Spa Is Foaming

[isergy]

Fired up the spa for the first time in a while and the water started foaming as you can see in the pics.
Yesterday I took levels and got:
FC 3 PPM
PH 7.5
TA 110 PPM

This is not a stand alone hot tub. It is a spa that is built into my pool.

Any idea what may have caused this issue?

Best,

Ian

 

[Jimrahbe]

Ian,

What chemicals have you been adding to the pool or spa???

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[isergy]

Ian,

What chemicals have you been adding to the pool or spa???

Thanks,

Jim R.

Just acid to keep PH in range. That’s it. I have a SWG for chlorine.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How is your calcium level? Calcium can help tame some foaming. Could be residual soap products not rinsed out of bathing suits, etc.

Maddie

 

[Jimrahbe]

I agree, it looks like some kind of soap product to me also..

Jim R.

 

[isergy]

How is your calcium level? Calcium can help tame some foaming. Could be residual soap products not rinsed out of bathing suits, etc.

Maddie

Calcium Hardness is within the normal range. I think it was 350 last I tested.

 

[isergy]

My pool guy had a theory...not sure if it makes sense...

I try to keep FC low. Around 3-6 ppm. I don't have kids/pets etc. so low FC is not a problem for me. It is cold in Souther California right now. When I went to heat the spa it had to be heated from 55 degrees to 100 degrees. My pool guy says he has seen foaming happen in this situation because the FC is so low in the spa water to begin with and having to heat it up from such a low temp eliminates even more chlorine which causes foaming. Not sure if that is a valid theory or makes any sense?

 

[isergy]

How is your calcium level? Calcium can help tame some foaming. Could be residual soap products not rinsed out of bathing suits, etc.

Maddie

Don't think t's soap. We've had the pool for 4 years. Haven't changed any bathing suit washing routines. Don't have kids. Nobody has even been in the water or really near the pool since October except my pool guy once a week,

 

[JamesW]

Does the spa have its own equipment?

How many hours per day does the spa circulate?

Does the spa have separate pumps for circulation and jets?

I suspect that maybe the service person added something that they don't want to admit to.

I think that you probably need a drain and refill.

 

[isergy]

Does the spa have its own equipment?

How many hours per day does the spa circulate?

Does the spa have separate pumps for circulation and jets?

I suspect that maybe the service person added something that they don't want to admit to.

I think that you probably need a drain and refill.

The spa does not have it's own equipment. It is built into the pool and is filtered along with the rest of the pool water. It spills over. When in spa mode the spill over stops and the water in the spa is heated independently from the pool.

The pool filter runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm everyday.

The spa jets are controlled by the same pump as the pool. Thus when in spa mode the pool skimmer is off. The spa has a separate blower to increase bubbles/jets when desired.