Water Clarity. Cal Spas Portable Spa

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Water Clarity

This section is intended for new spa owners with no experience with water chemistry. Everyone’s experience with maintaining water quality is different, but there are some general concepts you need to know.

Water maintenance is not difficult, although it requires regular attention. The most important thing to understand about taking care of your spa water is that preventive action is much easier than correcting water quality issues.

Before you begin, we recommend you become familiar with some water quality terms and their definitions (see next page).

Whether you’re filling your spa for the first time (see page

7) or refilling it after draining it for regular maintenance (see page 36), start and maintain your spa water by following the plan we describe in this section.

1

Chemical Balance

See page 24 to learn how to balance your spa water.

2

Sanitation and Shock

See page 26 to learn how to use sanitizer and shock.

You will need to test and adjust the chemical balance of your spa water. Although this is not difficult, it needs to be done regularly.

Sanitizers kill bacteria and viruses and keep the water clean. A low sanitizer level will allow microbes to grow quickly in the spa water. We recommend using either chlorine or bromine as your sanitizer.

You need to test the level of calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and pH.

Spa owners with a bromine generator also need to check total dissolved solids and phosphates.

You also need to add shock to the water to stimulate the chemical sanitizer. How much you use and how often depend on frequency and intensity of use.

Spa owners with an ozonator also need to add sanitizer, although their requirements are different.

3

Filtration

See page 27 for filter cleaning instructions.

Cleaning your filter regularly is the easiest and most effective single thing you can do to keep your water clear.

A clogged or dirty filter will cause the heater and pump to work harder than they need to, possibly causing them to fail.

The spa’s heating system will only function with the proper amount of water flow through the system.

4

Regularity

See page 28 for the schedule of recommended maintenance.

Clear water requires regular maintenance. Establish a routine based on a regular schedule for your spa water maintenance.

Maintaining your water quality helps the enjoyment of your spa and extends your spa’s life by preventing damage from neglect and chemical abuse.

Water Quality Terms and Definitions

The following chemical terms are used in this section. Understanding their meaning will help you to better understand clear water maintenance. Words in bold type are defined in this table.

Bromine /

Bromamines

Chlorine /

Chloramines www.calspas.com

Bromine is an efficient sanitizer chemical for spas. When used as a

sanitizer

, bromine forms compounds called bromamines. Bromine can be added to the spa or automatically generated. See page 26 for discussion on

sanitizers

.

Bromamines are compounds formed when bromine combines with nitrogen from body oils, perspiration, etc. Unlike chloramines, bromamines have no pungent odor and are effective

sanitizers

.

Chlorine is an efficient sanitizing chemical for spas. We recommend using sodium dichlor-type granulated chlorine because it is totally soluble and nearly

pH

neutral. When used as a

sanitizer

, chlorine forms compounds called chloramines. See page 26 for discussion on

sanitizers

.

Chloramines are compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from body oils, perspiration, etc. Chloramines can cause eye irritation as well as having a strong odor. Unlike

bromamines

, chloramines are weaker, slower

sanitizers

. To remove chloramines, see the description of

shock

below.

2018 Portable Spa

LTR20181000, Rev. O