Why Your Hot Tub Has Foamy Water and How to Fix It
If you have ever lifted your hot tub cover and discovered fluffy, puffy clouds floating on your water, then you have probably had foamy water. Though foamy water is not what you want to see in your backyard retreat, normally, the solution is a relatively simple fix. There are 3 common culprits of foamy water: personal care products, problems with pH and low calcium hardness. Keeping your water balanced is very important to prevent many different issues, from cloudy, coloured or even foamy water.
Hot Tub Foam Caused by High pH Levels
High pH in your water can cause the appearance of foam on the water, and testing your water regularly with test strips to determine if any balancers are needed can solve the problem. To correct a high pH, you would add a pH decreaser to bring the pH back into the normal range.
Personal Care Products as a Common Cause of Foamy Hot Tub Water
Personal care products can also be the cause of your foamy water. Soap residue on bathing suit or skin can dissolve into the water and cause frothy water, along with the oils from lotions, makeup and sunscreen. One of the best ways to ensure these particles don't end up in your spa is to have a quick shower to rinse off before entering the hot tub. You also have the option to add some products, like an oil-absorbing sponge, to help keep you from getting foamy water.
Low Calcium Hardness and Its Role in Creating Hot Tub Foam
Low calcium hardness levels can also bring about foamy water. Besides the fact that low calcium is very hard on your hot tub's parts, it also lowers the surface tension of the water, which creates perfect conditions for lathery water. Using test strips that include calcium hardness once a week will let you maintain and check the levels in your spa. If you discover the calcium is low in your hot tub, using a calcium increaser will help you bring your spa back to healthy levels.
How to Prevent Hot Tub Foam and Keep Your Water Clear
Whatever your water issues, including foaming, starting with a water test is a good place to start. Determining that your chemical levels are correct helps to narrow down what is happening in your spa. With foamy, lathery water, having a quick shower can also help you avoid the problem before it starts, allowing you to enjoy your oasis without the worry of foamy, frothy water.