contact our experts at Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Southeastern PA.