Minimize chemicals

We all like warm water. Organic matter such as bacteria, algae, viruses and fungi LOVE! warm water, in fact they thrive in it.

Most municipal water that we use for our hot tubs or spas, has been treated, that means that it has been filtered, sanitized, and balanced for metal content, pH, alkalinity, and calcium to make it potable (drinkable).

Once we have filled the spa, it should look perfectly clean, clear, and free of smell and taste.

This is the way you should keep it. You must always keep the water disinfected and clean.(see Keeping my hot tub perfectly clean ).

Even when you change the water, the problem isn't solved for long. The first time you turn on your hot tub, the new water starts to heat up and circulate. The clean water mixes with the residual water from the pipes and pumps. This water may contain traces of chemicals, organic matter, minerals, metals and particulates. Here is where the problem starts: as the water gets warmer, the quality starts to deteriorate because of a proliferation of microorganisms.

To avoid this deterioration process, especially at the beginning, you need to “shock” it with a sanitizer, like chlorine, bromine or other spa sanitizer. These chemicals are necessary and if used correctly, keep your water clean and healthy for you. Adding sanitizer changes the pH and the alkalinity too.

However, if used incorrectly they can be harmful but not using anything at all can be just as bad if not worse!

Always use a test strip to see how much your water has changed, and if it did, adjust it accordingly. As all these adjustments to balance your water require you to add an agent, after a while all the chemicals start to accumulate in your water and it becomes difficult to balance.

So then come the questions...

• How much should I add?
• How do I control pH and total alkalinity levels?
• How do I keep minerals, foaming, clarity, calcium and other metals under control?
• How to minimize the use of chemicals?

The simple answer to all of these questions is – use a more advance and simpler water care system:

Our experience tell us that the old methods, with about 5-10 agents, is very hard to keep up, so we at Hot Tub Repair & Service strongly recommend using the:

eco one® SPA water care system.

Why?

eco one® non-toxic pool and spa products were specifically developed as the ultimate water treatment systems that are,

• easy to apply
• no guessing
• safer for the user
• safer for the environment
• as or more effective than the typical “chemical soup” method of most water treatment programs.

Simple 3 step application:

There are only three things you do periodically:

1. A monthly treatment
2. A weekly (or biweekly) filter cleaning
3. A daily sanitizer

THAT’S IT... nothing else, period.

Remember: to guarantee results, read the instructions and follow them precisely.

How it works:

This water treatment system is ENZYME BASED. Enzymes are bio-catalyzers, and are not sanitizers. Enzymes then work in conjunction with sanitizers, ozone, mineral and ionic systems, boosting their action. Enzymes are used to minimize the use of harsh chemicals and to maximize their effect. The enzymes in a spa are positively charged to attract any oils, organic particles and by-products in your spa and hot tub. They then bond to these contaminants and dissolve them away allowing them to be effortlessly filtered from your spa and hot tub water. They also soften the water and keep minerals from building up along the water line effectively eliminating the spa & hot tub equivalent of "bathtub ring". Enzymes work very well in spas and hot tubs because the warm water helps to speed up the degradation process. The end products of the process are harmless, inert, and there are no residues to build up.

• Cleaning:

  • Internal System: Every time you change the water of your spa, use Pipe Cleansers (powder type) to eliminate residues of chemicals, organic matter, minerals, metals and particulates inside pipes, pumps, valves and jets.

  • Basin: Before you put in new water, clean the hot tub thoroughly, even if it's a new spa. NEVER use household cleaners to clean your spa. They can damage the shell and cause foaming. The only two exceptions are baking soda which can be used to raise pH or to scrub out stains and white vinegar which can be used to wipe off the baking soda.

• Water quality:

  Fill the hot tub with municipal water. Many initial water quality issues like hard water or well-water, can be solved by filling your spa using Spa Pre-Filter. Always analyze your water before adding any chemicals.

• Filter Care:

  • Clean your filter. It’s very important to thoroughly clean your filter(s) at least once a month with EcoOne Filter Cleanser or equivalent (not liquid type)

  • Replace your filter every year.

• Ozone:(Highly Recommended)

  To further improve the water quality, an Ozone Generator, also called Ozonator, will make a big improvement and reduce chemical usage. It will provide oxidation and reduce chlorine usage even more. Ozone is the most powerful and arguably the safest sanitizer available. However, ozone oxidizes very quickly and does not leave a residual in the water so it's only working while the system is turned on. A minimum residual of chlorine should be used with ozone systems. Use with OneShock or dichlor per label instructions to kill any residual or resistant microorganism. You may also use non-chlorine shock.

• Ionizers:

  There are numerous ionizers, both Passive and Active, on the market today:

  • PASSIVE ionizers are also called Mineral Sanitizers and they come in cartridges that are typically placed inside your filter or are contained in a floating dispenser through which the sanitizing minerals are slowly released into the water over time.

  • ACTIVE ionizers are sold as solar floaters, some are electric copper and silver ionizers and others are electric copper ionizers, and are installed as part of the circulation system.

  Note: In general terms, ionizers do a good job of killing organic substances in the water but ionization alone is not sufficient to sanitize your spa water.
  Ionizers still require chlorine, bromine or other chemical oxidizers to be added to the water to provide adequate sanitation of the water.

Important:

Before adding any disinfectant (sanitizer), balancers, clarifiers, defoamers or any agent to your hot tub, you must first test the current levels by using a test strip. Test strips are easy to use and formulated to measure the levels of bromine, chlorine, biguanide, metal or mineral content in your hot tub water, along with your pH, alkalinity and calcium levels.

Remember - Never guess!
You should add sanitizing agents as indicated by the test strip and the instructions on the brand of sanitizer you are using, no more, no less.

So, let's assume that your hot tub is warm, perfectly clean and clear. You followed the spa's owners manual and the instructions for the chemicals you chose. You did everything right so jump in and enjoy!

 

---