How to Eliminate Hot Tub Water Odor

Quick Tip 102, Eliminating Water Odor

Keeping your water balanced is an important part of hot tub ownership. But the chemicals are not just about making sure the water is clean and clear. Balanced water will smell fresh and free of a chemical odor.

However, if you are noticing that your hot tub water has an odor, there could be a few causes. The pH might be out of range, the sanitizer is low, or there is bacteria or algae growth.

How do you fix your hot tub water if there's an odor?

Start by gathering your water care kit, including test strips, dichlor chlorinating granules, pH Up, and or pH Down. Use the test strip to measure the chemical levels of your water. If the pH is out of range, start there and take time balancing the water. Then, check total and free chlorine levels. Adjust as needed.

Just a friendly reminder, our pH levels should be between 7.4 and 7.6 and total alkalinity between 100-120 parts per million and chlorine levels between 2-4 parts per million.

If your pH and chlorine are in range and there's still an odor, it's best to drain the hot tub, clean it, and fill it with fresh water.

Be sure to check out the MasterSpas YouTube channel for more helpful quick tips and how-to videos, including the step-by-step guide for how to drain a hot tub.

For European countries, please refer to this Water Chemistry Guide for appropriate chemical levels per BS EN 17125:2018.