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Cloudy Hot Tub Water – Why and How to Fix Yours Fast

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Hot Tub Water Chemistry

Cloudy hot tub water is a common problem a lot of hot tub owners experience. It can be very frustrating when you are ready to soak, so here is why it happens and how to fix cloudy hot tub water.

Cloudy hot tub water can be caused by high pH levels, low sanitizer levels, high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), or high levels of biofilm in the hot tub’s plumbing systems. It can be fixed with a hot tub clarifier, changing the water, or hyper-chlorinating the water.

But that’s just a quick answer. The following are some of the most effective ways to clear up cloudy water:

  • Make sure to regularly clean the filter(s)
  • Replace the filters annually
  • Use a hot tub clarifier
  • Make sure the levels of pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer are in range
  • Shock the hot tub water
  • Or, as a last resort, drain, wash the tub, and then refill with fresh water
  • Use a biofilm cleaner every time the hot tub is drained and refilled

But there’s a lot more to know.

In this article, we will find out if it is safe to get in a cloudy hot tub and how to clear up cloudy water in a hot tub. We will discover how long it takes for a cloudy hot tub to clear up. But we will also look at whether low pH triggers cloudy water.

Let’s get to it.

cloudy hot tub water lg

Ready to Spend Less Time On Maintenance and More Time Enjoying Your Hot Tub?

Let’s face it. Balancing the water, cleaning filters, dealing with rashes, and trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and add can make you feel more like a chemist than someone who just wants to relax after a long hard day!

That’s exactly why The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course is so valuable!

This is from Matt over at Swim University and he developed it for people looking to save money, time, and frustration. His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need.

So if you’re ready to stop being confused or frustrated with your hot tub and start spending more time in it, check out The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course.

Just click that link to learn more on their website.

Is it safe to get in a cloudy hot tub?

No. It is not safe to get in a cloudy hot tub. Milky water or dirty water in a hot tub signals that there is a problem with the water chemistry, and without knowing what is wrong and fixing that issue, it is safer to avoid soaking.

Several factors could be responsible when the water is not clear and clean.

When the water is cloudy, it could be harmful to the health of bathers because it serves as a conducive breeding ground for harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

These love moisture and would be thrilled in a hot tub that is not regularly cleaned.

While using your hot tub, have you observed that some parts are slimy to the touch? That’s evidence of bacteria known as biofilm, one of the culprits in making the water cloudy.

What is biofilm exactly, and how do you get rid of it?

Check out this recent article where I cover the exact steps I take every 3 months to ensure I NEVER have a problem with biofilm.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

I don’t know about you, but the idea of soaking in a tub teeming with bacteria growth and body oils and hair products doesn’t sound fun to me.

Chemical imbalance is one of the other culprits, specifically, a pH level that is high (too much alkaline). High pH levels can also lead to:

  • Itchy skin
  • Burning eyes
  • Calcium scale build-up in the plumbing (which can reduce the water flow and damage equipment over time)

As you know, hot tub water must be balanced on a regular basis before it’s safe to use. So, whatever the cause, it’s not safe to get in a cloudy hot tub.

How do I clear up cloudy water in my hot tub?

To clear up cloudy water in a hot tub, rinse the filter(s) every 3 weeks, do a deep chemical clean every 3 months, and replace the filters annually. But a hot tub clarifier will work in as little as 24 hours.

But let’s check out those and other solutions in greater detail.

Proper hot tub filter maintenance

This is a good first step. Dirty filters not only make the water cloudy but also reduce the water flow to the pump and heater. So, a clean filter is essential!

If they get too dirty, they can get clogged so badly that they trip the breaker on the heater due to not enough water being able to flow through the heater tube.

Rinse them off every 3 weeks in the kitchen sink with a sprayer.

Then do a deep chemical soak every 3 months, and plan to replace them every 12-24 months depending on how on top of the cleaning you are and the appearance of the filter.

For a deep dive into spa filter maintenance, especially the details on the deep chemical soak and the filter cleaner I use, check out my recent article.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Ensure that water chemistry is balanced

For your water to be clean and clear, you need to ensure that the chemical levels are balanced. The biggest culprit for cloudy water is going to be high pH.

But it’s also crucial that sanitizer and alkalinity levels are within range too.

High alkalinity and high calcium levels (hard water) are also some of the triggers for cloudiness. Just use test strips and check all the levels, and adjust as needed.

But how often should you use sanitizers such as chlorine?

This is what I got into in a recent article I published. In it, I explored how often chlorine or bromine should be used in a hot tub, whether you should shock your hot tub after every use, and if too much chlorine in a hot tub can hurt you.

But I also get into the dangers of insufficient sanitizer levels and how that might affect water clarity.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Shock the hot tub

Shocking the tub is one of the most reliable solutions when your hot tub water is cloudy because it reactivates your sanitizer levels and breaks down the organic contaminants that caused the cloudiness.

The best way to prevent your hot tub water from becoming cloudy is to ensure it’s regularly and properly maintained, chemically speaking.

But be aware that non-chlorine shock, while gentler on the skin to a small degree, will lead to cloudier water than using a chlorine-based shock.

Keep the hot tub cover on when not in use

It may be obvious, but leaving the cover off your hot tub can lead to all kinds of debris getting into the hot tub.

That could be leaves, dirt, bugs, bird poop, and other contaminants.

Those, along with things already in your hot tub water like skin cells, hair, and residue from lotions and body care products can lead to high levels of total dissolved solids and clog your filter.

As we’ve discussed, that can damage your equipment and also lead to cloudy water.

How long does it take for a cloudy hot tub to clear up?

On average, it takes about 24 hours for a cloudy hot tub to clear up once the problem is identified and fixed.

A hot tub clarifier can be used for this purpose. And you can also hyper-chlorinate the water. However, if the cloudiness is severe or won’t go away, you may want to drain, clean, and then refill the hot tub.

In some cases, it might take more than a day for it to clear up.

But this is rare. It’s something that could occur if the hot tub has experienced heavy usage over a couple of days and you forgot your regular maintenance routine.

In some cases, even after shocking it, it may still be a tad cloudy after 24 hours, and there is a need to shock the tub again. In which case, you might be looking at 36 to 48 hours.

In a recent article I published, I got into how to fix cloudy and smelly water.

I looked at why hot tub water can become cloudy, smelly, or foamy. I also looked at how to clear up cloudy water in a hot tub, and I explained how to stop a hot tub from smelling.

But I also revealed 7 ways to keep your hot tub water crystal clear. Just click the link to read it on my site.

Will low pH cause cloudy water in my hot tub?

No. Low pH does not cause cloudy water in your hot tub. It is actually high pH that can trigger cloudy water.

Although, low pH lead to other issues and should be addressed.

When the pH of the water in your hot tub is low, it’s evidence that the water is acidic. This can lead to corrosion of surfaces and equipment.

A low pH also reduces your ability to control total alkalinity (a measure of the water’s ability to neutralize acids).

It makes the experience of soaking highly uncomfortable for bathers as acidic water can sting the eyes and reduce natural oils on the skin, making it dry and itchy.

You can see that even though it’s not implicated in the water’s cloudiness, low pH can have severe effects.

Can too much chlorine cause cloudy water in my hot tub?

No. Too much chlorine does not cause cloudy water in a hot tub. It is possible that hot tub water could be cloudy and also be high in chlorine, but the chlorine levels will not be the root cause of the cloudiness.

Let’s find out why. In some cases, even with high chlorine, the effectiveness of the chlorine could be low because of chloramines (combined chlorine).

In effect, a part of the chlorine is not available to do its work of sanitizing the water because it’s been combined with ammonia. In that case, the chloramines and other factors could easily trigger the cloudiness of the water.

But what happens when the chlorine level in a hot tub is too low?

To know more, check out a recent article I published. In it, I looked at what should be done when the chlorine level is too low, whether it’s safe to go into a hot tub with low chlorine, and why hot tub levels keep dropping. But I also shared how often you should add chlorine to a hot tub.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Will shock clear a cloudy hot tub?

Yes. Shock can clear a cloudy hot tub. This is because it breaks down the organic matter that causes cloudiness and helps reactivate sanitizer levels if it is chlorine-based.

But if the pH or alkalinity levels are off, or you have a biofilm issue, shock will have little to no impact until those other issues are addressed.

Shock is able to clear cloudy water because it breaks down organic waste contaminants that trigger bad odors and cloudy or foamy water.

It does this through a process known as oxidizing, which involves removing the outer electrons of these contaminants. This makes it easy for the contaminant to be easily destroyed at the cellular level.

Shock also helps with the elimination of chloramines.

This is when chloramine has combined with ammonia and contaminants and is no longer free and effective to do its work.

Chloramines make hot tub water cloudy. Naturally, the water clears up when it’s been eliminated by the shock.

Shocks are highly effective, but how often should you shock a hot tub?

A recent article I published explores this very issue. In it, I explained what shocking a hot tub actually does and whether you can use shock and sanitizer at the same time.

I even explained how long you have to wait after shocking a hot tub before getting into it. And I revealed if it’s possible to over-shock a hot tub.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What does a clarifier do for a spa?

Hot tub clarifiers have three major functions: They help clear up cloudy water, increase the performance of the filter, and keep pH levels balanced.

Clarifiers are effective. However, it’s best to also tackle the underlying causes of cloudiness and pH imbalance.

Clarifiers help clear up water through two methods:

  1. Flocculation/coagulation
  2. The use of enzymes

Some of the contaminants that trigger cloudy water are too small that they easily pass through the filter.

Flocculation/coagulation entails the process through which these small particles are gathered and stuck together so that they become big enough to be trapped by the filter.

The second method is where enzymes eat up these particles.

There’s no need to gather and make them bigger. They are consumed out of existence.

MAC AquaDoc Clarifier from Amazon is the one I recommend highly.

It eliminates cloudy water, extends the life of your filter, and keeps your pH balanced. So, how does it work?

It attracts these micro dirt particles together (like a magnet), making them big enough so that the filter can catch them. This helps in extending the life of your filter cartridge. In addition to dirt, it clears foam too, and it is easy to use and fast-acting.

While the hot tub jets or blower is on, add 2 oz of the clarifier to every 800 gallons of water and turn on the filtration system until the water is clean and clear. Use the clarifier twice a week.

It has over 470 reviews on Amazon, and most of them are 5 stars. Click Here to check it out on Amazon.

Conclusion

Cloudy spa water is a common issue spa owners contend with now and then, and they want to know how to ensure that they have clean water or restore cloudy water to a clean and pure state.

This is what we explored in the article.

We considered whether it is safe to get in a cloudy hot tub and how to clear up cloudy water in a hot tub. We also looked at how long it takes for cloudy water to clear up and if low pH causes cloudy water. Then, we explored whether too much chlorine causes cloudy water and if shock clears cloudy water.

Lastly, we wrapped things up by looking at what clarifiers do for spas.

Ready to Spend Less Time On Maintenance and More Time Enjoying Your Hot Tub?

Let’s face it. Balancing the water, cleaning filters, dealing with rashes, and trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and add can make you feel more like a chemist than someone who just wants to relax after a long hard day!

That’s exactly why The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course is so valuable!

This is from Matt over at Swim University and he developed it for people looking to save money, time, and frustration. His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need.

So if you’re ready to stop being confused or frustrated with your hot tub and start spending more time in it, check out The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course.

Just click that link to learn more on their website.

Photo by Brady Knoll from Pexels

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Jeff Campbell
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