Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Haynes on September 11, 2005, 05:04:27 am
-
I am having major foaming issues and I want to get rid of it, short of dumping the water. I now have to use defoamer each time I use my tub. My water chemistry is perfect as per the Taylor test kit. I use Spa Perfect but not on days I use shock. Many, many people use my tub and I doubt they all are getting rid of the detergent in their suits as instructed. [What is the best way to get rid of the detergent residue?
-
Haynes,
I also battle foaming issues and I think it's 3 fold - the suits, Spa Perfect and TDS. I have my sons' friends go in the tub and right afterwards I get huge amount of foam, anywhere from 5-8 inches high. I scoop it out with a pool skimmer and it's still there.
I do (maybe did) use Spa Perfect. With Spa Perfect, if you go to their website and read the FAQ, they will tell you it'll foam and the water will get cloudy as it tries to do it's job. It seems like for me - it starts foaming right away, I put in the required amount and 6 hours later I turn on the air jets and I get frothing on the water. It does keep the tub Squeaky Clean - No brown tub ring.
For TDS, well with a lot of people using your tub your TDS might be through the roof. The formula is (Volume of spa)/3/(average # of bathers)= change water. For me, it's around 60 days and I almost got 2 months out of my water - I was 8 days shy of 2 months.
I understand what your going through and it's fustrating. My last battle with foam - My son and his friends went in, large amounts of foam, scoop the foam and shock the tub, cloudy water - added clarifier, clear water - change filters and added enzymes (2x dose) and tub foamed again - CHANGED WATER!!!
It just might be time to change the water.
Vinny
-
Just keep a spray bottle with 50/50 defoamer/water and use as needed.....about the easiest way to deal with it. I had a "guest" (that title is giving her MUCH too much credit) that just flopped in the tub clothes and all. Needless to say, foam was an issue afterwards. She won't get another invitation......... :-[
-
I hate foam in my tub! I was using Anti-Foam everytime I got in until a good friend of mine suggested a dryer sheet (I use snuggles) WOW the foam just disappeared, not to mention it smelled very nice to. The dryer sheet seems to last about three days and doesn't leave that scummy stuff at the water line like the Anti-Foam does. It sounds goofy but it works for me. Not much to lose except the foam and one dryer sheet. :)Good luck
Howie
-
I hate foam in my tub! I was using Anti-Foam everytime I got in until a good friend of mine suggested a dryer sheet (I use snuggles) WOW the foam just disappeared, not to mention it smelled very nice to. The dryer sheet seems to last about three days and doesn't leave that scummy stuff at the water line like the Anti-Foam does. It sounds goofy but it works for me. Not much to lose except the foam and one dryer sheet. :)Good luck
Howie
That is interesting .....does anyone know why this could be the wrong the thing to do ....if it works with no adverse side effects it seems like a simple and good thing...
-
I hate foam in my tub! I was using Anti-Foam everytime I got in until a good friend of mine suggested a dryer sheet (I use snuggles) WOW the foam just disappeared, not to mention it smelled very nice to. The dryer sheet seems to last about three days and doesn't leave that scummy stuff at the water line like the Anti-Foam does. It sounds goofy but it works for me. Not much to lose except the foam and one dryer sheet. :)Good luck
My water is about 6 weeks old but I have been fighting foam for about 2 weeks. I hate to change the water if I don't have to, especially since it seems like its going to be a ongoing problem for me. I am going to try the dryer sheet as soon as I can find someone to give me one to try. Do you let the dryer sheet free float in the water or do you put it in some type of container?
Thanks for everyones response. Greatly appreciated.
Haynes
Howie
-
Haynes,
I just let it free float, but I do watch it to make sure it doesn't go into the filter. I have been using this method for about two weeks and it has not affected my chemicals at all.....ph, alk, chl all good. Hope it works for you.
-
Cool......I've gotta try that dryer sheet idea. Another idea as well.....yesterday I 303'd my cover (all sides), all pillows, my control knobs and controller panel. I'm sure some overspray got into the tub as well. Seems that the foam was definitely less while I soaked last night--or was it the martini? ::) Anyway, I'll investigate it further and update if I find anything significant. In the meantime, the dryer sheet idea sounds like a winner.
-
Over the labor day weekend I had many vistors to my tub and my tub got a bad case of the foams. The water looks crystal clear, but turn the jets on and boom - soap foam.
I refuse to use the anti-foam product, as last time it clouded my water up to the point I had to dump it.
I've rinsed the filter 2x since then, and have kept the water chemisty right on the money and have noticed a big difference, however, after 1 week it's only about 75% gone. I'm going to give it another week, before I try anything else.
After all, it's just a touch of soap. Right? This will eventaully disapaite on it's own, right?
-
Water is probably the cheapest chemical you can use. When I thought about how much time I was putting into fighting it and the chemicals, it was worth it to dump and start all over again!
-
The Vinster has a point. It kills me to say that but.... ;)
-
Water is probably the cheapest chemical you can use. When I thought about how much time I was putting into fighting it and the chemicals, it was worth it to dump and start all over again!
Its more of a time factor thing. It take a while to do a complete dump and refill. Not to bad of a job this time of year but I can't imagine having to change my water Jan, Feb and March just to get water without all the foam.
-
If you're a newbie as I think you are - you're going to screw up your water. Heck, I have a pool for 5 years now and hot water behaves differently than cold water - I thought it'll be a snap to take care of a tub - I had 4 years training -WRONG!!
I just drained and refilled and got almost 2 months out of the water, the first was only 1 month. What I have found is IF you can't control what goes into the tub, you can't control how the water is behaving.
I have a 10 YO and when the he goes into the tub with 4 or 5 of his friends with nice, freshly washed suits (even after going in the pool) I get 5 - 8 inches of foam. I have battled it down but after the 3rd or 4th time of them going in on different days - I can't clear up the foam! Also couple that with a 14 YO and his friends and the fact that my kids have 4 or 5 bathing suits/gym shorts that they change into and jump into the tub.
I can appreciate where your coming from as I too am looking at winter quickly appoaching and don't want to be a spacicle in Jan. I decided to eliminate the Spa Perfect for mow and see if that contributed to some of the minor foaming, I upped the ozonator run time to 12 hours a day AND now that summer is disappearing, I have informed my family that they are to pick 1 suit to use in the tub to help combat the foam. I'm shooting for a Nov water change for this water but am hoping to get 4 months from the next.
As far as the dump/refill - it can take as little as 2 hours or less. Use sump pump tubing and get that to siphon out the water - IT'S QUICK. It dumped 400 gallons in about 30 min and the fill took about 45. NO! I wouldn't want to do it in Jan but the more I practice the better I will get!
-
I ran out of Spa Perfect a couple of weeks ago, stopped using it, and my foaming problem has been reduced.
-
Although, it does a great job at keeping the scum line gone - there's an aweful lot of foaming questions in their FAQ and they don't provide enough help when you e=mail them.
I've been soaking now for 3 days and the new water doesn't have a scum line - go figure!
-
I know water is cheap but how much does 450 gallons of water costs?
-
1000 gallons cost about $3.00, maybe less.
-
I agree with Haynes who wrote:
Its more of a time factor thing. It take a while to do a complete dump and refill. Not to bad of a job this time of year but I can't imagine having to change my water Jan, Feb and March just to get water without all the foam.
Being in the northeast, I don't want to have to fool with water changes in the winter. Dec-Feb it's just not an option to completely change out the water. So I want to have my water chemistry and program down pat by then. (Famous last words).
In addition to the cost of the water, the time, Don't forget costs to heat the water.... but spending a few bucks to have the water clean isn't my issues. It's the time and convinence.
-
I dumped the water and did a refill yesterday. Foam all gone. I cleaned the filter and scum bag(?) yesterday in the dishwasher, looks like it did a good job. I'll try the dryer sheet as suggested. I wish there was a product to add to the water to breakdown the detergent. I'm also going to try to limit my use of SpaPerfect. Is there another product similar to SpaPerfect that works well but does not produce foam? I will try to limit the source of the problem, the swimming suits but you can't give everyone a hard time when they show up at your house.
Haynes
-
I use LeisureTime Enzyme (used to be called Scum Gon). Two oz per week to maintain. Never had a foam problem from it. Keeps the scum bug nice and clean and gives the water a fresh smell.
-
Tried the dryer sheet, foam disappeared! Sheet did not float though, found it stuck to the intake screen. Wonder what is in those things? The label says "fabric softening agents, cationic and nonionic.
-
DUMP IT!
-
because.....?
-
spa water has a finite life span. Over time the TDS level rises to upwards and over 2000ppm from bather loads. Total dissolved solids are an accumulation of matter that can not be oxidized from the spa water by shock treatments. There is a formula for average daily bather load used by any commercial hot tub in use. A commercial establishment will dump and refill as often as daily. Residential average is 3-4 months, with usage of 3-4 times per week. When in doubt, dump it. As to the winter issue. Shoot for a thanksgiving dump and fill. that should get you through march, however partial drains are possible in the winter as is warm spells above freezing for a day or two.
-
ok. I thought you meant dump it because I tried a dryer sheet in it.
-
Water is indeed the best chemical one can use to take care of such issues BUT it is not the answer every time. If after just changing the water and one experiences some foaming after a guest wears a detergent laden suit, a water change is simply not the best prescription. I don't know which anitfoam agent drewster tried which clouded his water but I've never had my water clouded with the 50/50 mix in a sprayer--and I buy the cheapest antifoamer I can find (HTH at Ace). Antifoam agents do work and it sounds as if the dryer sheet idea has its merits as well. And, if no further detergent is introduced into the tub, the foaming will subside as the detergent agents are filtered. Will it completely go away? Depending on the amount of air one's tub introduces in the water, I believe a small but manageable amount of foaming will occur. For me, this only occurs when I have more than 1 therapy pump running and a few squirts of the 50/50 and it's gone--and no clarity problems.