Owner`s manual

Page 30 Owner’s Manual
Owner’s Manual Water and Your Spa
WATER AND YOUR SPA
The following section will describe the water in your spa and how different environments can and will affect
your water.
Water Temperature and Its Effects
The actual water temperature will greatly effect how efficient your spas chemistry is. Here is an example of
what hot water can do to your chemicals.
Hot Spa Water (100ÞF - 104ÞF)
1. Increases water evaporation.
2. Increases chemical dissipation.
3. Increases the amount of spa user waste.
4. Accumulation of minerals and salts.
5. Increases Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
As you can imagine, there is an inverse effect with cooler water temperatures. Does this mean that you should
not operate your spa at higher water temperatures? No, we just want you to be aware that your chemical usage
will increase or decrease with the actual water temperature.
Water pH and its Effects
Water pH (Potential Hydrogen)
pH is the measurement of the acidic level of water. The normal range of your spas pH level is between 7.2 and
7.8 and can be tested with simple test stripes. What will happen to my spa with pH levels that are either too high
or too low?
Low pH
The lower your pH, the more acidic your water becomes. Effects of low pH are dissolving or pitted heaters,
manifolds, pump seals, and in some cases the acrylic finish itself.
High pH
The effects of high pH are increased scaling, calcium deposits, cloudy water, clogged filters and the
effectiveness of your sanitizers: chlorine and bromine.
What Affects the pH
Everything that is introduced into the spa water has its own pH level, including the user. All of these different
pH levels can cause conflict with the spa waters ability to maintain its correct pH levels.
Example
Spa users that use their spa three to four times a week will have a lower pH level than spa owners who use their
spa one to two times a week. Even the sanitizers (chlorine and bromine) that you use can effect the waters pH
levels. Bromine has a pH level of 3.0 while chlorine has a pH level of 7.1. Other types of sanitizers have pH
levels so low, its like adding straight acid to your spa. Be very careful of what you are putting in your water.
Chlorine Users
Chlorine is very sensitive to pH levels. Readings higher than 7.8 will cause chlorine users to use twice the
amount of chlorine to maintain a proper level. If you are using excessive amounts of chlorine with little effect,
check the pH and Total Alkalinity levels.