Tips for how to keep hot tub water clear

Whether you’re a new hot tub owner, or you’ve been using your preferred spa model for several years now, you’re probably aware that at least some form of hot tub maintenance is going to be required if you want to keep your hot tub in working order.

Naturally, the reasons for doing this are pretty self-explanatory. Like any appliance, hot tubs get dirtier the more you use them. Thus, taking the time to flush their pipes and wipe away any oil and grime will make them more pleasant to use.

Of course, even if you clean your hot tub on a regular basis, you may still find that its water is getting cloudy or murky after only a few soaks. If this sounds familiar to you, then it may be that your hot tub’s chemicals are out of balance.

But don’t worry, learning how to keep hot tub water clear is much easier than you might think, it just requires a little bit of knowledge to get you started. Keep reading to find out more about this hidden art in our hot tub clear water guide.

 

What causes dirty hot tub water?

Cloudy hot tub water is most often caused by dirt and organic matter that’s built up in your tub’s system during use. However, unlike visible algae or debris, this matter is invisible to the naked eye and too small to be caught by your tub’s filter.

As a result, your hot tub will struggle to filter out these insoluble particles, oils, and organic debris as it cycles the water around during use without assistance, which usually only comes in the form of some serious water cleaning or changing your water entirely.

 

How to keep hot water clear the easy way

By far the easiest way to get hot tub clear water on a consistent basis is to make use of all the standard hot tub chemicals available to you – chlorine or bromine – and to focus on maintaining good water pH levels when possible.

With that being said, getting proper water chemistry isn’t always easy. Hot tub chemicals can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time using them, but with the proper guidance, knowing when and how to use the correct chemicals will become second nature to you, and you’ll be able to get full use of all your hot tub’s health benefits.

Below is a quick guide to what these hot tub chemicals are, how they promote hot tub clear water, and a few additional tips you can follow alongside them:

 

Maintaining water pH level

The first thing you need to understand about hot tub water chemistry is that maintaining the right water pH level is essential – too low and it will make your water acidic, too high and the alkalinity will be off.

Simply put, having your water pH levels in either of these zones is bad, and can lead to skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and corrosion during use, while also clouding your water due to the pH imbalance. So, you want to aim for a pH level of 7.2-7.8 when using your tub, which you can test for using hot tub-friendly pH strips.

 

Adding the right levels of sanitiser

Much like pH levels, including adequate sanitiser in your hot tub is key to getting hot tub clear water, which means you need to add regular doses of chlorine or bromine to the mix in order to exterminate any bacteria and viruses that cause organic build-up in your water

However, just like water pH, you don’t want to include too little or too much hot tub sanitiser – it needs to be just right. So, before sanitising your water, you should test it with a hot tub sanitiser strip, and then add the required level of sanitiser based on its colour and the instructions laid out on your sanitiser bottle.

 

Hot tub shocking

An advanced form of hot tub sanitisation, shocking your hot tub is the process of adding a large amount of sanitiser to the water in one go to kill all bacteria and oxidise organic matter to smithereens.

While not necessary all the time, shocking is especially important after heavy hot tub use, such as a big hot tub party or continual use over the course of a week. It’s also particularly good at clearing up cloudy water caused by the aforementioned blend of bacteria and organic matter.

 

Practice good hot tub hygiene

Finally, one of the best ways to stave off cloudy water in your hot tub is to do some or all of the following before stepping into your tub:

• Shower without shampoo or body wash before getting into your hot tub to rinse away loose hair, oils, cosmetic products, and skin cells.
• Wear a shower cap or tie long hair back while sitting to avoid it getting wet and releasing oil into your water.
• Avoid washing swimming clothes in detergent to prevent soap particles from dissolving in your tub.
• Carry out regular hot tub filter cleaning so your filters can catch as much debris and matter as possible during use.
• Maintain good hot tub chemistry so that your sanitiser can work as efficiently as possible.
• Keep your hot tub’s cover on when not in use to prevent outside debris and organic matter from landing in your water.

 

The importance of regular hot tub maintenance

On top of monitoring your hot tub’s various chemical levels, maintaining a consistent and thorough hot tub maintenance schedule is a must to keep all its systems squeaky clean and functioning properly.

Such a maintenance routine should include testing your hot tub’s water regularly, cleaning its filters every two weeks, and draining and refilling the hot tub periodically with fresh water, all of which will help to keep your hot tub’s water clear.

 

Find your new hot tub today

So, now you know exactly what you need to do to keep your hot tub’s water clear and bacteria-free. Of course, this is only part of what’s involved in caring for your hot tub or swim spa, and you can find more tips and tricks over on our hot tub blog.

Alternatively, if you think you’re ready to buy your first hot tub, or you’re looking to upgrade your current model to a new version, then start browsing the Miami Spas range today to see what great deals we have on offer.

 

Hot tub clear water FAQs

How often should I test the water in my hot tub

As a general rule of thumb, it’s important to test your hot tub water at least once a week in order to measure, maintain, and update pH and sanitiser levels. This will stop your hot tub’s water level from declining and help to prevent algae growth, cloudy water, unpleasant odours, and skin irritation during use.

 

How often should you change the water in a hot tub?

Ideally, you should be looking to change your hot tub’s water every 3-4 months, depending on how often you choose to give your hot tub a full clean. Of course, if your water clouds quickly despite your best efforts, then you may need to change the water sooner for hygiene purposes.