Key Terms and Solutions for Cloudy Water in Pools and Hot Tubs

Important Terms to Know for Hot Tub Maintenance

Bathing Load: The volume of bathers to the volume of water in a hot tub or pool and affects the water quality.
Clarifier: Chemicals that help bind small particles in the water making it easier for the filter to capture them and improve clarity.
Evaporation: The loss of water from the hot tub as vapor in the air, which tends to be higher during warm weather.
Filter: A component used to remove particles and debris from the hot tub water in order to make it clear.
Free Chlorine: The amount of chlorine that is available to kill bacteria and sanitise the water.
Organic Matter: Substances derived from living organisms including skin cells, body oils, leaves, etc. that can make the water hazy.
Oxidation: A chemical process that breaks down organic matter in the water and is used to remove contaminants.
pH: It is the measure of how acidic or alkaline the water is and should be maintained in the middle for effective sanitization.
Sanitiser: It is a chemical that kills bacteria and other microorganisms in the water so that it is safe for use.
Shock Dosing: It is the addition of a large amount of oxidizer to eliminate organic matter, which is important for keeping water clean.
Total Alkalinity: This is the measure of the water’s capacity to resist pH changes and is vital for the ecosystem.

Hot Tub Maintenance Quiz

What is the main reason for the cloudy appearance of the hot tub water?
What are the most common types of pollutants that cause hazy water?
Low levels of sanitiser are one of the factors that may cause the water to appear cloudy.
Explain what is “shock dosing” and what it is used for in hot tub maintenance.
What are the different types of shock treatment that can be used for hot tubs?
Hot tub filters should be cleaned frequently and replaced every twelve months.
Clarifiers help to combine small particles into larger particles so that the filter can pick them up in order to keep the water clear.

Three ways to prevent hot tub water from becoming cloudy are:

How can hot tub owners save water and cut their costs?
Explain the importance of a water meter in the management of hot tub water.

Quiz Answer Key

Hot tub water becomes cloudy due to the suspended matter that is introduced into the water by bathers and is too small for the filter to trap.
The primary contaminants are environmental dirt, organic matter from bathers, manufactured contaminants such as cosmetics and body products, and sometimes algae or bird droppings.
Low levels of sanitiser cause cloudy water because the sanitiser is not sufficient to decompose the organic contaminants that enter the water.
Shock dosing entails adding a strong oxidizing agent to the water to remove substances fast to improve water transparency.
The types of shock treatments that can be used for hot tubs include non-chlorine shock, chlorine granules, bromine granules and single-use sachets.
Hot tub filters should be cleaned frequently, cleaned monthly with a specialized product, and changed every twelve months (or every twenty-four months if on a two filter rotation).
A clarifier groups small particles together so that they become large enough for the filter to catch in order to increase water transparency.
Three ways to prevent hot tub water from becoming cloudy include: showering before using the hot tub, rinsing swimwear without detergent, avoiding using lotions and keeping the cover on when not in use.
Hot tub owners can save water through fixing leaks, using water efficient hoses, reusing drained water in the garden, cutting down on water splashing and putting the cover on to prevent evaporation.
Water meters help track usage so owners can see how much water is being used and how much it is costing and they also help owners to be more mindful of their water use and detect leaks.