Starting with clean, properly treated water and the right dose of spa chemicals, your hot tub is ready to use. The jets are then activated, and you sit down. What a wonderful opportunity to savor that stunning, crystal-clear water!
However, just by being in the water, you might have unintentionally and covertly contributed body oils, lotions, shampoos, detergents, perfumes, makeup, drinks, and other possible environmental additives to the water. A layer of hot tub foam that is unwelcome can be produced by all these additives. Hey, it’s all right.
Unfortunately, your hot tub’s water chemistry will continue to alter with or without the assistance of human bodies entering the water, even if you abandoned it entirely after that point.
Biofilm
Biofilm is a bacteria or other microorganism that sticks to the water’s surface until it finds another surface to stick to—like your hot tub shell, plumbing, cover, etc.—where it attaches and eventually grows.
In all bodies of water, regardless of magnitude, biofilm develops. Fortunately, routine cleaning will prevent the majority of this from creating issues in your hot tub. Foam can be your ally because it acts as a warning sign that your water’s composition needs to be checked.
The foam is your hot tub’s method of communicating with you. It could be telling you that it’s time to drain and refill, shock treat it, or add more chemicals. Hello! Please pay attention to me.
When your hot tub speaks up, you should listen!
As much as we’d like to, it’s not practical to be able to regulate the detergent, chemicals, or composition of everyone who uses our hot tub. Even without our assistance, the water in our hot tub is continuously changing. However, there are some methods to get rid of that unpleasant foam and protect the quality of our water.
We can begin by avoiding the following:
- Soaps and detergents (including laundry soaps)
- Shampoos
- Lotions and deodorants
- Makeup
- Hairstyling products
- Food and drinks
- Pet hair
Before using your hot tub, be sure to take a shower to remove any sweat or body oils, and as always, be vigilant about maintaining clean water.
How to Get Rid of Foam
There will still be the odd patch of bubbles even after you’ve done all of the steps mentioned above. Understand, the water is the problem, not you.
For a temporary fix, try adding a bit of Anti-foam to your water.
A longer-lasting solution could be to keep a mineral cartridge in the filter compartment. This cartridge will help catch biofilm as it floats to the water’s surface.
As with anything, the longer-term, ideal solution to a problem with foam is going to be draining your hot tub and refilling it with fresh water to start your chemical process over. Bullfrog Spas recommends that you drain and refill your spa every three to six months for optimum sanitization, ultimate care, and function of your hot tub.
