How Often To Change Hot Tub Water

If you’re used to using the hot tub at your local community centre or gym, you don’t necessarily need to know the ins and outs about maintaining water chemistry balance or keeping the hot tub clean. But if you own a hot tub, these things become important skills that you’ll need to learn. Many new owners have questions about how often to change hot tub water or the signs that indicate it’s time to refill the hot tub with fresh water. In this post, we’ll go over some of the signals that will mean it’s time to change the hot tub water.

How Often Should You Change Hot Tub Water?

There’s no one answer to this question. Although general guidelines state that you should change the water at least every three or four months, there may be situations where you need to change it more or less frequently. The more use your hot tub gets, the more often you’ll have to change the water. However, if everyone who uses the hot tub showers beforehand, you won’t have to change the water as often. If you test your water chemistry a few times a week, regularly skim out any accumulated debris and invest in a self-cleaning system, you might not have to change the water as frequently as someone who has done none of the above. However, there are some signs that it’s time to change the water and we’ll go over these below.

The Hot Tub Water Is Foamy

Bubbles are part and parcel of operating a hot tub. Relentless foam may be a sign that your water chemistry is out of balance. It might be caused by a buildup of soaps, lotions, body oils and other body care products or it might be the result of spilled food or drinks. And while there are defoaming agents that can be used to quickly get rid of the foam, they are a short-lived solution at best. If you find your hot tub has been overrun with persistent foam, it may be time to change the water.

The Hot Tub Water Is Smelly

There are two types of unpleasant odours often associated with hot tubs. One is a strong chlorine-like smell that actually indicates that more chlorine sanitizer needs to be added to the water. The other odour smells like mold or mildew and is the result of a buildup of organic materials in the water. If a chlorine-based sanitizer doesn’t get rid of these smells, then you should consider filling the hot tub with fresh water.

Solids Are Forming On The Hot Tub Surfaces

If you see evidence of scaling or salt-like deposits on the surfaces of the hot tub and its components, your total hardness or total dissolved solids levels are probably out of kilter. If this happens it’s time to run some tests and find out whether these levels are in the proper range. Sometimes if the total hardness levels are too high, you need to empty or partially empty the hot tub and refill with fresh water to rebalance the water chemistry.

The Hot Tub Water Is Cloudy

Cloudy water can also be caused by high total hardness levels, but it might be the result of a buildup of organic matter. You can try and remediate the cloudiness by shocking the water with a chlorine or potassium-based shock. If this doesn’t clear the water up, it may be time to drain the hot tub and refill it with fresh water.

Now that you have a better idea of how often to change hot tub water, download a free buyer’s guide for more information.