Getting Rid of That "Old Water" Smell in My Hot Tub - AquaDoc

Getting Rid of That "Old Water" Smell in My Hot Tub

How I Fixed My Hot Tub’s "Old Water" Smell Without Draining It

We have a 400-gallon hot tub that gets heavy use from my kids and their friends. Even though I thought I was staying on top of the chlorine, the water started to get that heavy, chemical "locker room" smell, and it was starting to make our skin itchy after a soak. I was about to drain the whole thing and start over, which is a massive pain in the middle of winter.

The Discovery

I realized that my Total Alkalinity was constantly swinging, which was bouncing my pH all over the place. I found AquaDoc online and decided to try their Alkalinity Increaser and their Non-Chlorine Spa Shock to see if I could save the water before giving up.

The Process

  • Step 1: Balancing the Foundation. I used the AquaDoc Alkalinity Increaser first. It dissolved way faster than the big-box brands I’ve used in the past and locked my pH right at 7.4.
  • Step 2: Oxidizing the Junk. I hit the water with a dose of AquaDoc Non-Chlorine Spa Shock. I didn't realize that the "smell" was actually used-up chlorine (chloramines) that needed to be oxidized out of the system.
  • Step 3: Circulation. I let the jets run for about 20 minutes with the cover off to let the water "breathe."

The Success Story Result

By the next morning, the smell was 100% gone. The water felt "softer" on the skin, and the clarity was back to being crystal clear. Using AquaDoc products saved me from wasting 400 gallons of water and a full day of reheating. Now, I just keep a bottle of AquaDoc Spa Clarifier on the shelf for when the kids have a big party and the water needs a quick refresh.

If you're struggling with hot tub odors or itchy skin, checking your alkalinity and using a high-quality shock is the best place to start.

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2 comments

I was about two seconds away from just giving up and draining the whole tub because it smelled like a straight-up locker room every time I opened the cover. I kept dumping in more chlorine thinking that would kill the scent, but it just made my eyes burn and didn’t help the smell at all. I finally tried the NonChlorine Oxidizing Shock like this article suggested and shocker it actually worked. No more weird smell and I don’t feel like I need a second shower just to get the ‘hot tub’ off my skin after I get out. If your water is getting funky, definitely try this before you waste a whole Saturday refilling it.

Tim Jones

I used to think that strong “pool” smell meant the water was extra clean, but my skin was always so dry and itchy after a soak. Turns out it was actually the opposite. I started using the Alkalinity Increaser to finally get my levels to stay put, and adding the Non-Chlorine Shock after we use the tub has been a total game-changer for the smell. It’s way better than having to drain the whole thing and start over every time the water starts smelling a little funky.

Angry Jeff

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