BALANCING THE SPAS
BALANCING THE pH
• The ideal pH level for your spa water is 7.4-7.6.
• The pH level is the measure of acidity and alkalinity. Values above 7 are alkaline (a base); those below 7 are acidic. Maintaining the proper pH level is extremely important for:
• Optimizing the effectiveness of the sanitizer.
• Maintaining water that is comfortable for the user.
• Preventing equipment deterioration.
If the spa water’s pH level is too low, the following may result:
• The sanitizer will dissipate rapidly.
• The water may become irritating to spa users.
• The spa’s equipment may corrode.
If the pH is too low, it can be increased by adding Spa Essentials pH Increaser to the spa water.
If the spa water’s pH level is too high, the following may result:
• The sanitizer is less effective
• Scale will form on the spa shell surface and equipment.
• The water may become cloudy.
• The filter cartridge pores may become obstructed.
If the pH is too high, it can be decreased by adding Spa Essentials pH Decreaser to the spa water.
IMPORTANT: After adding pH increaser or decreaser, wait two hours before testing the water for pH. Measurements taken too soon may not be accurate
It is important to check pH on a regular basis. The pH will be affected by the bather load, the addition of new water, the addition of various chemicals, and the type of sanitizer used.
BALANCING THE TOTAL ALKALINITY (TA)
• The recommended Total Alkalinity for your spa water is 125-150 ppm.
• Total Alkalinity is a measure of the total levels of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and other alkaline substances in the water. TA is reffered to as the water’s “pH buffer”. In other words, it’s a measure of the ability of the water to resist changes in pH level.
If the TA is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely from high to low. Fluctuations in pH can cause corrosion or scaling of the spa components.
Low TA can be corrected by adding Spa Essentials Alkalinity Increaser or Spa Essentials pH Increaser .
If the TA is too high, the pH level will tend to be high and may be difficult to bring down.
High TA can be corrected by adding Spa Essentials pH Decreaser.
MAINTAINING THE SANITIZER LEVEL
• Sanitizer is extremely important for killing algae, bacteria and viruses, and preventing unwanted organisms from growing in the spa. At the same time, you don’t want too high a sanitizer level, or it can irritate your skin, lungs, and eyes.
• Always maintain the sanitizer level in your spa at the recommended level for each type of sanitizer which can be found on the bottle.
Watkins recommends only the following sanitizers:
• Concentrated Chlorinating Granules (99% Sodium DiChlor) (Do not use Hypochlorite)
or
• Brominating Concentrate
WATER TERMINOLOGY
The Following chemical terms are used in Water Quality and Maintenance. Understanding their meaning will help you to better understand the water maintenance process.
Bromamines: compounds formed when bromine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Unlike chloramines, bromamines have no pungent odor, and are effective sanitizers.
Bromine: A halogen sanitizer (in the same chemical family as chlorine). Bromine is commonly used in stick, tablet, or granular form.
Calcium Hardness: The amount of dissolved calcium in the spa water. This should be approximately 150-200 ppm. High levels of calcium can cause cloudy water and scaling. Low levels can cause harm to the spa equipment.
Chloramines: Compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Chloramines can cause eye irritation as well as having a strong odor. Unlike Bromamines, chloramines are weaker, slower sanitizers.
Chlorine: An efficient sanitizing chemical for spas. Watkins Manufacturing Corporation recommends the use of sodium dichlor-type granulated chlorine. This type is preferred because it is totally soluble and nearly pH neutral.
Chlorine (or Bromine) Residual: The amount of chlorine or bromine remaining after chlorine or bromine demand has been satisfied. The residual is, therefore, the amount of sanitizer which is chemically available to kill bacteria, viruses and algae.
Corrosion: The gradual wearing away of metal spa parts, this is usually caused by a chemical action. Generally, corrosion is caused by low pH or by water with levels of total alkalinity (TA), chlorine (Ch), pH or sanitizer which are outside the recommended ranges.
DPD: The preferred reagent used in test kits to measure the Free Available Chlorine.
Halogen: Any one of these five elements: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
MPS: Monopersulfate is the non-chlorine oxidizer used with the FreshWater Ag+® silver ion purification system.
Nitric Acid: The formulation of nitric acid, a highly corrosive chemical, is a byproduct of the ozone generating process. Nitric acid is produced in very small quantities and is readily dissolved in the water stream with ozone.
Oxidizer: The use of an oxidizing chemical is to prevent the buildup of contaminants, maximize sanitizer efficiency, minimize combined chlorine and improve water clarity.
Ozone: Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent which is produced in nature and artificially by man. Ozone forms no byproducts of chloramines (ozone actually oxidizes chloramines) and will not alter the water’s pH.
Pathogen: A microorganism such as bacterium that cause disease.
pH: The measure of the spa’s water acidity and alkalinity. The recommended pH for the spa water is 7.4 to 7.6. Below 7.0 (considered neutral), the spa water is too acidic and can damage the heating system. Above 7.8, the water is too alkaline and can result in cloudy water, and scale formation on the shell and heater.
ppm: the abbreviation of “parts per million”, the standard measurement of chemical concentration in water. Identical to mg/l (milligrams per liter).
Reagent: A chemical material in liquid, powder, or tablet form for use in chemical testing.
Sanitizer: Sanitizers are added and maintained at recommended residuals to protect bathers against pathogenic organisms which can cause disease and infection in spa water.
Scale: Rough calcium-bearing deposits that can coat spa surfaces, heaters, plumbing lines, and clog filters. Generally, scaling is caused by mineral content combined with high pH. Additionally, scale forms more readily at higher water temperatures.
Super-Chlorination: Also known as “Shock treatment”. Super-Chlorination is a process of adding significant doses of a quick dissolving sanitizer (“dichlor” is recommended) to oxidize non-filterable organic waste and to remove chloramines and bromamines.
Total Alkalinity: The amount of bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides present in spa water. Proper total alkalinity is important for pH control. If the TA is too high, the pH is difficult to adjust. If the TA is too low, the pH will be difficult to hold at the proper level. The desired range of TA in spa water is 125-150 ppm.
