Here's Why Your Hot Tub Is Smelling And What You Can Do About It

Hot tubs are a wonderful way to unwind and relax, but they can become a real headache when not maintained correctly. Cleaning your hot tub properly is key to ensuring that bacteria doesn't begin to grow, either in the water or in various parts of the tub itself. If next time you're about to take a dip you smell a funky odor, chances are you've left it too long. Now, you'll want to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem, so you can take the right actions to treat it and eliminate the smell.

There are common issues to check for, starting with the water's pH and chemical levels, then the hot tub's cover, and finally its filter. Start by using a hot tub test strip to see if the various levels are where they're supposed to be. An ideal pH balance is between 7.2 and 7.6, while alkalinity levels should be between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm). As for sanitizer levels, look for 1 to 3 ppm for chlorine-treated hot tubs or between 3 and 5 ppm for bromine-treated ones. If any of these levels are off, you've found the culprit. Otherwise, it's likely that the bad smell is coming from bacteria growth on the hot tub's cover or from a filter cartridge that's no longer working optimally and needs to be changed.

When a hot tub starts to smell, the issue often lies with wonky pH levels, which can be brought back to the ideal 7.2 to 7.6 range by using a store-bought pH decreaser or increaser. Alternatively, if sanitizer levels have dipped too low and are causing the stinkiness, it's time to shock your hot tub. Both chlorine and non-chlorine shock solutions are available and you simply have to turn on the jets and follow the label's instructions carefully, adding the appropriate amount of product for your hot tub's water capacity.

However, if all of your water levels appear to be on-point, your cover may be to blame. A hot tub cover that doesn't dry out properly can spur bacteria growth. Take it away from the tub to check if it's actually the source of the bad smell. If so, clean both sides thoroughly with warm water and dish soap, or a specialty cleaner. If you spot mildew, use a DIY bleach solution of 1 gallon of warm water mixed with 1/2 a cup of bleach, then hang the cover out to dry completely. If that fails, it may be time to replace it with a new cover. If the issue persists, hone in on your hot tub's filter. Take it out and soak it overnight in a specialty filter cleaning solution, rinse, then let it dry completely before popping it back in.

Proper maintenance of a hot tub requires some time and dedication but it will keep bacteria at bay and prevent smells from forming in the first place. Most important is to check the chemical balance of your water at least once a week and adjust as needed. If the hot tub is being used daily or by several different people, it's a good idea to run checks two to three times per week. Another major key to a clean tub is circulating water regularly to push it through the filters and keep it fresh. Turn it on at least once a day (if not twice) for 15 to 20 minutes — even if you're not planning on using it.

Ideally, clean the filter weekly by soaking it in a specialty solution and shock the water to kill bacteria every few weeks, regardless of use. The cover should also be washed with mild soap and left to dry completely every one to three months. Finally, don't forget to fully change the water in the hot tub every three to four months, wiping down the insides once it's empty. You can also calculate a more precise cleaning schedule based on the size of the tub and its usage. First, divide the number of gallons it holds by three, then divide that answer by the number of daily users. The result will be the number of days you can wait between each draining.