How to Get Iron Out Of Hot Tub? (SIMPLE Solution)
Too much iron in your hot tub water is never a good thing. They stain up the surfaces of the tub and discolor the water. And not to mention, it makes the water look gross. When you are relaxing in your hot tub, you’d want it to be as clean and clear looking as possible. But, how to get iron out of hot tub water? – You may ask.
To remove iron or any metal from the hot tub's water, first make sure your hot tub water chemicals are perfectly balanced. Also, remove any iron stains on the hot tub surface. A product I would recommend for this is Spa Choice Metal Free Stain Remover.
But this is only a quick overview of how to get iron out of your tub. I recommend reading the entire article to get a better idea about the matter. As well as any other questions that may arise.
What Is Well Water? And How It Affects Your Hot Tub?
This water is naturally pure and has no chemicals in it. But there are large amounts of iron and many other metal deposits as well dirty present in the water. These impurities can easily stain the surface of your hot tub.
All these impurities make the process of balancing the pH level of this water very difficult. But using proper balancers we can achieve a proper pH balance and prevent the formation of any brown scum and staining of your hot tub. Filtration will also play a large role in removing any of the impurities remaining in the water.
So before pouring the well water into your hot tub, connect it to your home's water filtration system. After that you can get a pre-filter. If you are interested in DIY, I would recommend getting a DIY bucket filter. Doing this ensures that metal and other impurities do not make it into the hot tub and prevent any stain that may occur from it.
How to Tell If You Have Too Much Iron in Your Hot Tub?
You can tell if your hot tub has too much iron in it by pouring chlorine or bromine in the water, as it will react with its metallic content and turn green. If you’d like to know the specific amount of iron present, take some of your pool water to your local hot tub and pool supply store for testing.
Iron and other metals are naturally present in water. Water systems with old pipes may also contain traces of metal such as iron. Though iron in hot tubs is not specifically harmful it will change the color of the water and stain your hot tub.
You can tell if the water is abundant in metal such as iron if the water is discolored but you can still see through it. There will be stains visible on the surface. In case the water appears cloudy, oxidizing or shocking your hot tub might be necessary.
Getting Iron Out of Your Hot Tub
The process of getting iron out of your hot tub is simple. You will start by shock treating the water. Shock treatment is the process of adding plentiful amounts of chlorine or non-chlorine shock.
Next, you need to vacuum up any waste that settles at the base of the hot tub. After that, partially drain the water and once you clean the filter refill the hot tub. Finally, use products such as Spa Choice Metal Free Stain Remover to prevent any floating metals from staining your pool in the future.
By following these easy steps, you can get iron out of your hot tub. But what if you already stained your hot tub with the iron. In that case, I have some simple instructions that you can follow to get rid of the iron stains.
Removing Iron Stains From Your Hot Tub
In case you are late to get rid of the iron in the water stains can arise. But you can get rid of them just as easily as you can get iron out of your hot tub.
Firstly, mix equal quantities of white vinegar and water and add around 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the solution and mix thoroughly. Then using a scrubber or a rag and some of the solutions start scrubbing the stains in the hot tub. After you are done scrubbing and wipe it clean with a wet rag, you’ll see that the stain is gone.
These strains usually occur when metals like iron are allowed to stay in the hot tub. As a result, there will be a build-up of metal deposits on the surface resulting in stains. Prevention is the best way to solve this problem.
Preventive Measures
In this case, keeping the chemical balance of the water is very important. So, be sure to check the pH levels of your hot tub regularly. You can also avoid this by using the earlier mentioned method to get rid of the iron before stains form. As well as using products designed to prevent a metal stain in your hot tub.
The filter for your hot tub is also an important factor for the sake of preventing iron stains. If you regularly change the filter, you can prevent iron from getting deposited in the hot tub. Another cause of the staining may be the hardness of your water. You can avoid this by adding a scale prevention chemical or a calcium hardness remover to the water.
Leftover toiletry and body oils are another leading cause of stains. So, try and stop it from building up on the shell. A special type of floating sponge is used for this, but a few tennis balls in the water will work in a pinch as well.
To stop oxidation of metal in your hot tub I recommend using a metal sequestrant. Metal sequestrants do not remove stains instead it makes the metal molecules clump together making it easier for the filter to stop them.
Other Metals That Harm Hot Tubs
Other than iron, other metals can cause issues for your hot tub. These metals include copper and manganese especially if you are drawing water from a ground source. Like iron, copper can also cause the metallic equipment of your hot tub to corrode. It can be noticed due to it giving the water turquoise, gray or green tint.
Copper is mainly used in algaecides to get rid of any algae and it is very cheap when compared to other algaecides. But overusing it can lead to various issues in your hot tub. And hot tubs rarely suffer from the same algae problems as pools do unless you leave it uncovered. So I would recommend against using algaecides on your hot tubs anyways.
Dark brown, black, or purple discoloration of your hot tub water usually signals an excess amount of Manganese in the water. This may not be as common as iron or copper, but it may still occur.
The main cause of these metals getting into your water system is the use of natural sources of water. Using natural sources may not be a problem. However, it does increase the likelihood of inorganic material like metals entering your hot tub. But if you are aware of these problems and take the necessary preventive measures you can fully enjoy your hot tub experience.
Other Reasons For Water Discoloration And Grime In Hot Tubs
Metals aren’t the only cause of harm to your hot tub. Iron will not cause the water to become cloudy. Iron will produce a rusty brownish tint, sometimes even greenish, but the water remains clear. The cloudiness is most likely a result of a chemical imbalance, such as a high pH level or a bacteria problem. This can also be a result of biofilm building up in your plumbing.
Another sign of chemical imbalance in your hot tub is an excess of foam building up. Foam can often be a sign of high pH levels so be sure to check your pH levels. Generally, any pH level higher than 7.8 doesn't bode too well.
Foam is not always a bad sign. Often it can be caused by deodorants, body lotions, shampoo, laundry detergent, or cosmetics. But these chemical imbalances can cause burning sensations to the skin and even skin disorders. You can tell whether your water is in such a state by simply running the jets. The tiny water droplets from the jets would be enough to make your eyes burn.
Another thing that you may come across is brown scum. Each scum is caused by a specific reason of its own. So, if you want to remove it you first need to find out the cause of it. Other than brown scum there is also green and bluish green scum.
Each kind of scum has its cause and requires treatment. It may be another mineral like iron reacting to something in the water. Brow scum can also be another sign that the pH level of your hot tub is higher than it should be. This will result in any iron in the water reacting with the chlorine and create brown scum.
I would recommend keeping your pH levels on the lower side of 7.2 to around 7.4 with the help of pH stabilizers. Thus, your hot tub will remain scum-free.
In this article, I went over how to get iron out of your hot tub. At first, you might have felt a little lost, but by the end of this article, I hope you have a clear picture of what you need to do. So, grab your necessary supplies and get to work. Thank you for reading the article. Good luck and farewell.
