What Causes Bad Odor in Your Hot Tub and Spa?

What will you do if your hot tub and spa smell like skunks? The smell of skunk not only gives you inconvenience in life, the smell also seems like a nightmare and you want nothing more than to get rid of them instantly.

What Causes Bad Odor?

It is important to know what caused the odor. Smelly hot tubs are commonly caused by improper use of disinfectants, poor maintenance, environmental issues, and other causes that you attribute to your imagination. Often times, the by-products of chemicals are to blame. An example is the end result of the combination of chlorine and bromine: chloramines.

Chloramines are also formed by sweat, urine, saliva, and sputum that spa users put into the water, causing strange odors in the spa water. The good news is that you can prevent this bad smell with proper maintenance.

Some homeowners eliminate smelly air by masking odors with spa fragrances. Little did they know that this procedure only provides short-term relief. The smell will eventually continue to get worse than ever. Using disinfectants that are not designed for hot tubs and spas can also create a bad odor. You should only use formulated spa sanitizers such as biguanide.

Shocking water

Striking the water with an additional non-chlorine oxidant like potassium monopersulfate helps break chemical bonds and remove organic material. After shaking off the water, it is recommended to remove the cover from the hot tub for about 2 hours so that the debris is completely removed.

Important maintenance for the spa

Irregular maintenance can cause a bad odor. Sanitizing your spa water is the single most important maintenance you can do for your spa. Not only does this eliminate odor, regular maintenance also helps the tub and spa stay in their best condition.

A deep cleaning is recommended to sanitize your spa and remove biofilm buildup. Drain your spa regularly to control odor. Also clean the filters, hot tub covers, and other spa accessories.

Environmental issues

Biofilm build-up on the surface of the spa contributes to mold and mildew and pink odors. Algae can also cloud your bathtub water. Using plumbing line cleaners, such as the spa system flush, is highly recommended. Regular use of this scrubbing system helps remove films.

With a little effort of at least fifteen to thirty minutes a week, you can control the rapid build-up of odors in your spa and hot tubs.