What is it?
Cloudy water is a hazy, murky appearance that is caused by introduction of suspended particles that are invisible to the naked eye. A similar analogy would be the particles in air that cause smoke. These impurities are introduced into the water from a myriad of environmental sources, even bathers and source water. Particles can intensify and cause water to cloud due to improper water balance, low sanitizer levels and/or lack of routine oxidation, poor filtration or inadequate circulation.

To fix chemical causes of cloudy water:
Test water to determine current chemistry conditions
Add pH Decreaser if pH is high
Add Water Clarifier to help remove particles to the filter
Add Enhanced Shock or Spa Shock to oxidize contaminants
Add Brominating Concentrate or Chlorinating Concentrate to boost low sanitizer levels.

To fix equipment causes of cloudy water:
Improper filtration can be a cause of cloudy water
Use Filter Cleaner to clean dirty filter media

To prevent cloudy water:
Chemically clean filter every 4-6 weeks
Replace filter media as directed
Maintain proper water balance
Oxidize water weekly to destroy contaminants*
*such as perspiration, suntan lotions, hair sprays, body oils, urine, pet dander, and cosmetics

What is it?
Odors are most often caused by a high level of organic contaminants in the water left behind by users.

Typical spa use obviously creates a much higher level of contaminants in the water than occurs with typical swimming pool use and the aeration and higher temperature of the spa help cause the deposition of skin flakes and oil into the water as well as increased sweating. Obviously the sheer quantity of contaminants and bacteria present in each gallon of water causes a strain on the sanitizer to provide adequate protection and contributes to the need to oxidize or drain and refill periodically.

To fix odors caused by contaminants:
Take a water sample to your SpaGuard Dealer to determine current water balance, adjust accordingly
Add Water Freshener to remove odors
Add Enhanced Shock or Spa Shock to oxidize contaminants
Add Brominating Concentrate or Chlorinating Concentrate to boost low sanitizer levels

To prevent odors:
Maintain an appropriate sanitizer residual
Shock/oxidize routinely or as needed depending on bather load
Test water frequently and adjust as needed

What is it?
Copper may erode from the spa’s heating system and dissolve into the water due to low pH, low total alkalinity and low calcium hardness. This can show up as green or greenish-blue water. In addition, the source or make-up water may also have high levels of metal such as iron copper or manganese. Changes in water balance (usually from an increase in pH or application of a shock product) can cause the metals to become insoluble and allow them to drop onto the spa surface, resulting in staining.

To remove metal stains:
Have your water tested to determine the root cause
Add Stain & Scale Control to remove recent stains and tie up metals in pool water
Use Off The Wall® Surface Cleaner to help clean hard water deposits

To prevent metal stains:
Add Stain & Scale Control weekly to tie up metals in spa water

What is it?
Foaming can be caused by a foreign contaminant such as soap or oil entering the spa or the build-up of organic contaminants in the water. Foam should dissipate over time, but the use of anti-foaming agents will help clear the foam much more rapidly.

To eliminate foaming:
Apply Anti Foam to get rid of foam quickly
Add Enhanced Shock or Spa Shock to oxidize contaminants
Add Water Clarifier to remove contaminants that may be causing the foam

To prevent foaming:
Shock/oxidize routinely
Add Water Clarifier to your weekly maintenance routine to help remove contaminants

What is it?
Scale formation is created when there is an oversaturation of minerals, particularly calcium, in the spa water and water conditions do not allow them to remain dissolved or soluble. Those conditions may be high calcium hardness, high water temperatures and/or high pH. The minerals drop out of solution and rough, sandpaper-like deposits attach to spa surfaces, circulation and filtration systems and plug heaters. Conversely, low levels of calcium make the water more aggressive and can lead to corrosion of equipment and spa surface staining.

To remove scale:
Add Stain & Scale Control to gradually remove scale from surfaces
Use a brush and Off The Wall® Surface Cleaner to quickly clean surfaces
Test water to determine current chemistry conditions
Add pH Decreaser if pH is high

To prevent scale:
Add Stain & Scale Control to your weekly maintenance routine to reduce contaminant levels

What is it?
Eyes and skin can become irritated after spending time in the spa for various reasons. Out-of-balance spa parameters, specifically pH, can cause eye and skin irritation in soakers. A build-up of contaminants in water can also create chloramines (a chlorine smell) and contribute to eye/skin irritation.

To adjust pH:
Test water before adding product to ensure which factors need to be adjusted
Add pH Decreaser if pH is high, pH Increaser if the pH is low
To remove contaminants:
Add Enhanced Shock or Spa Shock to remove contaminants
Add Water Clarifier to enhance filtration.

To prevent irritating conditions:
Keep spa water balanced according to suggested parameters
Chemically clean filter every 4-6 weeks
Oxidize water weekly to destroy contaminants*

*such as perspiration, suntan lotions, hair sprays, body oils, urine, pet dander, and cosmetics

What is it?
A greasy coating on the walls along the waterline of the spa is evidence that there is a saturation of undissolved materials in the water while a ring of rough patches may be a sign of scale. Most of the time, oils and lotions that enter the water via soakers can cause the greasy build-up and scale conditions are due to water balance issues. Please visit the Scale troubleshooting section for more info on that problem.

To remove waterline build-up:
Add Natural Spa Enzyme to breakdown contaminants such as oils, lotions and grease
Add Stain & Scale Control to gradually remove scale from spa surfaces
Use a brush and Off The Wall® Surface Cleaner to quickly clean surfaces near the waterline

To prevent waterline build-up:
Add Natural Spa Enzyme to your routine maintenance routine to help keep surfaces cleaner
Chemically clean filter every 4-6 weeks