Bubbles might be desirable if you’re thinking about a glass of champagne, a bottle of soda or a bubble bath, but you don’t want excessive bubbles and foam when you’re in a hot tub. Usually, a surfeit of foam in a hot tub means that something is out of balance. If you find that foam and bubbles are constantly floating on the water surface, you’ll need to check into why they’re there and fix the situation. We’ve come up with an article that helps you understand what causes hot tub bubbles and what you can do to get rid of them.
Water Pollutants
The most likely cause of persistent bubbles and foam in a hot tub is the presence of pollutants and contaminants in the water. Materials from the atmosphere such as pollen, dust, and insects can cause the water to become unbalanced. However, most of the contaminants that end up in a hot tub are brought there by the hot tub users themselves. Residues such as soap, lotions, oils, deodorants, perfumes, and dirt can all add to the ability of bubbles to form. Bathing suits often harbor small amounts of laundry detergent that add to the creation of foam. The best remedy for this is to have bathers shower before entering the hot tub. You might also consider rinsing out your bathing suit before getting into the water.
Total Hardness
Total hardness is also known as the calcium hardness level. This is a measurement of how much calcium and magnesium exist in the water. If the total hardness level is too low, also known as having soft water, foam and bubbles have an easier chance of forming because of the reduction in the surface tension of the water. Soft water can also cause other problems with the hot tub, such as etching of plaster and concrete surfaces or corrosion of metal components. There are calcium hardness increasers that you can add to the water to rectify the situation. If you have a water softener in your house, you should disconnect it before filling your hot tub. You should measure the total hardness at least once a week.
Hot Tub Shock
Shocking a hot tub refers to adding chemicals to the water to prevent the build-up of organic materials. Organic compounds can lead to foamy, murky and stinky water. Hot tub shocks typically come in chlorine-based and non-chlorine-based formats. You’d normally use a chlorine-based shock when you first fill the hot tub with water. Going forward, you can use a non-chlorine-based shock on a regular basis. How often you shock the hot tub will depend on how much use it gets. If you’re frequently using the hot tub, you want to shock it at least once a week.
Chemical Additives
You may come across a class of chemical additives known as defoamers. And while they’re a quick fix to getting rid of foam in your hot tub, they don’t actually address the root cause of the bubble formation. You may also notice there’s a wide price range when it comes to hot tub chemicals. You can pay less for discount brands, but you’ll usually find that their concentrations aren’t as high as the more expensive choices. So, you’ll ultimately end up using more chemicals that may not be any cheaper over the long term. It’s also important to store your chemicals properly. Chemicals that are exposed to the sun or air for long periods of time may become less effective. Try to keep your hot tub chemicals sealed in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight.
To learn more about hot tub water chemistry download a free hot tub buyer’s guide today.