Your best source for help is always Preference Pools & Spas, your local BioGuard dealer. Take a water sample of your spa water into the store for a free analysis and treatment plan.
Here are a few common problems you should become familiar with.
Copper or other metals may erode or corrode from the spa's heating system and dissolve into the water due to high velocity and/or low pH, low total alkalinity and low calcium hardness. This can show up as green or greenish-blue, brown or black water.
Stains are usually caused by metal in the water such as iron, copper or manganese, which can be introduced from a variety of sources including "fill water."
Rough, sandpaper-like deposits can coat spa walls, clog circulation and filtration systems and plug heaters. Scale is a result of excess dissolved calcium in the water.
Foaming is fairly common due to agitation and the presence of lotions, body oils, cosmetics and other substances.
| PROBLEM | PROBABLE CAUSE | SOLUTIONS |
| Cloudy Water |
- Dirty Filters
- Excessive oils/organic matter
- Improper sanitization
- Suspended particles/ organic matter
- Overused or old water
| - Clean filters with filter cleaner
- Shock spa with sanitizer
- Add sanitizer
- Adjust pH and/or alkalinity with pH or alkalinity increaser or ph/alkalinity decreaser
- Run jet pump(s) and clean filters with filter cleaner.
- Drain, clean and refill the spa
|
| Water Odor | - Excessive organics in water
- Improper sanitization
- Low pH
|
- Shock spa with sanitizer
- Add sanitizer
- Adjust pH with pH increaser to recommended range
|
| Chlorine Odor | - Chloramine level too high
- Low pH
|
- Shock spa with sanitizer
- Adjust pH with pH Increaser to recommended range
|
| Musty Odor | |
- Shock spa with sanitizer—if problem is visible or persistent, drain, clean and refill the spa
|
| Organic Buildup/ Scum Ring Around Spa | | - Wipe off scum with clean rag—if severe, drain the spa, use BioGuard Spa Mitts to clean and protect the spa shell, and refill the spa
|
| Algae Growth | - High pH
- Low sanitizer lever
| - Shock spa with sanitizer, and adjust pH with pH decreaser to recommended range
- Shock spa with sanitizer, and maintain sanitizer level
|
| Eye Irritation | - Low pH
- Low sanitizer lever
| - Adjust pH with pH increaser.
- Shock spa with sanitizer, and maintain sanitizer level
|
| Skin Irritation/ Rash | - Unsanitary water
- Free chlorine level above 5 ppm
| - Shock spa with sanitizer and maintain sanitizer level
- Allow free chlorine level to drop below 5 ppm before spa use
|
| Stains | - Total alkalinity and/or pH too low
- High iron or copper in source water
| - Adjust total alkalinity and/or pH with pH increaser.
- Use stain and scale to inhibit metals
|
| Scale | - Total alkalinity and/or pH too high
- High calcium content in water
| - Adjust total alkalinity and pH with pH decreaser—if scale requires removal, drain the spa, scrub off the scale, clean spa shell with BioGuard Spa mitts, and refill the spa. Add stain and scale and balance the water
|
