I have had my hot tub for a few months and couldn't figure out how to manage the foam. You are very good at explaining everything in a way so that I can understand the underlying issue along with the fix. Thank you!
Watched your video this morning, got the vac out after lunch and sucked off the foam. Got into the tub late afternoon and happy to report ther was no foam. We had a relaxing soak thanks to your advise. Thanks.
Loved your video. I’m in total agreement with your sentiment about just enjoying the hot tub and not making people take showers and rinsing their close out. I don’t mind the extra work it takes to bring friends and family together, without making them feel uncomfortable.
Josh, why does your shadow at minute 1:25 -2.40 look exactly like Mr Burns from the Simpsons? Other than that great hot tub video, "stay foaming, get suds" bro.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comment. I'm so glad that it's helpful. Please let us know if there are any specific topics that you would like for me to cover!
Also dude grabb a 5 gallon bucket full of water and maybe a little chlorine or muriatic acid. Turn that cartridge filter into a tumbler then rinse .. like a washing machine 😀
Thanks for actually addressing getting rid of foam! So many videos out there on foam but all they say is how to prevent it, not how to get rid of it. Not thought of using a wet vac, will be trying this going forward.
i use a gell that binds all minescule particles that causes that look a like sea foam. I use just 2cc a day, and all i have to do is flush out the paper filter every day, because the gell and dirt will get sucked up and stick to the filter, so it works great in my tiny tub.
Gloriously simple and chemical free. It aligned with my initial instinct but I wasn't sure if just scooping the foam off would be a never ending task. After watching this video I gave it a try with my pool skimmer (flat version) and it worked great. After scooping out a five gallon bucket worth twice - which collapses down to a few cups of liquid - I had most of it gone (200 gal inflatable tub). Within 30 minutes the bubbles were so weak it was hard to scoop more than a cup worth of bubbles at a time, and turning off the pump made any froth disperse almost immediately. My job was done. I'm guessing build up of surfactants causing foam is a major reason that people change out their water periodically so glad I found this hack, thanks Josh! In the future next time I'm in the tub feeling bored I'll grab my skimmer and while away some time knocking the foam level down, its very cathartic.
This is such an awesome hack to remove that pesky foam! My cyanuric acid level keeps creeping up with Dichlor so I decided to try the household bleach method. Accidentally used "low splash" bleach which created a bubble bath. Shop vac to the rescue! Spent about an hour sucking up the bubbles last night and today it's like a fresh fill! Thank you for sharing this. Jury is still out on the household bleach method...
@@backyardleisure My water is extremely hard, so I have RO water delivered to fill my tub. I try to use minimal chemicals to extend the time between filling due to the cost. I had not used it for a few months and found black slime balls were floating around. I used algaecide and then changed the filter but couldn't get rid of the very persistant foam. 20 minutes with the shop vac saved me $200! Thanks again!
Very informative video thank you very much. How much do you charge for your platinum plan? Have a 250 gallon jacuzzi. I’m not in your area but, curious what it should or would cost per month. Thanks in advance.
So glad it was helpful! Every dealer structures their valet service differently. Ours includes a weekly visit by our tech to check and adjust the water, all water care products (salt cartridges, bottled products, filters etc.) and drain & refills when needed for $295 per month.
Thanks for your comment! I agree that foam means that there is something in the water that shouldn't be there. Namely sulfates. I wouldn't say that foam means the water is "dirty" per se. If you shower before entering the tub, but then put on swimwear with detergent residue in it, you will definitely still get foam. I don't usually recommend showering before hot tubbing, because I think that it is important to use your hot tub as often as possible and I don't want to create a barrier to that. But, there are some easy steps we can take to reduce foaming. As mentioned in the video; don't launder your swimwear with detergent, don't apply lotion right before entering the tub, etc.
We have been battling foam even though the water tests say it’s good! My husband had spent a so much time and money researching. And up-keeping this hot tub and even though it’s all in range the foam is always there! We just did another refill/deep clean jets and all and 1 day later, haven’t even used it and the foam is already back. We do have well water. Could our well water be the problem? Is there something. People using well water should do differently? Thanks!
Hi there, it's true that you can have foam even if the typical water tests show that everything is good. In my experience, foam is caused primarily by sulfates and I haven't ever seen a test for that. If you are using a "pipe cleaner" product when you do your drain and refills, even the residue from that product can cause foaming. As I mentioned in the video, there is not a bottled product that removes the underlying cause of most foam. Removing the foam manually, with a wet/dry vacuum, has proven to be the most effective means of removing the chemical compounds that are causing it. As for well water, well... all well water is different. In our area, even the city water comes out of wells, so it often has things in it that we want to get rid of. I've never personally seen water from any source contain anything that would directly cause foaming. However, source water does often contain phosphates, which can make it difficult to maintain a sanitizer level. And if you add Phosphate Remover to water that has phosphates, you will definitely get foam for a while as it works to remove them. (I personally vacuum this foam off as well, to help speed up the process.)
As a general rule, it's best to have your filter installed at all times. Occasionally, when clearing up water issues, I find that it helps to temporarily eliminate the filter as a possible source of contamination. In this case, you just want to be sure that the tub doesn't have any debris in it and that the skimmer basket is in place.
That's interesting, I've never heard this. If it works, the only downside I could think of would be increasing TDS levels, which would require more frequent water changes. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued and I'll have to do some research into the science behind this. Thanks!
@@backyardleisure I basicly had to learn some chemstry lol.. it's interested cause acid salt and base.. and thats the basis of how it works I think the compound created by this chemical reaction is possibly chalk. I'm not 100 percent but it's close to that if it isn't chalk. ..
Hey I keep adding all this no foam chemicals but then it just keeps. Coming back. Will definitely try this method when the foam comes back. My question is my hot tub 2 months old the water chemicals are all perfect and we try to not have too many products on our bodies so where could it be coming from?
Hey Rikin, it totally makes sense that the foam keeps coming back, since there is no chemical that actually removes foam. All "Foam Out" products are temporary treatments. Once you remove the foam using the method in the video, it's likely that it won't come back very often as long as you are mindful of the sources I mentioned. As for where the sulfates originally came from, it would be pretty difficult for me to guess. By far, the most common source is swimwear that has been laundered with detergent. Other common possibilities would be lotion, or shampoo residue if someone is getting their hair wet.
That is not normally necessary. The only danger in running the tub with no filter is that large debris could be pulled into the circulation system. So, as long as you put the filter basket back in, that shouldn't be a problem.
That's a great question, and the answer speaks directly to a couple of things mentioned in the video. 1) When your water is foamy, the underlying cause of that foam will consume your sanitizer and make it more likely for your water to become cloudy or discolored. 2) The water in this video is right at one year old, which is the typical lifespan of water in a saltwater tub, although I have seen some people make their water last much longer than that.
Hey Bill, that is definitely a sulfate issue. Like we mention in the video, sulfates enter the water from a variety of sources, the most common being laundry detergent residue from swimwear. Our advice is to remove the foam manually with either a wet/dry vacuum or a skimmer net. By doing so, you are also removing the underlying sulfates that cause the issue. Happy hot tubbing!
@@billnipp2309 In the video, I mention some easy ways to reduce the amount of sulfates that you introduce into the water. For example, I have swimwear that I only use for the hot tub, which I don't launder with detergent. I also don't apply lotion right before I get into the hot tub. So, I guess I would say that foaming is not necessarily an indication that there is anything wrong with your water chemistry, but it can be avoided in large part. Notably, if the foam is caused by sulfates (from detergent, personal care products, etc.) there is no chemical treatment to remove it. The foam must be physically removed from the water, which also removes the sulfates.
@@billnipp2309 Personally, I just hang mine up to dry, since I'm getting in and out of sanitized water. If you feel like you need to launder them on occasion, just be sure to rinse them thoroughly with clear water before you use them in the tub.
Hey Blorbus, I'm curious what you mean. Is it that you vacuumed the foam, but it just kept coming back? This is one of our most popular videos and we've gotten a ton a great feedback, so I'd just like to know how we can improve it if this method didn't work for you.
@@backyardleisure i just order some defoamer. I sucked off the top layer of foam, and it when i hit the jets the foam came back but tbh, it was less. I think i got some shampoo in the tub
@@BlorbusUnimax That makes sense, thanks for the reply. Defoamer is a fine product. Just be mindful that it is a topical treatment that will temporarily knock the foam down, but doesn't remove the underlying cause. Happy hot tubbing!
@@backyardleisure I was going to drain the water and put in a new filter, i just got my hot tub 2 months ago and it only started to foam when i tried to clean the filter with filter cleaner. What steps should i do to clean it to make sure it doesnt foam up and what cleaner should i use for the filter?
@@BlorbusUnimax That's a great observation and a tip for anyone else that reads this. Some (maybe most) filter cleaning products can cause foaming if they are not thoroughly rinsed out. If you decide to drain the tub, my best advice would be to use fresh water from your garden hose to flush out the plumbing (by holding the hose up to various jets and in the filter niche) and to rinse down the shell. If you drain the tub with the built-in drain (rather than a sump pump) you'll probably end up with 3-4 inches of water left in the footwell. I would recommend removing that water with a shop-vac before refilling.
Glad it was helpful, Cindy! I don't have a video that specifically addresses those issues. If your water is green and cloudy at the same time, I would suspect inadequate sanitizer. If you're having ongoing issues, it might be a good idea to take a water sample in to a local dealership.
![THE BEST Hot Tub Startup Video [How to Drain and Refill Your Hot Tub] | Backyard Leisure](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eSaB2xRI8Bs/mqdefault.jpg)
![THE BEST Hot Tub Startup Video [How to Drain and Refill Your Hot Tub] | Backyard Leisure](/img/tr.png)
I have had my hot tub for a few months and couldn't figure out how to manage the foam. You are very good at explaining everything in a way so that I can understand the underlying issue along with the fix. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful, Patrick. Happy hot tubbing!
Watched your video this morning, got the vac out after lunch and sucked off the foam. Got into the tub late afternoon and happy to report ther was no foam. We had a relaxing soak thanks to your advise. Thanks.
That's awesome, Fran! Happy hot tubbing.
Loved your video. I’m in total agreement with your sentiment about just enjoying the hot tub and not making people take showers and rinsing their close out. I don’t mind the extra work it takes to bring friends and family together, without making them feel uncomfortable.
So glad the video was helpful D'Ann. I love your attitude! It's all about relationships.
This is the only video on how to fix the underlying problem. Thank you for a great educational video.
Thanks so much, I'm glad that it's helpful!
Josh, why does your shadow at minute 1:25 -2.40 look exactly like Mr Burns from the Simpsons?
Other than that great hot tub video, "stay foaming, get suds" bro.
Haha! Probably this schnoz of mine.
I've never heard about Hot Tub Foam so it is interesting to listen to the video and now I am more informed
Thank you so much, you really do explain in a very easy way different ways to maintain my hot tub.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comment. I'm so glad that it's helpful. Please let us know if there are any specific topics that you would like for me to cover!
Excellent solution and truly does work! It's the only solution I've seen that is quick, actually fixes the issue and is chemical free. Well Done!
So glad it was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
Also dude grabb a 5 gallon bucket full of water and maybe a little chlorine or muriatic acid. Turn that cartridge filter into a tumbler then rinse .. like a washing machine 😀
Thanks for actually addressing getting rid of foam! So many videos out there on foam but all they say is how to prevent it, not how to get rid of it. Not thought of using a wet vac, will be trying this going forward.
So glad it was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
i use a gell that binds all minescule particles that causes that look a like sea foam. I use just 2cc a day, and all i have to do is flush out the paper filter
every day, because the gell and dirt will get sucked up and stick to the filter, so it works great in my tiny tub.
I enjoyed watching your video. Thank you for the great information and presentation!!!
My pleasure. I'm glad it was helpful!
Excellent information explained in a simple, very understandable manner. I'm on my way to buy a shop vac!
Glad it can help, Charlie. Happy hot tubbing!
I've used my leaf blower to rid the tub of foam
That's another great solution. Love the innovation!
Great video. Thanks.
I'm glad it's helpful. Thank you!
Great video. Is there risk of water cycling through the tub with the filter out?
Thanks! As long as there is no visible debris in the water, running the hot tub without a filter for a short time shouldn't cause any issues.
This was also my concern, everywhere I am looking says to never run the tub without the filter. Especially on a high setting!
New hot tub owner... This is great information... Thanks !
My pleasure, Jeff. Happy hot tubbing!
Wow, I’ve watched 10 videos on this and this is the only one That Worked great! Thank you so much !
So glad it was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
Gloriously simple and chemical free. It aligned with my initial instinct but I wasn't sure if just scooping the foam off would be a never ending task. After watching this video I gave it a try with my pool skimmer (flat version) and it worked great. After scooping out a five gallon bucket worth twice - which collapses down to a few cups of liquid - I had most of it gone (200 gal inflatable tub). Within 30 minutes the bubbles were so weak it was hard to scoop more than a cup worth of bubbles at a time, and turning off the pump made any froth disperse almost immediately. My job was done.
I'm guessing build up of surfactants causing foam is a major reason that people change out their water periodically so glad I found this hack, thanks Josh! In the future next time I'm in the tub feeling bored I'll grab my skimmer and while away some time knocking the foam level down, its very cathartic.
So glad that this worked for you Simon. Happy hot tubbing!
Easy to install, I love it
This is such an awesome hack to remove that pesky foam! My cyanuric acid level keeps creeping up with Dichlor so I decided to try the household bleach method. Accidentally used "low splash" bleach which created a bubble bath. Shop vac to the rescue! Spent about an hour sucking up the bubbles last night and today it's like a fresh fill! Thank you for sharing this. Jury is still out on the household bleach method...
Glad we could help, David!
My tub gets foamy after heavy rainfall. Obviously so much crap in the air in Europe..
Works! Thank you!
My pleasure, Bill! Happy hot tubbing!
@@backyardleisure My water is extremely hard, so I have RO water delivered to fill my tub. I try to use minimal chemicals to extend the time between filling due to the cost. I had not used it for a few months and found black slime balls were floating around. I used algaecide and then changed the filter but couldn't get rid of the very persistant foam. 20 minutes with the shop vac saved me $200! Thanks again!
Dude this is an awesome DIY video
Glad it was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
Subbed.
Very informative video thank you very much. How much do you charge for your platinum plan? Have a 250 gallon jacuzzi. I’m not in your area but, curious what it should or would cost per month. Thanks in advance.
So glad it was helpful! Every dealer structures their valet service differently. Ours includes a weekly visit by our tech to check and adjust the water, all water care products (salt cartridges, bottled products, filters etc.) and drain & refills when needed for $295 per month.
This worked perfectly. Thanks for sharing.
So glad! Happy hot tubbing.
Thank you very much for this video. You make it easier to maintain a hot tub.
My pleasure, happy hot tubbing!
No cloths are allowed in my hot tub, bare bottoms only. for this reason.
Definitely just for this reason... 🤣
I'll have your old filters!
Foam means the water is dirty, period. If you shower before you enter the tub you will never get foam.
Thanks for your comment! I agree that foam means that there is something in the water that shouldn't be there. Namely sulfates. I wouldn't say that foam means the water is "dirty" per se. If you shower before entering the tub, but then put on swimwear with detergent residue in it, you will definitely still get foam. I don't usually recommend showering before hot tubbing, because I think that it is important to use your hot tub as often as possible and I don't want to create a barrier to that. But, there are some easy steps we can take to reduce foaming. As mentioned in the video; don't launder your swimwear with detergent, don't apply lotion right before entering the tub, etc.
First video that sucks out the foam...and it works.
So glad it was helpful! Happy hot tubbing!
Does the Springfield office offer that service you mentioned at the end?
Hey Adam, we can definitely get you set up with our Platinum Valet Service. I'll have our service department reach out to discuss the details.
We have been battling foam even though the water tests say it’s good! My husband had spent a so much time and money researching. And up-keeping this hot tub and even though it’s all in range the foam is always there!
We just did another refill/deep clean jets and all and 1 day later, haven’t even used it and the foam is already back.
We do have well water. Could our well water be the problem? Is there something. People using well water should do differently?
Thanks!
Hi there, it's true that you can have foam even if the typical water tests show that everything is good. In my experience, foam is caused primarily by sulfates and I haven't ever seen a test for that. If you are using a "pipe cleaner" product when you do your drain and refills, even the residue from that product can cause foaming.
As I mentioned in the video, there is not a bottled product that removes the underlying cause of most foam. Removing the foam manually, with a wet/dry vacuum, has proven to be the most effective means of removing the chemical compounds that are causing it.
As for well water, well... all well water is different. In our area, even the city water comes out of wells, so it often has things in it that we want to get rid of. I've never personally seen water from any source contain anything that would directly cause foaming. However, source water does often contain phosphates, which can make it difficult to maintain a sanitizer level. And if you add Phosphate Remover to water that has phosphates, you will definitely get foam for a while as it works to remove them. (I personally vacuum this foam off as well, to help speed up the process.)
@@backyardleisure I appreciate the reply and advice! Thank you!
Josh...you are DA MAN! Thanks for your fantastic VIDEO!
Glad it was helpful, JD. Happy hot tubbing!
Is it ok to run the jets with no filter installed? i though this could cause debris to get into the pump and damage the system.
As a general rule, it's best to have your filter installed at all times. Occasionally, when clearing up water issues, I find that it helps to temporarily eliminate the filter as a possible source of contamination. In this case, you just want to be sure that the tub doesn't have any debris in it and that the skimmer basket is in place.
Cleaning a filter in khakis and dress shoes hahahaha the dedication
In my job, I have a lot of opportunities to prove that dedication! 😆
Simple and very helpful! Thank you!
So glad it was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
Epsom salt works prety well.. it will solidify the suds and then they get filtered out. But I'm always open to other ways.
That's interesting, I've never heard this. If it works, the only downside I could think of would be increasing TDS levels, which would require more frequent water changes. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued and I'll have to do some research into the science behind this. Thanks!
@@backyardleisure I basicly had to learn some chemstry lol.. it's interested cause acid salt and base.. and thats the basis of how it works I think the compound created by this chemical reaction is possibly chalk. I'm not 100 percent but it's close to that if it isn't chalk. ..
Hey I keep adding all this no foam chemicals but then it just keeps. Coming back. Will definitely try this method when the foam comes back. My question is my hot tub 2 months old the water chemicals are all perfect and we try to not have too many products on our bodies so where could it be coming from?
Hey Rikin, it totally makes sense that the foam keeps coming back, since there is no chemical that actually removes foam. All "Foam Out" products are temporary treatments. Once you remove the foam using the method in the video, it's likely that it won't come back very often as long as you are mindful of the sources I mentioned. As for where the sulfates originally came from, it would be pretty difficult for me to guess. By far, the most common source is swimwear that has been laundered with detergent. Other common possibilities would be lotion, or shampoo residue if someone is getting their hair wet.
@@backyardleisure thanks for the reply will definitely give the method a go
I didn't rinse after the hot tub clean, which was bad. But 20 mins of sucking, and 1.2 dumps of the shop vac did the trick. Thanks!
Glad the video was helpful. Happy hot tubbing!
You sucked! Congrats!
Thank you ---excellent tutorial
So glad it was helpful!
Do we need to turn power off when taking the filter for cleaning
That is not normally necessary. The only danger in running the tub with no filter is that large debris could be pulled into the circulation system. So, as long as you put the filter basket back in, that shouldn't be a problem.
No damage to hot tub turning it on without a filter?
You won't have any problems running the tub temporarily without a filter, as long as you have the skimmer basket in place.
Great instructions. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful, Cindy. Happy hot tubbing!
I appreciate your video. Thanks for posting!
My pleasure Tom. Happy hot tubbing!
another helpful video dude! thx Josh
My pleasure, thanks for the compliment!
We just bought a hot tub in August and have had that issue.
Hope the video was helpful!
Great video! Thank you!
So glad it was helpful, Jim. Happy hot tubbing!
Thank you for the tips!
My pleasure! Happy hot tubbing!
Wow. Very informative! Thank you for your time!
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
Bravo !
Thank you
Thanks so much!
why is the water green??
That's a great question, and the answer speaks directly to a couple of things mentioned in the video. 1) When your water is foamy, the underlying cause of that foam will consume your sanitizer and make it more likely for your water to become cloudy or discolored. 2) The water in this video is right at one year old, which is the typical lifespan of water in a saltwater tub, although I have seen some people make their water last much longer than that.
Thanks very much!
My pleasure. Happy hot tubbing!
Good advice. Thanks
My pleasure, happy hot tubbing!
Great tips! Thanks!
My pleasure, Chuck. Happy hot tubbing!
Super helpful! Thanks!
I'm glad to hear that, David!
Thank you.
Our pleasure, Nancy. Happy hot tubbing!
Brand new hot tub, water is a month and a half old. water foams when we turn on the air. chemiclas are all in range.
Hey Bill, that is definitely a sulfate issue. Like we mention in the video, sulfates enter the water from a variety of sources, the most common being laundry detergent residue from swimwear. Our advice is to remove the foam manually with either a wet/dry vacuum or a skimmer net. By doing so, you are also removing the underlying sulfates that cause the issue. Happy hot tubbing!
@@backyardleisure so it’s normal to be constantly battling foam?
@@billnipp2309 In the video, I mention some easy ways to reduce the amount of sulfates that you introduce into the water. For example, I have swimwear that I only use for the hot tub, which I don't launder with detergent. I also don't apply lotion right before I get into the hot tub. So, I guess I would say that foaming is not necessarily an indication that there is anything wrong with your water chemistry, but it can be avoided in large part. Notably, if the foam is caused by sulfates (from detergent, personal care products, etc.) there is no chemical treatment to remove it. The foam must be physically removed from the water, which also removes the sulfates.
@@backyardleisure ok thanks. How do you launder your bathing suites without detergents? Ty.
@@billnipp2309 Personally, I just hang mine up to dry, since I'm getting in and out of sanitized water. If you feel like you need to launder them on occasion, just be sure to rinse them thoroughly with clear water before you use them in the tub.
doesnt work
Hey Blorbus, I'm curious what you mean. Is it that you vacuumed the foam, but it just kept coming back? This is one of our most popular videos and we've gotten a ton a great feedback, so I'd just like to know how we can improve it if this method didn't work for you.
@@backyardleisure i just order some defoamer. I sucked off the top layer of foam, and it when i hit the jets the foam came back but tbh, it was less. I think i got some shampoo in the tub
@@BlorbusUnimax That makes sense, thanks for the reply. Defoamer is a fine product. Just be mindful that it is a topical treatment that will temporarily knock the foam down, but doesn't remove the underlying cause. Happy hot tubbing!
@@backyardleisure I was going to drain the water and put in a new filter, i just got my hot tub 2 months ago and it only started to foam when i tried to clean the filter with filter cleaner. What steps should i do to clean it to make sure it doesnt foam up and what cleaner should i use for the filter?
@@BlorbusUnimax That's a great observation and a tip for anyone else that reads this. Some (maybe most) filter cleaning products can cause foaming if they are not thoroughly rinsed out. If you decide to drain the tub, my best advice would be to use fresh water from your garden hose to flush out the plumbing (by holding the hose up to various jets and in the filter niche) and to rinse down the shell. If you drain the tub with the built-in drain (rather than a sump pump) you'll probably end up with 3-4 inches of water left in the footwell. I would recommend removing that water with a shop-vac before refilling.
Thank you for this helpful video. Do you have a video on balancing water, getting rid of green or cloudy water?
Glad it was helpful, Cindy! I don't have a video that specifically addresses those issues. If your water is green and cloudy at the same time, I would suspect inadequate sanitizer. If you're having ongoing issues, it might be a good idea to take a water sample in to a local dealership.
@@backyardleisure Thank you
You just went on and on and on and onnn. Gezzo, I fell a sleep. !
Not only a cure for hot tub foam, but insomnia too!
Then just move on!! I found it very helpful!!