What Causes Cloudy Spa Water?

cloudy spa water

Spas can be used year-round. But we all know that a hot tub soak sounds extra inviting on the cold nights of fall and winter. As you spend time in your spa, you want the water to be clear and conducive to safe soaking. Unfortunately, sometimes the water starts to lose its clarity. This brings up an important question: what causes cloudy spa water? Goodall Pools & Spas has been around for close to 60 years. Let us help you find the answer to this question and the information you need to correct the problem.

Possible Causes

There are a few possible issues that can cause the purity of the spa water to change. You will need to do a self-diagnosis to determine the issue at hand so that you can properly work to correct the problem.

First Possibility – Filter Issues

The filter is probably the first thing you will want to check when the water starts to get murky. A clogged filter cannot properly do its job of keeping contaminants out of the water. If the filter is not clogged, sometimes it is just sitting askew. This can also keep it from working properly. 

Second Possibility – Sanitizer Level

If all is well with the filter, you will need to consider the second possibility—that the sanitizer level is too low. Most hot tub owners use chlorine or bromine to sanitize the hot tub water because the warm water is susceptible to the growth of bacteria. This means the sanitizer level must remain at its proper level (from 2-4 ppm) in order to keep the water clear and clean.

Third Possibility – Tricky Chemicals

Testing the water chemistry in your spa and balancing the chemical levels is definitely a necessity all of the time. Heavy usage times mean even more frequent checks need to be done. 

Sometimes an imbalance in the chemical levels is the cause of cloudy spa water. 

The pH level should stay between 7.4 and 7.6 to keep the water clear. If this level is off, it can also cause skin irritation and scale formation—two more things you want to avoid in your hot tub. The total alkalinity is another level to monitor for clarity purposes. It should stay between 120 and 150 ppm. 

Products for Correcting

Now that you know the main culprits for what causes cloudy spa water, you also need to know how to correct the problem. Goodall Pools & Spas carries high-quality spa products for your convenience. We have five locations in Pennsylvania to serve you.

Our friendly staff is available to answer your questions and to get you information when you need it. If the filter is the problem, we can help. We also have excellent SpaGuard® hot tub chemicals to help you keep your spa water healthy. From sanitizing products to all the chemicals you need for the water to balance, we have what you need. 

We even offer Prestige Spa Maintenance for homeowners who like professionals to care for their spa. Our team will come to you and keep that hot tub clean, clear, and calling your name. Contact us anytime with questions or to get your name on our service list. We are here to help!

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