Mold in a Hot Tub

White Mold and Pink Slime

White mold, a fungi, is the most likely cause of mold problems in a hot tub. White mold is covered with a protective surface called biofilm. The biofilm, which looks like white tissue paper or toilet paper, is resistant to chlorine, bromine and biguanide. Because they are resistant to the chemicals that usually keep a hot tub clean, white mold and pink slime should be prevented whenever possible.

Prevention

Prevention depends primarily on observing the highest standards of hot tub maintenance. Those standards include brushing and cleaning all hot tub surfaces once a week. Don't forget steps, jet recesses, pillows, toys, floats and solar blankets. Expose the hot tub to direct sunlight whenever possible. Remove the lid from the skimmer to allow sunlight to reach it, but be extremely careful that no one falls in. Add oxidizing chemicals into the skimmer to clean any biofilm out of the filtration lines. Allow the water from the garden hose to run 2 or 3 minutes before adding water to the hot tub. Clean the fool filter every 4 to 6 weeks with chemical cleaners. Add a maintenance amount of shock every week. Shocking a hot tub involves adding a sufficient amount of chlorine (sodium dichlor) or non-chlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate or MPS) to break down organic waste contaminants in the spa. The amount of shock you need to add depends on the size of the hot tub. Run the pool filter at least 6 hours a day. Clean and rinse any brushes, hoses and vacuums used to clean the hot tub. Make sure the water's pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness are correct. The pH for a hot tub should be between 7.2 and 7.6; total alkalinity should be 80 to 120 parts per million; calcium hardness should be 150 to 300 parts per million.

Treatment

If your hot tub already has white mold or pink slime, treat it immediately and thoroughly. Clean all surfaces to remove all visible white mold and pink slime. Clean the inside of the filter cartridge and the spa equipment pack. Shock the hot tub with three or four times the normal dose of shock treatment. Drain, flush and refill the hot tub. Test the water and balance it. If you can, check under the hot tub for leaks. If you have a leak, the area underneath the hot tub may be infested with mold, as well, and will require thorough cleaning.

Health Hazards

Mold exposure can cause a raft of health problems, ranging from skin irritation to difficulty breathing. After you have inspected and treated your hot tub for white mold and pink slime, test the air beneath and around the tub for mold. If the test indicates mold, find it and treat it.