Owner`s manual

3
Water Testing
While your spa’s water capacity is important to know, it is also important to know what the chemical
levels are for the spa water. Proper chemical levels in the spa helps to ensure that the water is clear,
clean, and healthy.
To save time and money, there is nothing more important than testing your spa water. It is regular
testing that helps ensure that the water is of exceptional quality. Failure to test the spa on a regular
basis will result in extra work and expenses for you. As an example, running your spa with a low pH
can ruin the spa’s heating element. (Heating elements damaged by improper water chemistry are not
covered by your spa manufacturer’s warranty.) This problem and others are a direct result of improper
water chemistry, which is a consequence of infrequent water testing.
If water balance is so important, just how often should you test your spa? The answer to this question
will vary somewhat, depending on how often your spa is used. A spa’s water balance changes
dramatically with use. Consider, if you will, that 4 people in a 300 gallon spa is nearly equivalent to
having 270 people in a 16' x 32' inground swimming pool. As a person uses a spa, their body will
naturally release body oils and perspiration into the water. These wastes greatly effect the spa’s water
balance.
For home spas with average usage, testing the spa three times per week will normally suffice. When
testing, always wait at least one hour after the spa has been used before taking the test.
To test the spa water, Eastgate Pools recommends the use of Test Strips. For the exact instructions on
how to use the test strips, please refer to the package of test strips that you received with the spa. If
you have any questions on their use, please let us know.
Chemical Levels
Now that you have learned how to use the test strips that you received with your spa, you may be
wondering what it all means. What is the significance of the bromine, pH, and total alkalinity readings
that you have obtained through testing? Are there any other chemical levels to worry about?
At this time, we would like to take a look at the basics of spa water chemistry. Each of the important
parameters will be looked at individually. We will also discuss their importance to each other. By
keeping these chemical levels in the proper range, you will increase the life of your spa as well as your
enjoyment of it.
Balanced Water
When we talk about balanced water, we are talking about water that will neither corrode nor scale.
Balanced water helps keep metal pipes and heating elements from corroding. Balanced water also
helps prevent scale deposits from forming on spa surfaces, pipes, and on heater elements. These
scale deposits reduce the spa equipment’s efficiency.
The above description tells why balanced water is important, but it does not address what balanced
water actually is. Water is said to be balanced when the pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness are
within given ranges.