[adavis2008]

I just purchased a home with a juccuzi tub. It has a bad smell coming from it. I filled the tub with water and put a clorine tab in it and put the jets on for 1/2 hour. It smells a little better, but I still smell an odor. Is there a filter that needs to be cleaned or changed? If so, Where do I find this filter in the tub? How do you clean a juccuzi? I have well water, does this have anything to do with the odor?
Thank you for any suggestions that could help me with this problem.

[progunr]

With well water as your source, I believe you may have some bacteria growth in the pipes and jets of the tub.

The longer it has been unused, the more you would notice the odor.

I would try that clorine tab again, maybe even Google for "cleaning hot tubs" or something similar or call a hot tub retailer in your area and see what they suggest.

[ballengerb1]

Chorine is used in pools more than hot tubs, try bromine tablets. You may need to shock the tub an start from scratch with w new fill once you have killed the bacteria in the pipes and pump.

[Dr_Spa]

Is this a jetted bathtub?? Fill it, dump in a half gallon of unscented bleach, rub the pump for 15 minutes, drain and rinse.

[adavis2008]

I do have a jetted bathtub. I tried the bleach, the ordor is less, but is still there. Maybe I will try the bleach again. The ordor was so bad, I thought at first some animal died in the wall. I'm very relieved to know it is from the Jetted tub. Thank you

[albinfla]

If the chlorine tab for 1/2 hour didn't help, I doubt the liquid chlorine (unscented bleach) will either. Dry chlorine is much a stronger concentrate than liquid. Be careful with that chlorine! BallengerB1 is right, Bromine would be less hazardous in your home. Bromine is in the spa section of a pool supply, or big box stores.

Put a shock treatment of bromine in the tub and run it several times. Although the experts tell us that 20 minutes is enough to kill any bacteria, running it a few times won't hurt anything.

I was thinking that you actually may have something dead underneath of it. If you try the bromine, and are unsuccessful, you may need to look underneath or in the wall.

To get rid of the odor in your home, I would recommend ozone shock treatment. It is very effective! But, if the source is still there, the odor will come back.

Good Luck,
Al

[Dr_Spa]

For bromine to do ANYTHING, you first have to have a MINIMUM concentration of bromide ions of 15 ppm. Then you have to add an oxidizer to turn the bromide ions into hypobromous acid (most bromine tablets contain both bromie, and chlorine to oxidize it). It's unlikely one bromine tablet will do this.

[albinfla]

Good point. You have to shock treat. As far as that goes, the chlorine may not have been high enough concentration either, which is why it wasn't effective.

One would think that 1 tab, which probably has as much effective strength as one gallon of pool chlorine would have been sufficient in a jacuzzi tub. But, maybe not. The only real way to know is with a test kit.

[Dr_Spa]

If the tab of trichlor (PURE trichlor) weighs 4 oz (1/4 pound) it has 3.6oz Available Sanitizer

1/2 gallon of bleach has 4 oz of Available Sanitizer

I don't think a 1" tab weight anywhere near 4 oz.

[albinfla]

Hey Dr. Spa,
You are correct. A 1" tab probably doesn't weigh 4 oz. I was actually thinking of 3" tabs (hockey pucks), which is what I prefer when I use tabs. I also use tri-chlor sticks, which I like much better in feeders since they don't clog as much.

But, the point was made by both of us that she needs a shock residual. Regardless of which disinfectant she uses. Remember also that she is on well water, so we have no idea what the chlorine demand of that water is. So, it is best to measure with a tester.

She would probably be better off with granular, or liquid for fast dissolve.
Regards,
Al