The major signs that your hot tub has a biofilm problem are cloudy water, foaming, and a bad odor in your hot tub. It can also be resistant to even heavy doses of chlorine shock. If you start noticing any of these problems in your hot tub, then it’s time to get rid of it before it ruins your spa.
If you’re currently using more chemicals in your hot tub but notice that your tub still remains unbalanced, then there’s a biofilm buildup problem lurking in your spa.
Biofilms can build up in your hot tub‘s equipment and plumbing, which automatically increases the risk of continuous water contamination if allowed untreated.
Biofilm buildup can actually damage your hot tub, make it unhealthy and be very bad for spa bathers. This is why it is very important that you clean biofilm from your hot tub‘s plumbing with a spa biofilm cleaner. This is to help reduce the health risks of coming into contact with an unhealthy hot tub.
Always use a hot tub biofilm remover anytime you intend to change your spa water. Biofilm can be greatly reduced to a minimum by the regular use of biofilm remover.
How long does it take for a biofilm to form?
Biofilm problems can be very frustrating for the hot tub owner, destroying your hot tub equipment and destroying your water balance, which in turn makes your water unbalanced and unsafe to use. This is why it is very important that you take your hot tub management and treatment very seriously.
Biofilms and the majority of microorganisms can develop and mature between 20 and 40 hours, although there are peculiarities for each microorganism. This is why if you leave your hot tub with no disinfection overnight, there could likely be a billion times more bacteria ten hours later.
Biofilm mostly starts to develop when there’s no disinfectant in your hot tub water or water levels are not properly balanced. This is why treatment is essential if you want to always keep your tub safe from bacteria and other hygienic substances as they can quickly develop.
The best way for you to avoid biofilm problems in your hot tub is to constantly test and treat your spa. Taking a shower before using the spa is also important. Do not forget to always remind bathers to first shower before going into the hot tub.
Can biofilm from a hot tub make you sick?
Well, biofilms are actually full of bacteria, and bacteria is unhygienic for a reason; it can get you sick if you use a hot tub with its presence. If your hot tub is smelly, cloudy, and slimy, trust me, going into the spa should be the very last thing to do, as you can end up having serious regrets afterward.
Some of the most common symptoms of biofilm on your skin are rashes, itchiness, and tender skin. These signs might likely disappear after a day or two, but it still doesn’t change the fact that you’ve contacted bacteria from your tub. However, if these symptoms persist or you begin to get sores forming after two days, then this could be serious and seeing your physician is highly recommended.
Cases like this normally have folliculitis, a type of bacteria that actually thrives in a hot tub’s warm water that isn’t properly sanitized.
Folliculitis is often mild, but serious cases may need the administration of an antibiotic to do the job. This is why you should always make managing and treating your hot tub a priority, or else you’re likely to experience things like this.
Is it possible to eliminate biofilm completely?
Biofilms pose a lot of threats to the safety of your hot tub. They can literally cause your hot tub equipment to get damaged and leave your hot tub water completely unhealthy.
Well, we can not say that biofilm can be eliminated completely as it can still come up if you stop treating your hot tub water. It thrives in situations that are unclean and unhygienic, so even if you treat your water and remove biofilm immediately, it is likely to still come up if you leave your hot tub without disinfecting it.
The most common signs of a biofilm problem in your spa are sudden cloudy water or a bad odor, or both. This definitely shows that your water is disinfected and bacteria has been allowed to thrive in it, or maybe you just made a treatment error.
However, biofilms are also likely to be present even in hot tubs that are new. This happens if the pipework stays damp even after the final factory test.
Ensure you’re up and doing when it comes to testing your hot tub‘s water regularly, as this is the only way that it can truly be managed and curtailed.
How do I get rid of biofilm in my hot tub?
Biofilms are more likely to develop in the plumbing system, just like it is for pools too. If left untreated, they eventually damage your pipes and plumbing system and infect your spa water.
You can easily prevent or get rid of biofilms in your hot tub by soaking your spa filter in super chlorinated water for at least 72 hours and then using it as a hot tub biofilm cleaner to purge and decontaminate the hot tub’s plumbing. Use an active hot tub cleanser that has the capacity to cleanse and remove biofilms in your hot tub.
It is also generally recommended that you completely drain your hot tub after super chlorinating to remove the contaminated hot tub water. This process also allows the biofilm remover to reach the plumbing system around the drain, where contaminants are likely to accumulate.
If you observe biofilm or other buildups after draining your hot tub, kindly scrub it off, then go ahead and reinstall your clean filter and refill your hot tub once again.
What is the white stuff floating in my hot tub?
I believe you’ve probably noticed white scales floating in your hot tub and this is probably why you’re here to know what it actually is.
Well, there are actually two.
There are two reasons why white flakes show up on your hot tub, and they are calcium scale deposits or the presence of biofilms.
Calcium carbonate deposits normally occur when there’s an overload or excess of calcium in the water. As calcium begins to enormously develop in your hot tub, the more you’ll begin to see white flakes show up.
Biofilm is made up of natural materials that are actually shed by the people who use the hot tub, which is an overgrowth of white water mold. This does happen primarily when the hot tub has been unused for a period of time and hasn’t been cleaned properly for a while. The hot tub‘s warm and moist nature is actually an invitation for mold to form, which then produces the white snow flakes.
Let’s look at how you can determine the types of flakes you have.
It is common that before you can find a lasting solution to the problem of the flakes, you have to know the root cause of it. This is the actual reason why the white flakes are showing up in your hot tub.
Pick a cup or bowl and use it to take at least four to eight-ounce water samples with the flakes floating in them. Now add fifteen to twenty drops of bleach or liquid chlorine into the water and allow it to sit for thirty minutes. If you notice that the flakes disappear, then it indicates biofilm buildup from mold, while if the flakes remain, then it is actually a case of calcium scale deposits.
Why does my hot tub have brown foam?
Normally, if your water’s pH level is too high, it is capable of causing minerals like iron to react with chlorine. This will in turn create brown scum on the surface of your hot tub‘s water, which is likely to also stick to the shell’s surface.
Most pool and hot tub owners are actually good at maintaining and treating their own spas. This is because of the rigorous information online available to them to easily navigate the ways they can accurately maintain them.
However, the majority of hot tub/pool users do not have any concrete knowledge about pool or hot tub management. This is why a lot of them end up hiring the services of either a water scientist or a chemist to handle the treating and managing, or they leave their hot tub or pool completely for bacteria to thrive.
Maintaining an accurate pH level is vital to your hot tub or pool’s safety, or else you’ll likely suffer from skin issues and itchy eyes because of poor water management.
Ensure that proper testing is done and carried out from time to time to maintain continuous hygiene and prevent any bacteria uprising that might cause you to stop using your pool/hot tub for some time.
