Have you ever noticed white flakes floating in your hot tub water? If so, you might wonder what they are and how to eliminate them. White chips can be caused by two different things: calcium scale deposits or biofilm. Both of these can affect the quality and appearance of your water, as well as the performance and lifespan of a hot tub.
This post will explain how to identify, prevent, and remove white flakes from hot tub water.
What are Calcium Scale Deposits?
Calcium scale deposits are inorganic particles that form when the calcium level in water is too high. This can happen when pH is too high, or you have hard water. Calcium scale deposits can look like white flakes, crystals, or spots on your hot tub surfaces and equipment. They can also clog filters and jets, reducing a hot tub’s water flow and efficiency.
What is Biofilm?
Biofilm is an organic substance that forms when bacteria, algae, fungi, and other microorganisms grow in your water. Biofilm can look like white flakes, slime, or cloudy water. It can also produce unpleasant odors and irritate your skin and eyes. Biofilm can harbor harmful pathogens that can cause infections and diseases. Biofilm can also damage a hot tub components by corroding metal and degrading plastic parts.
White flakes floating in your hot tub
White flakes in a hot tub can be caused by calcium deposits or biofilm from mould. Do a bleach test to identify the flakes. Calcium flakes stay white when bleached, while mould flakes disappear.
For calcium flakes, adjust pH and alkalinity, use a metal remover, clean the filter often and avoid hard water.
For mould flakes, shock the tub with chlorine, use a pipe cleaner, drain and wipe the tub, sanitise regularly, change the water quarterly and use an anti-biofilm product. Proper maintenance prevents white flakes in hot tubs.y provided a valuable lesson about the importance of proper hot tub care.
Got Mold in Your Hot Tub? Here’s What You Need to Know
It’s every hot tub owner’s nightmare – you drain and clean your hot tub, only to find white flakes or sediment in the bottom afterwards. What is it? Is it dangerous mould? Here’s a quick guide to identifying and handling standard hot tub grimes:
- White Flakes After Draining: These are likely calcium deposits or scales that build up on the tub surface. Annoying but harmless. Scrub off the remaining flakes and use a scale inhibitor regularly.
- White Mold-Looking Spots: If you see fuzzy white patches that look like mould, don’t panic. It is likely not harmful mould but rather biofilms, a buildup of bacteria and minerals. Shock and scrub to remove.
- Thick White Sediment: This is probably calcium deposits that settled on the tub floor. Vacuum or drain to remove. Consider a tub flush to prevent future buildup.
- The verdict? While not the prettiest sights, these white hot tub issues are relatively common and rarely dangerous health hazards. With some elbow grease and maintenance, your hot tub can be clean and safe again.
How to Find Out if the White Flakes Are Caused by Calcium or Biofilm
You need to do a simple test to determine whether the white flakes result from calcium scale deposits or biofilm. Here are the steps:
- Fill up a glass with 8 ounces of spa water with the flakes inside.
- Pour 20 drops of bleach or liquid chlorine into the water.
- Gently stir the water and sanitizer, and wait for 30 minutes.
- If the flakes remain in the water after 30 minutes, they are most likely caused by calcium scale deposits.
- If the flakes disappear after 30 minutes, they are probably a result of biofilm.
How to Get Rid of White Flakes Caused by Calcium Scale Deposits
If you have calcium scale deposits in your hot tub water, don’t worry. You can quickly get rid of them by following these two steps:
- Balance pH and alkalinity levels. The scale begins to form when your pH is too high. You should keep pH between 7.2 and 7.8 and alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm.
- Use a scale preventer product, like [Spa Stain & Scale Preventer]. This product will help break down the existing scale particles and prevent new ones from forming. You should add 4 ounces per 100 gallons on the initial fill and 2 ounces per 100 gallons weekly if you have high mineral content in your water. If you have low mineral content, add 2 ounces per 100 gallons on the initial fill and 1 ounce per 100 gallons weekly.
Following these steps, you should be able to remove the white flakes from water and keep them from returning.
How to Prevent & Get Rid of White Flakes Caused by Biofilm
You must act fast if you have biofilm in your hot tub water. Biofilm is a severe issue that can pose health risks and damage hot tub. You need to follow these steps to get rid of biofilm:
- Drain and clean hot tub thoroughly. Use a spa cleaner product, like [Spa Purge], to remove dirt, oil, soap, or other contaminants from spa surfaces and plumbing.
- Replace filter cartridge or clean it with a product like [Spa Filter Cleaner]. This will help remove any biofilm or debris from filter media.
- Refill hot tub with fresh water and balance pH and alkalinity levels.
- Shock hot tub with a high dose of sanitizer, like [Spa Shock]. This will help kill any remaining bacteria or microorganisms in water.
- Add a biofilm remover product, like [Spa Defense], to prevent biofilm from forming again. You should add 2 ounces per 100 gallons on the initial fill and 1 ounce per 100 gallons weekly.
By following these steps, you should be able to eliminate the biofilm from water and prevent it from returning.
How to Maintain Your Hot Tub Water Quality
The best way to avoid white flakes in your hot tub water is to regularly maintain water quality. Here are some tips to keep your water clear and clean:
- Test water at least once a week with a test kit or test strips. Adjust your pH, alkalinity, sanitizer, and other chemicals as needed.
- Shock hot tub at least once weekly with a non-chlorine shock product, like [Spa Shock]. This will help oxidize any organic matter and boost your sanitizer level.
- Clean filter cartridge at least once a month with a product like [Spa Filter Cleaner]. This will help extend the life of filter and improve water flow and filtration.
- Drain and refill hot tub every 3 to 4 months, or more often if you use it frequently. This will help prevent the buildup of minerals, contaminants, and biofilm in your water.
- A spa cover protects hot tub from dirt, debris, and sunlight. This will help reduce the evaporation and contamination of water and the consumption of your chemicals.
By following these tips, you should be able to enjoy hot tub without any white flakes or other water problems.
We hope this post has helped you understand what causes white flakes in hot tub water and how to deal with them.
If you have any questions or need help with hot tub maintenance, please contact our customer service at Hot Tub Patio. We are happy to assist you with any of hot tub needs. Happy soaking! 😊
Final Words:
Upon closer inspection, I realized the white specks in the hot tub were not a sign of contamination as I had feared, but relatively harmless mineral deposits that had built up over time. Though initially alarming, the situation turned out to be innocuous.
However, the experience was an important reminder to stay on top of hot tub maintenance and cleaning to prevent more serious issues from developing. While the flakes proved benign, their presence indicated that a deeper cleaning was in order.
I will follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for upkeep and chemical balances to keep the water pristine and avoid any potential health hazards. The white flakes may have given me a scare, but ultimately they provided a valuable lesson about the importance of proper hot tub care.
