Spa water has strong chemical or musty odor despite normal operation

Safety first: Do not use the spa if water is cloudy, foamy, or has a strong unpleasant odor.

Odors are usually due to water chemistry issues, not hardware failure.

• Test water: Use a reliable test kit to check free chlorine/bromine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness.
• Shock the spa: Add a non-chlorine shock or chlorine shock per American Whirlpool chemical guidelines to oxidize contaminants.
• Clean or replace filter: Remove the filter cartridge, soak in filter cleaner, rinse thoroughly, or replace if older than 1 year.
• Purge plumbing (if recurring): Use a spa plumbing purge product to remove biofilm from lines, then drain and refill the spa.

Persistent odor problems may indicate inadequate circulation or ozone performance; have a technician verify circulation pump and ozone generator operation.