Hot Tub Water Troubleshooting Guide
Diagnose and fix the most common hot tub water problems. Use the quick-reference table below, then click into each problem for the recommended fix and the products that solve it. Questions? Contact us or call (226) 240-0114.
Quick reference table
| Problem | Most common cause | Recommended fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudy water | Organic contaminants build-up | Shock with Refresh |
| Suspended particles | Add Easy Clear | |
| pH too high | Add Adjust Down | |
| Hardness too high | Add Best Defense | |
| Poor or dirty filter | Replace or clean your filter | |
| Coloured water | Dissolved metals | Add Best Defense |
| Low chlorine / bromine levels | Add Boost / Peak Boost; check salt level & electrode if you have a salt system | |
| Fragrance reaction | Stop using fragrance products | |
| Foaming | High concentration of oils & organics | Squirt Foam Dissolve directly on the foam |
| Phosphates in water | Add Phosphate Free | |
| Scale deposits | High calcium, high pH, high alkalinity | Drain partially, add Best Defense, correct pH |
| Odour | Combined chlorine reacting with organic contaminants | Shock with Refresh |
| Eye / skin irritation | pH too low | Add Adjust Up |
| Combined chlorine from organic contaminants | Add Refresh & sanitizers — only Refresh on Spaboy systems | |
| No chlorine / bromine reading | Sanitizers used up by organic contaminants | Add sanitizers & Refresh; check salt cell & electrode — only Refresh on Spaboy systems |
| Test reagents ineffective | Replace at least once a year | |
| Test strips expired or moisture-damaged | Replace at least once a year — shop test strips | |
| pH hard to balance | Water has been in the spa too long | Drain & refill: every 3 months for chlorine/bromine tubs, every 9-12 months for salt systems |
Cloudy water
Cloudy water has five common causes. Work through them in order — the cheapest fix (clean your filter) often solves it.
- Clean or replace your filter first. A dirty filter is the #1 cause of cloudy water. Rinse it, soak it in filter cleaner, or replace it from our filter collection.
- Test pH. If pH is above 7.6, add Adjust Down from our balancers.
- Test calcium hardness. If above 250 ppm, add Best Defense.
- Add a clarifier. Easy Clear from our water clarifiers coagulates suspended particles so the filter can catch them.
- Shock the water. If organic contaminants are the cause (heavy use, lots of bathers), shock with Refresh from our sanitizers.
Coloured water (green, brown, or rust-tinted)
Colour usually means dissolved metals (often from fill water) or low sanitizer letting algae or oxidation start. Add Best Defense to bind the metals, then verify your sanitizer level. If you run a salt system, check the salt concentration and electrode condition.
Foaming
Foam is body oils, lotions, and detergents being aerated by the jets. Squirt Foam Dissolve directly on the foam for an immediate fix, then test for phosphates — if positive, add Phosphate Free from our phosphate remover collection. Persistent foam usually means it's time for a drain & refill.
Scale deposits (white crust on the shell or jets)
Scale forms when calcium, pH, and alkalinity are all elevated. Partial drain to dilute, add Best Defense, then bring pH back into range (7.2-7.6).
Odour
A chlorine smell isn't "too much chlorine" — it's combined chlorine (chloramines) from organic contaminants reacting with sanitizer. Shock with Refresh to break it down. If you run Spaboy, this is also when you check your salt cell.
Eye or skin irritation
Two main causes: pH below 7.0 (add Adjust Up) or combined chlorine (shock with Refresh, add sanitizers). Important: on Spaboy salt systems, only Refresh is compatible — do not add other sanitizers.
No chlorine or bromine reading
Either your sanitizer is being consumed faster than it's being added (high bather load or contaminants), your test reagents have expired, or your test strips are damaged. Test reagents and strips should be replaced at least once a year — shop fresh test strips here. For salt systems, also check the salt cell condition and salt level.
pH hard to balance
If you keep adjusting and the pH won't hold, it's time for a drain & refill:
- Chlorine or bromine tubs: change water every 3 months
- Salt systems (Spaboy, Onzen): change water every 9 to 12 months
Need help with a drain & refill? Our service team covers Kitchener, London, and Windsor.
Still stuck?
Bring a sample of your water to any of our three Ontario showrooms for a free water test, or call (226) 240-0114 to talk to a tech.