Have you ever heard the word “scale” when discussing hot tubs? This word can send shivers down the spines of hot tub owners. Some might assume it’s a pH scale, price scale, or alkalinity scale, but it is not.
What Is Scale?
Hot tubs require chemicals to keep the water clean. In some cases, the water chemistry can fall out of balance. In the cases where there is too much calcium and magnesium in the spa water, scale can occur. Scale is a whitish color and is often described as feeling like sandpaper. Scale is a sign your water chemistry is severely out of balance.
What Scale Can Do
The biggest concern about scale is it can quickly destroy the parts of your hot tub. Scale can damage the pumps, plumbing, heating, and other elements of your hot tub. Scale can be removed, and as soon as you spot it, you’ll want to take action to remove it. If you’re ever unsure if you have scale or not, you can always call Customer Service or a hot tub expert to consult.
What Causes Scale?
Scale occurs when the water chemistry is off balance and contains too much calcium and magnesium. There’s a few things that can cause this to happen:
- Improper water care
- High alkalinity in the water
- Metals present in the water
- Body lotions, soaps, shampoos, deodorant and other contaminants
What To Do If You Have Scale
- Use a Scale Remover – You can buy scale remover that often aids with scale removal.
- Test Water Chemistry – Adjust pH levels, alkalinity, and calcium hardness as needed to get water chemistry back in balance.
- Drain Your Spa – If you still have scale after using a scale remover and adjusting water chemistry, consider draining the hot tub and thoroughly cleaning it. Once clean, you can then refill the hot tub.
