Reasons Why Your Spa Water is Cloudy
Whether you own a spa or hot tub for your business or have one installed at home, if the water’s cloudy it can put everyone off. Solving the issue quickly isn’t always easy as you need to diagnose what the problem is.
There are a number of different reasons why your spa water may be cloudy. Fortunately, it’s generally not a difficult thing to put right.
1. You Live in a Hard Water Area
This can be one of the main reasons for cloudiness and affects areas like the south and mid-east of England where hard water is most prevalent than in the rest of the UK.
If your water is cloudy, all you need to do is check the pH and chemical balance and it can be easily remedied. If you haven’t changed your spa water for a while, it may also lead to a build-up of total dissolved solids and the best option is to empty it and refill again.
2. You’re Sensitive to Chlorine
If you have lower levels of chlorine in the water because it has an effect on your skin, you may find the water getting cloudy more often.
If the level drops below a certain amount it means bacteria will start to thrive. Giving your spa a sanitizer boost usually clears the problem and you can check your manufacturer's instructions on how to do this.
Too much chlorine also makes your water cloudy, so it’s important to check the levels before you take any action.
3. pH Can Make a Difference
The pH level, or how acidic or alkaline the water is, may also make the water cloudy in your spa. This is relatively easy to check with a pH kit and remedy. Essentially, if your hot tub is too acidic you need to add a chemical to change the pH according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Mechanical Problems
If you suddenly start finding your water is cloudy and it’s not due to a chemical reason, it could be down to a mechanical issue. If too many bubbles are released into the water because there is a problem with the pump mechanism, for example, it will often seem cloudy.
One common cause is the filter system. If this is not positioned properly or hasn’t been changed for a while, it is well worth checking once you find issues with your water. The filter can get clogged with all sorts of debris, oils and minerals that affect its functioning. You need to use a spa filter cleaner and this will usually clear the problem.
Another problem might be with the spa pump. If you don’t have this working at regular intervals it can mean the water isn’t filtered properly which again causes clouding.
The spa system might also get clogged at various parts with small stones and pebbles as well as other debris. An airlock is a little rarer but could affect the flow of water. Air leaks in older systems may also reduce the efficiency of the pump mechanism.
If you’re not sure, it’s important to get a qualified service engineer out to take a look rather than trying to do things yourself.
5. Biofilm Issues
This is a layer of bacteria that can affect the inside pipes and form a thin film which might cause clouding in some circumstances. This is fairly rare if you regularly use your spa and is easy to clear with a thorough clean.
If you are thinking of getting a hot tub or spa for your home or business, Aqua Design and Leisure offer a wide range of systems and have registered installers across the UK.
We offer support and advice on maintaining your hot tub or spa and also sell a wide range of spa care products online. Check our shop for more details.
