If there’s a serious problem with your hot tub’s functionality, it’s always a good idea to get a professional involved to properly diagnose the problem. However, there are also many hot tub repairs you can take care of yourself, especially when it comes to the water.
Lots of different water-related issues can occur in a hot tub, but if you know how to diagnose them, the solution can actually be quite easy.
Some of the major water problems you may encounter include:
- Cloudy water
- Foul-smelling water
- Musty smells
- Chlorine odor
- Stains
- Scale
- Eye irritation
- Skin irritation / rashes
- Organic buildup / scum rings
- Algae growth
Although that list looks intimidating, the good news is that most of those problems are caused by the same general issues: build-up of dirt, excessive amounts of organic material, unbalanced pH levels, low sanitizer levels, or general overuse / a lack of cleaning.
The equally good news is that the majority of those issues can be taken care of with one of these simple steps (or sometimes, a combination of them):
- Wiping off built-up scum / debris
- Using your spa chemicals to adjust the pH / alkaline levels
- Adding sanitizer and/or shocking the spa with it
- Allowing the chlorine level to drop below 5 ppm before you get in the water
- Removing and cleaning the filters
In more extreme cases, you’ll need to empty your hot tub water, clean the interior, and refill it, but that’s something you should be doing every few months regardless.
As you can see, most water problems fall into the category of common hot tub repairs, and they are easily solved with just a few simple steps. And by regularly cleaning your spa, you can help prevent these problems from occurring in the first place.
