Welcome to our forum.
I’m really dumbfounded as to why my water is SUPER cloudy all of a sudden. I’ve used multiple brands of test strips and everything is right where it’s supoosed to be (ph, alk, bromine, calcium hardness). I shocked it earlier today with dichlor and also added leisure time brightAnd clear which did nothing to help the cloudy water. Any ideas?
Quote from: bradleyabell on October 28, 2017, 09:14:27 pmI’m really dumbfounded as to why my water is SUPER cloudy all of a sudden. I’ve used multiple brands of test strips and everything is right where it’s supoosed to be (ph, alk, bromine, calcium hardness). I shocked it earlier today with dichlor and also added leisure time brightAnd clear which did nothing to help the cloudy water. Any ideas?Have you introduced anything to the water that was on your bodies, in your hair or in your suits?
Several times I have had a similar problem after friends join us in the tub. It could be any number of things. When we tub alone we don’t wear swimsuits and we shower right before using the tub. We are careful about body lotions and use them after but not before. We never wash our swimsuits with soap just rinse and dry. When friends join us the bather load is doubled and most of the time the duration time using the tub is double or more. So that alone is 8 times the usage and if your guests have some body lotions or soap left in swimwear that could double again. I have found whenever we have guests to hit the water a little extra right away and not wait till the next morning. Also it doesn’t hurt to have the chlorine level a little high to start off. Once it gets cloudy it will take a little while for your treatment to clear it up.
Hi Bradleyabell: When you say you cleaned and drained the tub completely I assume you did use a plumbing cleaner for the piping and jets. If you did, good job. If you did not do this, you really should. In all probability, you have a Biofilm formation in your plumbing that may be causing the folliculitis you have noticed. A good rule is to flush your plumbing twice a year for most hot tubs. I realize that many people on this forum are not big on recommending plumbing cleaners. You need to do this. Plus, your water maintenance will be much easier when the bio-buildup is eliminated. Just draining the tub and cleaning the shell is only half the job. A good analogy is that when you do dishes you actually wipe and sometimes scrub the utensils, plates or dishes or pans. Not doing so and just rinsing means that you will be consuming your next meal on half cleaned cookware and utensils. You should read up about Pontiac Fever and how it can affect hot tub users.
To answer Cora5. Yes. Brand new hot tubs should have their plumbing purged since the hot tub testing at the factory has left moisture inside the plumbing that can cause problems with maintenance going forward. I am a chlorine believer and not really an advocate of bromine. There are some advantages with bromine but many disadvantages as well. Keep it simple. Use dichlor and sometimes mps. Easy to use and monitor. All hot tubs need to have their plumbing purged at least twice per year. I am sure that many of you have read or heard about the lady who died as a result of Legionella at the Graceland pool and spa in July. Google it! Nine other people were also infected with Legionella. These were vessels that were being treated with sanitizers and all seemed well. They were also vessels where biofilm was pervasive throughout the system. Hot tub owners, purge the plumbing and jets at least twice annually. You need to do this. It is inexpensive and will reap you huge benefits. Many manufacturers and dealers are quiet about this. They need to be proactive. Hot tubs that are well maintained are great. I use my hot tub daily. It is wonderful. Nothing better.Just purge the biofilm periodically and enjoy a healthy soak. You will see lots of replies tomorrow from dealers who are saying something different and telling you you don’t have to do this. I am basing my input on proven science. You should read about biofilm in hot tubs and what this can mean.
Actually, I am trying to help readers in this forum enjoy their hot tub in a very safe and healthy environment. Nothing more than that.
Quote from: someguy on October 30, 2017, 08:46:59 pmTo answer Cora5. Yes. Brand new hot tubs should have their plumbing purged since the hot tub testing at the factory has left moisture inside the plumbing that can cause problems with maintenance going forward. I am a chlorine believer and not really an advocate of bromine. There are some advantages with bromine but many disadvantages as well. Keep it simple. Use dichlor and sometimes mps. Easy to use and monitor. All hot tubs need to have their plumbing purged at least twice per year. I am sure that many of you have read or heard about the lady who died as a result of Legionella at the Graceland pool and spa in July. Google it! Nine other people were also infected with Legionella. These were vessels that were being treated with sanitizers and all seemed well. They were also vessels where biofilm was pervasive throughout the system. Hot tub owners, purge the plumbing and jets at least twice annually. You need to do this. It is inexpensive and will reap you huge benefits. Many manufacturers and dealers are quiet about this. They need to be proactive. Hot tubs that are well maintained are great. I use my hot tub daily. It is wonderful. Nothing better.Just purge the biofilm periodically and enjoy a healthy soak. You will see lots of replies tomorrow from dealers who are saying something different and telling you you don’t have to do this. I am basing my input on proven science. You should read about biofilm in hot tubs and what this can mean.I'm not a dealer but replying to the contrary. I have owned about 10-15 tubs. One new and the rest used over the last 25-30 years. I have purged the plumbing before. But not 2 times a year. Maybe 2 times in 10 years. Most manufacturers use heavily chlorinated water to test their tubs. Most consumers never purge their tubs and don't have problems.If your trying to sell a purge product you would post doomsday scenarios as above.It is proven science that biofilm "can" build up in hot tubs. But it's not likely in yours. You had friends over that had lotion, cologne, hair spray, laundry soap in their suits and who knows what else.