Test chlorine and pH balance and adjust as necessary.
If your water is still cloudy, add 2 TBSP of Oxidizer & run the jets with your cover open for 20 minutes. Wait 24 hours to see if the water clears.
If the water hasn't cleared, test sanitizer level in your hot tub and make sure it is in recommended range. If the level is low, increase until it is in the recommended range and wait 24 hours to see if the cloudiness disappears.
Check filters. Clean or replace if necessary. View our full line of spa filters.
If your water is STILL cloudy, it is most likely caused by hair gel, lotion, make-up, sunscreen etc. that is transferred from body to water. Add a few squirts of Spa Clear or Natural Chemistry to the water. Run the tub with all jets as often as possible. Wait 24 hours and the water should be clear.

If your hot tub continues to be cloudy, come to our Victoria location to get your water tested for free!

2. My hot tub is racking up my energy bill. Is there anyway to conserve energy and save money?

There are a number of things that could negatively impact how much energy your spa is consuming. Follow these quick tips to have a much more energy-efficient spa you can enjoy year-round.

Seal Heat In

Without proper insulation, heat can escape through the surface. Meaning, the next time you get into your tub, you'll have to reheat the water and wait until it reaches the right temperature (which is costly). Investing in a good spa cover can save you money and keep your tub at an ideal temperature longer. Download our Spa Cover Order form.

Right Temperature

Running you spa at the highest temperature doesn't mean you will relax your muscles and mind more. Modern spas come with factory-set temperature of 104 degrees but it is recommended by health departments for adults to heat the tub to 102 degrees. Lowering the temperature even by a couple degrees can save you a few dollars and still give you the full hot tub experience.

Create Windbreaks

Wind passing your hot tub can cool and even evaporate the water in the tub. You will then have to add more water and spend more time reheating it to keep it at the temperature you want.

Check Filters and Plumbing

Clogged or worn out filters will reduce water circulation and put strain on the pump motor and reduce the efficiency of your heat element.

Conserve Water

The more water wasted in your tub, the more you will have to replace and reheat causing your heating and water bill to rise. Avoid excessive splashing, adjust jets so water isn't lost on the deck and check for leaks. Conserving water isn't only good for you wallet but the environment as well.

3. I have foam in my hot tub. Why & how do I get rid of it?

Foam can have several causes:

Hair products such as shampoo, gel, hair spray, etc.
Body lotions/deodorants
Laundry detergent
Makeup
Cheap hot tub chemicals, too many chemicals , or total dissolved solids
High pH level

To determine why foam is in your hot tub, run your tub with jets on until you have a good amount of foam on the surface. Now, turn the jets off. If the foam disperses right away, you have a chemical in-balance. If the foam doesn't disperse right away, the foam is caused from products on the body.

Try these steps to "de-foam" hot tub water:
If the foam is body caused:

Shower before (and after) soaking in the tub. This will wash off all soap residues, makeup and other chemicals found on the body. Make sure bathing suite are fully cleaned and rinsed with fresh water before getting in the tub. Do not put your head underwater. You can also use a defoamer as well.

If the foam is chemical caused:

Adjust pH level by balancing the chemicals.
Add a defoamer or spa perfect

If you have a broken spa pump, we have all the components on hand to fix it. Call us toll free at 1-888-444-8497 or come in today for an estimate.

4. Shocking your Hot Tub

Over time as the hot tub gets used, dead waste begins to build. Your cartridge filter does collect a great deal of waste but with extra contaminants like body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc. the water can go cloudy and cause bad odours.

Shocking your hot tub is done for four reasons.

To removed bromamines or chloramines in the spa.
To remove organic contaminants in the spa.
To reactivate bromides in your spa water.
To kill bacteria.

An alternative to the classic chlorine shock is a non-chlorine shock.

Benefits of using non-chlorine shock

Use your spa 20 minutes after shocking as opposed to using a chlorine based shocker where you have to wait 2 + days
Will not bleach hot tub surfaces
Will shock and clarify water

Click to view our Non-Chlorine Oxidizer.

5. When to drain & refill your spa.

A hot tub should be drained and refilled ever 3-4 months (2-3 times per year).

How to tell if you need to change your spa water?

Cloudy & can't get it to clear up
Chemical balance has become unmanageable
If your TDS (Total Dissolved Solids - we test for it at our Victoria location) is greater than 2000 parts per million.

With drought a huge concern with hot tub owners, here are a few water conservation tops for spa users:

Before you drain your spa, let it sit open for 48-72 hours with no new added chemicals (double check and test before) then use the water on your garden or plants.
Water can be reused for greywater initiatives like landscape watering.
Keep up with proper spa maintenance. Doing so will extend the spas cleanliness and time between draining and refilling.
Capture rainwater to replace lost water or to simply refill your spa.
If you are changing your spa more frequently, it's time to upgrade. New technology cleaning systems have been added to help keep water clean much longer.
Only drain if you absolutely NEED to!

6. How long is it safe to stay in the hot tub?

It depends, as everyone is different. Some find 20 minutes to be long enough, while others may enjoy 30 min or more soak. It depends on the hot tub temperature and how well you tolerate heat. You may feel light headed or dizzy if the temperature is too high or you stay in for too long. It is best to give yourself a time limit to ensure you always get out feeling great.

The Dangers of Soaking Too Long

Light head or dizziness
Those with sensitive skin could end up burning (much like a sun burn)
Overheating which could lead to passing out or other health problems
Nausea and Vomiting (especially after eating)
Blood Pressure Drop - blood vessels dilate resulting in low blood pressure

If you have children, their tolerance to heat isn't the same as adults. It is recommended that children aren't exposed to water temperature above 100F and shouldn't soak longer than 5 - 10 minutes.

7. How do I prevent odor in my spa?

Foul smell is a sure sign that bacteria is hiding somewhere in your spa, spa equipment, or spa cover. Your spa water may be crystal clear, and you can still have smelly spa water.

Follow these few steps to get you back to enjoying your spa once again:

pH Levels

The pH level can affect the way your water smells. When pH is very low, a sharp and pungent smell can result. If pH level is very high, a musty and stale odor can result. Check the balance often and maintain it in the 7.4 - 7.6 range.

Our Test Kits: AC/7, AC/5, RAI/TK2, RAI/TK5, LAM/2056, TAY/K2005

Sanitizer Levels

Bromine and Chlorine. Test level of sanitizer in the water to be sure it is high enough to kill bacteria and other substances. The sanitizer level must be kept consistent to keep your water clean.

Shock your spa after heavy use or a few weeks regardless of use. This will quickly kill bacteria in the water. After shocking a smelly spa, leave your spa cover open for a few hours to allow the gasses to escape.

Our Shocking Products: HTH/72004, HTH/GRAN2

Draining Your Spa

If this hasn't been done in some time, you may want to skip balancing and shocking your spa and go directly to draining. It is recommended to drain your spa once every 4 months. For smelly spas, draining might not do the trick to remove smell. If not, continue readings for more causes.

Hot Tub Cover

Even though hot tub covers are designed to keep water out, over time, an old spa cover will begin to trap water. When unsanitized water is trapped in a warm environment, you get bacteria!

If the cover has gained a few pounds, it may be the source of the smell. Remove it to an area away from the spa to determine if the smell is the water or the cover. If the source of smell is from the spa cover, you can attempt to dry it out, but in most cases, it's time to buy a new spa cover!

Hot Tub Pipes

Bacteria can be found inside your plumbing pipes. This is almost a certainty if you've neglected your spa for some time, or have left it almost empty but with some water left inside the pipes and equipment underneath.

Bio-film in your spa definitely smells bad, but you may never know that it's there. In extreme cases, chunks will break off and you may find brown or green remnants in your spa filter, but usually, you will never see biofilm, as it likes to stay hidden in your pipes and equipment.

It's a good idea to use a cleansing product twice per year to remove bio-film in your spa or hot tub. We suggest Aquafinesse Spa Clean to remove any hidden bacteria in the pipes and equipment. Add it to the spa the night before you plan to drain it, just in case.

8. Is there any special plumbing required for my hot tub?

When purchasing an above ground hot tub, there is no plumbing required at all. Simply fill the spa with a garden hose and drain it when it needs to be drained.

9. Any special care for my hot tub when I'm away for a period of time?

It depends on how long you will be away for. If you plan on being away for a month or longer, we recommend draining your hot tub. If you plan on being away less than 1 month, we recommend shocking your spa before use. Hot water mixed with bacteria without sanitizer is DANGEROUS! The risk of getting a skin rash or a more serious disease increases.

10. Why are my chlorine or bromine levels too high or low?

A common cause why your chlorine or bromine levels are too high is because the floating feeder opening is too wide or there are too many tablets in the feeder. You could also use a non-chlorine based shock (HTH/72004) to ensure you don't over chlorinate.

If chlorine or bromine levels are too low, you should add more or you could shower before entering the pool which will leave less trace of body oils and bacteria from entering the spa.

11. How often should I clean/change my filter? What do I clean it with?

Filters should be cleaned once a month and changed at least once per year.

You can clean your filters with Aquafiness Filter Cleaner

*HINT: Have an extra filter on hand. During the replacement or cleaning stage, replace the old used cartridge with the brand new one.

Steps to clean your filter:

Remove cartridge from filter housing following manufacture's instructions.
Use a garden hose with a straight flow nozzle to wash down the filter element. Work from the top down, holding the nozzle at a 45 degree angle, and wash all the pleats with emphasis between pleats.
Rinse until all dirt and debris is gone.
For filters used in spa where perspiration, lotions and other oils are present, soak the cartridge for at least one hour in AQUAFINESSE FILTER CLEANER.
Rinse the cartridge again to remove oils and cleaning solution.

12. How often should I drain / clean the pipes?

You may be spending lots of time managing you hot tub's water but that doesn't mean you should neglect the hot tubs plumbing. Your hot tub's hidden pipes can become coated with slime, sludge and grime.

To ensure you have the highest quality of water, it is important to periodically flush out and clean the plumbing. Plumbing flushes should be done every time you drain your hot tub - once every 4 months before you refill.

A few signs to watch to determine when it is time to clean your spa's plumbing is when you notice slime forming in your water or cloudy water and smelly musty odors. Another more serious warning sign is a skin rash.

How to flush the plumbing:

Remove filter from hot tub and clean it. If it needs replacing, do it!
While changing the water, you need a base to start the cleaning process. Use the water in the hot tub and add a shock. Allow the shock to circulate and clean as much of the water killing any bacteria in the process. Circulate water at high speed during this process for at least 30 minutes and leave the cover off.
Add Aquafinesse Spa Clean. Circulate the water with jets on again for 30 minutes.
Next, drain all old water. Re-fill hot tub, test water and add proper chemicals to balance it properly. Allow the water to circulate through for at least 8 to 12 hours and replace filter.
After letting the water circulate, retest and consider shocking once again to remove any dirt, grime and bacteria. If you do shock the hot tub, you'll need to retest the water again to ensure the water is properly balanced before using the hot tub.

Tip: Use Aquafinesse as part of your regular maintenance program to prevent biofilm buildup in pipes.