Plug-and-play hot tubs provide a convenient and easy way to enjoy a spa experience at home. Their compact, self-contained design allows these tubs to be set up either indoors or outdoors with minimal installation.
However, many new owners of these portable spas run into issues with excess suds and foam building up in the water during use. This foaming not only looks unappealing but can also interfere with the hydrotherapy jets and marr the overall hot tubbing experience.
In this article, we’ll explore the common causes behind foamy water in plug and play hot tubs and provide troubleshooting tips to resolve the problem. As an experienced hot tub expert, I’ll share best practices to prevent and remove stubborn foam as well as when it’s time to call in a professional. Read on to restore clean, relaxing soaks in your portable spa.
What Causes Foam in a Hot Tub?
Foam in a hot tub is typically caused by a combination of body oils, cosmetics, lotions, and soap residues mixing with jets, air bubbles, and chemicals in the water. Additional culprits behind hot tub foam include:
- Dirty Filters – Clogged hot tub filters allow more contaminants through, reacting with chemicals and churning up suds.
- Unbalanced Water Chemistry – Improper pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels encourage foaming.
- Too Many Bathers/Not Rinsing First – More users means more residue. And if tubers don’t rinse off thoroughly, it’s a recipe for bubbles.
- Too Much or Too Strong Cleaner – Overuse of spa cleaning products like defoamers can have an unintended foaming effect.
| Cause of Foam | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dirty Filters | Clean or Replace Filters |
| Unbalanced Water Chemistry | Test and Adjust Water Levels |
| Too Many Bathers/Not Rinsing First | Set Bather Limits and Remind Users to Rinse Off First |
| Too Much or Too Strong Cleaner | Use Cleaners Sparingly/Switch to Milder Product |
How to Prevent Foam Build-Up?
Luckily there are some easy ways to prevent foam from marring your plug and play hot tub experience:
Set Bather Limits
To keep body oils and residues to a minimum, set a limit of 2-4 bathers at a time in a plug and play hot tub. These units have smaller water capacities than built-in tubs, so residues become concentrated faster.
Remind Users to Rinse Off First
Place friendly signage reminding tubers to rinse off thoroughly before entering your plug and play hot tub. This simple step prevents soap residues, lotions, hair products, and more from ever making it into the water.
Clean Filters Frequently
Dirty hot tub filters are a huge contributor to foamy water. Stay on top of cleaning your plug and play hot tub’s filters at least once a week when it’s getting heavy use. Monthly cleanings may suffice for household tubs used less often.
Test and Balance Water Chemistry
Using test strips, check and adjust the pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness of your plug and play hot tub weekly when in use. Properly balanced water is less likely to get foamy.
Use Hot Tub Chemicals Sparingly
It may be tempting to pour in more sanitizers, defoamers, and clarifiers when foam appears, but more is often not better. Use only the recommended dosages to avoid unintended foaming side effects.
How to Remove Existing Foam?
If foam has already formed in your plug and play hot tub, try these troubleshooting tips:
Shock the Water
Using a hot tub shock product instantly oxidizes contaminants while clearing up foam. Be sure to run jets and leave the cover open for 30 minutes after shocking before getting back in.
Adjust Total Alkalinity
If test strips show total alkalinity outside the 80-120ppm range, adjust up or down accordingly. The right alkalinity levels discourage foaming.
Use a Defoamer
After shocking, test alkalinity and other water levels, a concentrated defoaming product can clear up lingering foam. However, take care not to overuse defoamers.
Clean or Replace Filters
Soaked in filter cleaner and rinsed thoroughly, dirty filters can be restored. But filters with irreversible buildup should be replaced – another key way to tackle foam at the source.
Drain and Refill Water
If other troubleshooting steps fail to eliminate foam, draining and refilling your plug-and-play hot tub with fresh water is in order. This gives you a clean slate for balanced water.
When to Call a Hot Tub Professional?
If your plug and play hot tub has chronic foaming issues that you can’t resolve through troubleshooting steps, calling in a hot tub pro is wise. They have specialized knowledge and tools to diagnose and treat stubborn hot tub foam you may be missing as a DIYer. The cost of a service call is often worth it to restore clean, relaxing hot tub enjoyment.
Conclusion
While occasional light foaming is normal, uncontrolled suds can put a damper on enjoying your plug and play hot tub. By staying on top of water care, setting bather limits, and following usage best practices, foam can usually be prevented or readily cleared up. Pay special attention to filter cleanings, water chemistry balances, and rinsing residues off tubers before entry.
If troubleshooting steps fail to eliminate persistent foam, don’t hesitate to contact a hot tub professional for specialized help getting your water crystal clear once again. Investing in your spa’s care will allow you to relax and rejuvenate in home hydrotherapy for years to come.
