| PROBLEM |
PROBABLE CAUSE | SOLUTIONS |
| Cloudy Water |
• Dirty Filters
• Excessive oils/organic
matter
• Improper sanitization
• Suspended particles/
organic matter
• Overused or old water |
• Clean filters with FreshWater® Instant
Filter Cleaner or FreshWater Filter Cleaner
• Shock spa with sanitizer
• Add sanitizer
• Adjust pH and/or alkalinity with FreshWater
pH/Alkalinity Up or FreshWater pH/
Alkalinity Down
• Run jet pump(s) and clean filters with
FreshWater Instant Filter Cleaner or
FreshWater Filter Cleaner
• Drain, clean and refill the spa |
| Water Odor |
• Excessive organics in water
• Improper sanitization
• Low pH |
• Shock spa with sanitizer
• Add sanitizer
• Adjust pH with FreshWater pH/Alkalinity
Up to recommended range |
| Chlorine Odor |
• Chloramine level too high
• Low pH |
• Shock spa with sanitizer
• Adjust pH with FreshWater pH/Alkalinity
Up to recommended range |
| Musty Odor |
• Bacteria or algae growth |
• Shock spa with sanitizer—if problem is
visible or persistent, drain, clean and
refill the spa |
Organic buildup/
scum ring
around spa |
• Buildup of oils and dirt |
• Wipe off scum with clean rag—if severe,
drain the spa, use FreshWater Spa Shine
after cleaning to protect the spa shell,
and refill the spa |
| Algae Growth |
• High pH
• Low sanitizer lever |
• Shock spa with sanitizer, and adjust pH
with FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down to
recommended range
• Shock spa with sanitizer, and maintain
sanitizer level |
| Eye Irritation |
• Low pH
• Low sanitizer lever |
• Adjust pH with FreshWater pH/Alkalinity
Up
• Shock spa with sanitizer, and maintain
sanitizer level |
Skin Irritation/
Rash |
• Unsanitary water
• Free chlorine level above
5 ppm |
• Shock spa with sanitizer and maintain
sanitizer level
• Allow free chlorine level to drop below
5 ppm before spa use |
| Stains |
• Total alkalinity and/or
pH too low
• High iron or copper in
source water |
• Adjust total alkalinity and/or pH with
FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up
• Use FreshWater Stain & Scale to inhibit
metals |
| Scale |
• Total alkalinity and/or
pH too high
• High calcium content
in water |
• Adjust total alkalinity and pH with
FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Down—if
scale requires removal, drain the spa,
scrub off the scale, clean spa shell
with FreshWater Spa Shine, and
refill the spa. Add FreshWater Stain &
Scale and balance the water
using FreshWater pH/Alkalinity Up
or FreshWater
pH/Alkalinity Down |
* Watkins Manufacturing Corporation recommends only the following sanitizers:
* Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione (Sodium Dichlor or chlorine)
* One-step granular bromine |