- [Narrator] Why is my hot tub water green?
Well, the bad news is your spa has algae.
The good news is that it is treatable and preventable.
All it takes is a little elbow grease,
the right chemicals, and a few simple precautions
to stop that algae from coming back.
Check it out.
(rock music)
How does hot tub water
turn green in the first place?
Well, there are a few factors that can create
an algae problem in your spa.
One is leaving your hot tub uncovered
when you're not using it.
This is especially dangerous if it's outside,
where the sun can help algae to grow.
Two, not adding enough sanitizer,
or not adding it often enough, or both.
Three, the hot tub's filtration system
isn't working properly or the filter
isn't being cleaned and replaced often enough.
Number four, algae got into your hot tub
on a swimsuit or a spa accessory
that you used in another
algae-infected body of water.
Knowing why it happened is an important step
to prevent algae blooms in the future.
Here's how to prevent hot tub algae.
One, cover your hot tub when you're not using it,
even if it's inside.
Two, make sure you add enough sanitizer
for your hot tub's volume,
and that you're adding it often enough.
The only way to know this
is to test the water regularly.
Three, check the filtration system
and be sure to clean out your hot tub filters
on a regular basis.
Also, replace the filters when they're worn out.
Number four, wash your swimsuits
and any accessories that you've used in a pool,
a lake, or any other body of water
before you put them back in your hot tub.
Now that you know how to prevent algae from happening,
here's how to get rid of hot tub algae.
One, you'll wanna drain and clean your hot tub.
You have to get rid of all of the water
that has algae in it and then clean every surface
to make sure every bit of algae is gone.
Number two, clean and replace the filter.
Just rinsing the filter with clean water
won't be enough to get rid of algae.
You'll need to apply a filter cleaner.
You may even wanna soak it
in that cleaner overnight.
If the filter is worn out, or if you see
it's starting to fray and fall apart,
it's time to replace it.
Three, scrub that tub.
A simple wipe down just won't do.
You'll need to use a hot tub cleaner
to thoroughly clean the shell
which is the inside of your tub.
While you can use diluted bleach
or diluted cleaning vinegar in some cases,
we actually highly recommend that you use a cleaner
specifically made for hot tubs
if you have an algae problem.
Of course, always wear protective gear
like goggles and gloves.
Four, refill the hot tub.
It's time for a fresh start and some fresh water.
When refilling the hot tub,
we recommend using a hose filter,
cause this is gonna help keep minerals
and other contaminants out.
Five, clean the cover.
Condensation collects on the underside
of your hot tub cover, and that means
there may be a few algae spores hanging out there.
While your hot tub refills,
clean the cover with diluted bleach,
diluted cleaning vinegar, or with a vinyl cleaner.
Again, when dealing with algae,
we recommend a cleaner made
specifically for hot tub covers.
Six, shock your hot tub.
Once the tub is full,
you'll wanna shock the water,
and then, you'll wanna shock it again.
This is to make sure that you kill
any algae that might be tempted to come back.
Always follow the manufacturer's directions,
determine the right amount of hot tub shock
to add to your spa.
Seven, test the water.
Once the shock has done its work,
test the water with either test strips
or a liquid test kit.
Eight, balance the water.
This means adjusting the pH, alkalinity,
calcium hardness, and sanitizer levels.
After you add in those chemicals
and let them disperse over time,
you wanna test the water again.
If the levels are off, adjust as necessary,
wait a little bit, and then test again.
Repeat this process until the water
is properly balanced and sanitized.
If you have any more questions
about hot tub water chemistry,
be sure to check out our other videos.
If, after all these steps,
you notice that the algae comes back,
don't panic.
Just repeat these cleaning steps.
Algae is tough stuff,
and if it's hiding out in your hot tub,
it may take two or even three tries
to get rid of it completely.
If you're looking for an easy-to-follow tutorial
that'll answer all your hot tub questions,
go check out our hot tub handbook and video course.
You'll get in-depth video lessons,
plus, a step-by-step downloadable guide
covering everything that you need
to know about hot tub maintenance.
It's packed with money-saving tips
so you can save money and time
keeping your hot tub clean.
This is the ultimate manual
for every type of hot tub.
The best part is we always keep it up-to-date.
So once you buy it, you have access
to the latest and greatest version for life.
That's swimuniversity.com/spa,
and use the promo code video.
If you missed anything or have any questions,
please leave a comment to let us know
and to help out your fellow hot tub owners.
Hit the like button below
if you found this video helpful.
If you wanna learn more about hot tub maintenance
and troubleshooting, subscribe to our channel
for more videos like this one.
Check out the hot tub handbook and video course
at swimuniversity.com/spa.
Don't forget to enter that promo code video
to get 10% off.
That's it, thanks again, and happy soaking.