How to Keep Hot Tub Water Crystal Clear

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How to Keep Hot Tub Water Crystal Clear

Happy woman relaxing in hot tub

Hot tubs are great fun. Day or night, families love splashing about in the water or just generally relaxing. They are inexpensive and great for those people who don’t want to install a full pool. 

Getting in a hot tub can help ease the stress of the day. Nice warm water and a soothing massage can do wonders for your mental health. You can add some soft music, low lighting, or aromatherapy to boost this stress-relieving effect.

Relaxing and soothing tight muscles can be made easier with hot water and massage jets. This is a great way to relieve pain and aches that may be causing you discomfort and a reason why so many athletes enjoy hot tubs. If you soak in the hot tub before exercising, you’ll be less likely to get hurt.

However, they do present one problem that is particularly annoying for hot tub owners. The water can get cloudy and dirty very quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing. And no matter what people might say, it’s no fun jumping into a cloudy hot tub. In this post, you’ll find some tips on how to keep  hot tub water crystal clear.

Buy a hot tub cover if you don’t have one

And be sure to use it, too! A hot tub cover is your first line of defense against dirty water, so investing in one is vital. Some tubs come with a cover, but some people leave it off now and then and just get used to leaving it off permanently. That is not good.

Your hot tub water might turn cloudy or discolored if there’s stuff in the air. A hot tub’s water can be contaminated by pollen, dirt, dust, and fungi in the air. When your hot tub isn’t in use, keep these things out with a spa cover. You’ll keep your water hygienic with a hot tub cover and reduce your water heating costs too. 

An added bonus is that a hot tub cover helps keep the heat inside Your hot tub’s walls are already insulated; however, leaving it outside reduces the benefits of an insulated spa. Rainwater or a freezing snowstorm can all cool your water, causing you to use more electricity to heat it back up. 

Go in clean

It’s easy to just jump into your hot tub and enjoy the fun. But it’s important to remember that much of the dirt and grime that makes the water less than crystal clear is because of our bodies. 

Water in hot tubs can become discolored and cloudy over time because of bacteria growth, dead skin cells, body oils, cosmetics, and dirt. Before you get in the hot tub, take a shower. By using this simple fix, you can keep your hot tub water clean and clear for a long time.

Develop the testing habit

If you’re looking at a hot tub full of cloudy water, then you need to get into the habit of testing your water regularly. Check your hot tub water’s pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Water chemistry stability is crucial for fresh, clean, safe water. Plus, it will make the hot tub and its components last longer. If your hot tub gets a lot of use, you might want to test it daily.  

To ensure healthy water, testing it is vital. You can easily and cheaply measure chlorine/bromine, pH, alkalinity, and hardness with test strips. If you have foamy water it can indicate that the sanitizer level needs adjusting. After testing the water, chemical levels can be adjusted as needed.

The test strip should be submerged in water down to about 4 inches before being taken out. If the color changes, compare it to the nearest color on the color chart (test strips come with detailed instructions and a color chart).

Girl laughing in hot tub

Get the chemicals right

This is dependent on the results of your testing, but making sure the proper chemicals go into the water is crucial.

Based on the results of your water tests, it will become obvious which types of chemicals you need to add to maintain balance. With these simple steps you’ll keep your hot tub clean and safe.

Empty it and clean it regularly

This is an interesting one because it takes quite a lot of effort to empty and refill a hot tub. However, if you get into the habit of doing this, you’ll rarely see water that is anything but crystal clear.

It’s easy to drain a hot tub, especially if you installed your spa close to a drain. To perform this task, you will need to gather certain equipment. From your hot tub to the drain, you need a long garden hose. Submersible pumps are great if you like to have the right tool for the job. A spa shell cleaner and rags will also help.

Then:

  • Turn off the circuit breaker, so everyone is safe.
  • Insert the pump into the spa.
  • Activate the pump and drain the spa.
  • As soon as the hot tub is empty, the pump should be turned off, removed from the spa, disconnected, and stored.

The drained water quality can then be easily inspected and cleaned, while the spa filters can be removed and cleaned before the tub is refilled with fresh water.

Spa shells are made to resist dirt and stains, so cleaning them is as easy as wiping them down with a rag. Make sure you check your owner’s manual before using any cleaning products. Clean the shell with clean water once you’re done.

The Filter Factor

Your hot tub contains filters that will, at some point, have to be changed. This is relatively easy to do once you know how.

Make sure you follow the instructions for the type of water filter you use. This is because hot tub filters are actually quite sophisticated, and manufacturers generally have very clear instructions on getting the most out of them.

To extend the life of your filter, there’s no better solution than a filter cleaner. This product removes dirt and debris from your spa filter.

Filters clog over time, causing dirty, cloudy water to flow through your spa. Dirty filters clogged with debris can be cleaned manually, but that’s a lot of work.

That’s where filter cleaners come in handy. They remove dirt and debris from your filter, and this is how to keep hot tub water crystal clear.

Keeping your spa water clear isn’t rocket science (even though it involves some science). Just ensure you include the steps outlined above in your regular maintenance schedule to get the most out of the process. Hot tubs are great fun, but clean, fresh hot tubs are even better.

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