Having a hot tub in your home or backyard is magnificent. Hydrotherapy is beneficial for your health and happiness, which makes constant access to a hot tub a luxury. Inevitably, unexpected maintenance issues may arise with your hot tub that send you searching for answers. Goodall Pools & Spas is here to help you as you learn new things about hot tub care. Here is a crash course on foamy hot tub water: why it happens & how to fix it.
Why is the water foamy?
Hot tub water is meant to be clear and clean. The jets create motion in the water that helps to make it inviting. However, a hot tub is different from an inviting bubble bath. You do not want to see foam in your hot tub water like you do in a bathtub. So what causes hot tub water to be foamy?
There are all kinds of small factors that can contribute to foamy spa water. Hygiene products are one example of contaminants that enter the water and slowly build up, making the water “full” and more likely to foam. This includes all kinds of hair products, deodorant, makeup, lotions, oils, laundry detergent, and even soaps. These items are essential for their own purpose. But allowing the hot tub to regularly rinse off these items and then collect them can cause problems.
Drinks, other than water, that accidentally spill in the spa can also cause the foaming problem. The foam is not dangerous. It is just the result of products slowly building up in the “old” water. The motion of the jets is what agitates the total dissolved solids in the hot tub and forms the foam.
One more thing that could be causing some foam is if the hot tub water has a low calcium level. This means that you have soft water and that can damage the spa or its equipment.
How is the foam problem fixed?
Now that you know why the water foams you need to know how to try to prevent it from happening. The first preventative measure is to rinse off before you enter the hot tub. This is a quick and easy way to eliminate the excess of contaminants discussed above from making their way into the water. Be sure that your family and guests know this important method of prevention as well.
Another helpful tip for foam prevention is to lift the cover off of the spa regularly. This allows oxygen to give the water “a fresh breath of air.”
Remember that laundry detergent can also cause foam to form. An additional way to keep the water clear is to avoid washing your suits in laundry soap. Having a suit just for the hot tub is a great idea. Just soak the suits in hot water and allow them to dry before it’s time for the next soak.
The final preventative measure for all kinds of issues is to regularly balance the chemistry of your hot tub water. This will ensure that the levels of all the necessary chemicals are where they should be — protecting the hot tub and you.
You’ve made it through “Foamy Hot Tub Water: Why It Happens & How to Fix It” from Goodall Pools! We have amazing Viking® Spas and Sundance® Spas, and be sure to check out our premier products for all of your hot tub maintenance needs. Let us help you avoid needing to deal with foamy spa water at all.
