My spa smells weird what should I do?

[syedsam]

Lately my hot tub has started to smell kind of musty, even though the water looks clear. I check the sanitizer levels often, and they seem fine. What could be causing that smell, and what should I do to fix it before it gets worse?

 

[Zephyr]

Lately my hot tub has started to smell kind of musty, even though the water looks clear. I check the sanitizer levels often, and they seem fine. What could be causing that smell, and what should I do to fix it before it gets worse?

Sometimes it’s just low sanitizer effectiveness. If you use bromine, switch to chlorine shock for one treatment and run the jets for an hour. The extra boost kills whatever’s causing the odor. Keep an eye on your pH too if it’s off, sanitizer won’t work as well.

 

[Freddie]

Lately my hot tub has started to smell kind of musty, even though the water looks clear. I check the sanitizer levels often, and they seem fine. What could be causing that smell, and what should I do to fix it before it gets worse?

I had the same issue and it turned out my filter was overdue for a deep clean. I soaked it overnight in AquaDoc Filter Cleaner and the smell disappeared after refilling. Also make sure you leave the cover off for a bit after shocking it helps the gases escape.

 

[Manikshaw]

Lately my hot tub has started to smell kind of musty, even though the water looks clear. I check the sanitizer levels often, and they seem fine. What could be causing that smell, and what should I do to fix it before it gets worse?

That smell usually means there’s buildup in the water or plumbing. Even if your sanitizer reads okay there could be leftover organics in the system. Try shocking the water and cleaning the filters really well. If that doesn’t fix it run a spa purge before draining it clears out any hidden gunk.

 

[syedsam]

Thanks for the tips. I’ll clean the filters and shock the water again with the cover open. If the smell sticks around I’ll do a full purge before refilling. Hopefully that clears it up completely.

 

[Wei Cai]

I’ve had the same issue before, and it’s usually just a dirty filter or leftover organics in the system. I clean the filter, shock the water with the cover open, and the smell goes away right after.