Mold in Spas & Hot Tubs

We’ve seen White Water Mold (WWM) in swimming pools for almost 20 years. Now we are beginning to see it spas & hot tubs as well. WWM is a “naturally” ocurring fungus that can show up anywhere there is water or moisture.

Customers are calling and asking about and mentioning a “wet tissue like” substance on the surface(s) of the spa shell, filter pleats and other places. Sometimes, a slight “pinkish” coloring is noticed alongside the mold. That is called “pink slime.” The two often go hand-in-hand.

Unfortunately, by the time you notice the WWM or pink slime in the spa itself, it almost always means that the plumbing lines, jets, pump components, etc. are completely infested. By the way, WWM & Pink slime is not harmful – it just looks REALLY bad.

How do you get rid of it? With lots or effort! The WWM is a biofilm that builds up overtime in the plumbing lines & gradually spreads throughout the spa. Customers typically notice that the spa has a “funky” odor and they can’t maintain a good level of sanitizer (chlorine, bromine, or biguanide). The biofilm build-up is VERY resilient against any kind of shocking or high levels of halogens (chlorine or bromine). The bottom line is you want to prevent it rather than treat it.

How do you prevent White Water Mold & Pink Slime? Pretty simply. Follow these steps:

  1. Maintain a good sanitizer level.
  2. Shock regularly (at least weekly).
  3. Maintain good water balance (pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness).
  4. Add a good quality natural enzyme such as SpaGuard Natural Enzyme or Natural Chemistry Spa Perfect. Enzymes do great jobs “eating up” organic matter. That’s what these 2 critters are – organic matter. Using enzymes according to label instructions will make a world of difference. A couple of ounces weekly makes the difference.
  5. Keep up on your regular maintenance – keep the surfaces wiped down (all surfaces under the water). Wipe around spa pillows, jets, lights, handrails, etc.
  6. Chemically clean the filter at least every 6 weeks. Rinsing alone will not suffice.
  7. Drain & refill the spa every 3 to 4 months. The bulk of problem cases we see occur when the spa is not regularly drained, cleaned & refilled.
  8. When draining & refilling, be sure to use a product like Spa Purge, Swirl Away or Spa System Flush. These products will break down a lot of biofilm build-up prior to draining. Regular use whenever the spa is drained will prevent re-infestations.

One of the newer products that we are having very good success with is AquaFinesse. AquaFinesse specifically targets biofilms allowing a better “kill” by the chlorine or bromine. Customers who are or have been using AquaFinesse, report really nice feeling water, simpler water balancing care and a significant decrease in the use of chlorine.

Proper maintenance makes spa & hot tub care easy. It also enhances your enjoyment of your hot water investment.