Continual gunk Indoor Spa Bath

[beersuushi]

We bought a property with an existing indoor spa bath a couple years ago.

Upon our first use we noticed there was some scum/brown bubbles appearing in the corner when the jets were running….this lead me down the rabbit-hole of learning about pipe degreasers, biofilm etc.

As the spa bath is indoor it does not stay filled and has a 2 pipe connection to a pump to recirculate water for the jets:
Edgetec Triflo pump

We have tried several solutions on the market here;
SpaGiene Cleaner
Poppits Cleaner
And other generic options like Napisan etc.

Try as we have when we initially moved in doing purges, daily applications, leaving filled for 24 hours, paid spa professionals etc.
We’ve never been able to get rid of the issue. Also puzzled that we seemingly get the same/similar gunk result each time we apply a degreaser and can’t figure out where it could even be coming from when it’s only a 2 pipe indoor system.

We don’t use the bath due to the issue, and had given up trying to solve.
I found this forum and decided to reach out here in hopes of finally finding a solution.

Initial gunk/brown line that builds when running jets:


Add degrease treatment:


Degrease treatment after 5-10mins:

 

[Mdragger88]

We recommend Ahhsome but not sure if you can get it there.

They have a dealer locator on their website and sell on amazon.
No matter which product you choose to purge with you should add some bleach (5-10ppm worth)
PoolMath
& continue to purge until no more detritus is released.
You don’t have to drain each time just scoop out & wipe away the gunk then add another 1/2 dose & run the jets again, repeat until it comes out clean. This can take many rounds. Hot water is best so maybe refresh that for subsequent purges.
About how many gallons would you estimate that tub to be?
If you know the measurements (length, width & depth) we can figure it out.

 

[Newdude]

+1 to multiple treatments. I needed 10 or so back to back on my 5 year old hot tub before it ran clear. I dumped and started fresh once or twice in the middle.

 

[beersuushi]

We recommend Ahhsome but not sure if you can get it there.
View attachment 539409
They have a dealer locator on their website and sell on amazon.
No matter which product you choose to purge with you should add some bleach (5-10ppm worth)
PoolMath
& continue to purge until no more detritus is released.
You don’t have to drain each time just scoop out & wipe away the gunk then add another 1/2 dose & run the jets again, repeat until it comes out clean. This can take many rounds. Hot water is best so maybe refresh that for subsequent purges.
About how many gallons would you estimate that tub to be?
If you know the measurements (length, width & depth) we can figure it out.

I believe this is my model tub (lots of similar ones) below.
From a quick tape measure believe it’s roughly 1500x680x480mm with assumption I’ve measured slightly off I’m guesstimating it may be the 122 litre variant listed:
Decina tub

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

You may be able to get the Ahh-Some product from Hot Springs Spas, Albany, NZ Call them and ask for Aaron Sampson. Go to Spas | Spa Pools NZ | Portable Spa Pool NZ | Hotspring Spas. He has been offering Ahh-Some for many years. His # is 0800 468 777. You can also get a product from Lo-Chlor in Australia. They use our product and call it Pipe Klenz I think. Ask for Paul Simons. Go to
Lo-chlor Chemicals. Just ask for their biofilm remover chemical.

 

[Mdragger88]

I believe this is my model tub (lots of similar ones) below.
From a quick tape measure believe it’s roughly 1500x680x480mm with assumption I’ve measured slightly off I’m guesstimating it may be the 122 litre variant listed:
Decina tub

It looks like 1/2 oz of 6% household bleach or just a splash more, would do the trick to sanitize while you’re purging & having to touch the goo.

 

[beersuushi]

So looks like I can get:
Satchets
or
Tub

Thoughts on either?

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Same product in both. Your choice.

 

[Mdragger88]

So looks like I can get:
Satchets
or
Tub

Thoughts on either?

If you think you’ll need to do multiple purges (likely) go with the tub.
The gel really doesn’t go bad so it will be there for you for future routine maintenance purges (recommended) if you have any leftover. You can also use it to clean your washing machine & dishwasher to get rid of biofilms there too so its a great little product to have on hand!

 

[DavidLast]

Sorry, just to clear my understanding.

This foam appears every time the system runs?

Spa professionals have looked at it? Did they actually remove panels and look at the pump and piping systems?

 

[Mdragger88]

@DavidLast
I think he means the detritus/gunk/biofilm appears every time he runs/uses it & The foam is from his line clean product.
@beersuushi if you’re not really concerned with using the jets you can do away with them & just have a soaking big bathtub. There are various plug sizes available. Many people choose to go that route rather than dealing with the continuous headache or having to replace all the plumbing of the jacuzzi. Especially if they don’t use the jets much.
Something like this
T Tulead Silicone Hole Plug Waterproof Plug Tube Plugs White Hole Plug Fit for 14mm Hole Pack of 10 Amazon.com
I thought of this today whilst cleaning someone’s rarely used garden tub.

 

[beersuushi]

Sorry, just to clear my understanding.

This foam appears every time the system runs?

Spa professionals have looked at it? Did they actually remove panels and look at the pump and piping systems?

With a normal fill once we turn on the jets we slowly get discoloured gunk bubbles (and a discolouration line) forming in one of the corners.

The gunk/foam is from when we’ve added one of the products mentioned above.

The ‘professsionals’ came out looked at where pump is located (external wall) added product (with same results) and didn’t really have further advice.
For someone to access pipes will be complicated as one side is external brick wall (with AC inverter on it) other is the internal bathroom tiles, we had wondered whether it was not draining/aligned properly but it does seem to expel most water from pipes that we can tell (and I’m not sure this would explain why after consecutive cleans we couldn’t get it sorted).

 

[beersuushi]

@DavidLast
I think he means the detritus/gunk/biofilm appears every time he runs/uses it & The foam is from his line clean product.
@beersuushi if you’re not really concerned with using the jets you can do away with them & just have a soaking big bathtub. There are various plug sizes available. Many people choose to go that route rather than dealing with the continuous headache or having to replace all the plumbing of the jacuzzi. Especially if they don’t use the jets much.
Something like this
T Tulead Silicone Hole Plug Waterproof Plug Tube Plugs White Hole Plug Fit for 14mm Hole Pack of 10 Amazon.com
I thought of this today whilst cleaning someone’s rarely used garden tub.

Unfortunately we are very keen to have the jets working!

 

[beersuushi]

If you think you’ll need to do multiple purges (likely) go with the tub.
The gel really doesn’t go bad so it will be there for you for future routine maintenance purges (recommended) if you have any leftover. You can also use it to clean your washing machine & dishwasher to get rid of biofilms there too so its a great little product to have on hand!

I’ll look to give the multiple purges using same water for multi-purges, will start with the items I’ve got and if still no luck order some ahh-some and report back. Fingers crossed!

 

[DavidLast]

With a normal fill once we turn on the jets we slowly get discoloured gunk bubbles (and a discolouration line) forming in one of the corners.

The gunk/foam is from when we’ve added one of the products mentioned above.

The ‘professsionals’ came out looked at where pump is located (external wall) added product (with same results) and didn’t really have further advice.
For someone to access pipes will be complicated as one side is external brick wall (with AC inverter on it) other is the internal bathroom tiles, we had wondered whether it was not draining/aligned properly but it does seem to expel most water from pipes that we can tell (and I’m not sure this would explain why after consecutive cleans we couldn’t get it sorted).

I am not an expert on spa baths.

I think based on the pictures supplied the pipes are not draining back to the spa bath on emptying. Indeed from memory many years ago they were often installed without this.

I would guess it may be worth emptying the spa bath. Put the plug in the bath. Assuming you are a bit handy undo the union where the pump joins the pipe work and crack it open a little to let air in. Do it back up, only needs to open for a few seconds. See if any more water is caught in the bath after this.

An alternative may be, and it depends if there are any check valves in the system, to push a garden hose up the pipe work. Bung it off with rags as best as possible and turn the hose on and see what pours out of the pipe work without water in the bath. This may give an indication of what the issue is.

 

[beersuushi]

I am not an expert on spa baths.

I think based on the pictures supplied the pipes are not draining back to the spa bath on emptying. Indeed from memory many years ago they were often installed without this.

I would guess it may be worth emptying the spa bath. Put the plug in the bath. Assuming you are a bit handy undo the union where the pump joins the pipe work and crack it open a little to let air in. Do it back up, only needs to open for a few seconds. See if any more water is caught in the bath after this.

An alternative may be, and it depends if there are any check valves in the system, to push a garden hose up the pipe work. Bung it off with rags as best as possible and turn the hose on and see what pours out of the pipe work without water in the bath. This may give an indication of what the issue is.

The pump is outside so easy enough disconnect (pictured below).

If it is a pipe alignment issue, I guess my only question is why the gunk would seem so consistent when I previously had repeat cleans? I would expect the gunk to get moved each clean but the trade off you’d end up with more upkeep between uses to keep it at bay?

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Some jetted bathtubs may require a great number of purges before they run clean. I have had people run as many as 50 purges. You WILL get it clean. Keep purging with whatever you are using. Once the pipes are clean you simply do a maintenance purge twice monthly.

 

[Mdragger88]

That’s crazy that the plumbing/equipment is outside! I guess it never gets freezing there?

 

[phonedave]

That’s crazy that the plumbing/equipment is outside! I guess it never gets freezing there?

Yeah, that is a totally new concept for me. My jetted tub is all complete under the skirting.

 

[phonedave]

The pump is outside so easy enough disconnect (pictured below).

If it is a pipe alignment issue, I guess my only question is why the gunk would seem so consistent when I previously had repeat cleans? I would expect the gunk to get moved each clean but the trade off you’d end up with more upkeep between uses to keep it at bay?

Biofilms are pretty amazing. They don't just wash away. They are quite resilient. If they have been building up over a number of months or years, they can be quite thick. Remember, you are using next to no mechanical action to remove them here, it is all chemical. You are removing a thin layer at a time. It can take multiple treatments until you get back to bare pipe. Once you get there, maintaining it is a lot easier.