Divine Hot Tubs Luxury Series User manual

© September, 2010 | Divine Hot Tubs™ | spa manual, US/Canada, divine hot tubs 8-11
P.O. Box 2140 | Woodinville, WA 98072 | www.divinehottubs.com
live better | feel better
Divine Hot Tubs™
SPA MANUAL
Luxury Series | Therapy Series | Recreation Series
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“We reserve the right to improve our product without notice”
Copyright © Divine Hot Tubs™, 2010 (A division of Hydra Plastics, Inc.). All rights
reserved. Specications may change without notice. International products may be
congured dierently to meet local electrical requirements.
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3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5 INTRODUCTION
5 ICON Key
6 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
6 Read and Follow All Instructions
8 STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION
8 Delivery
9 Site Selection and Preparation
9 Installation – Placing Your Spa
11 Electrical Hook-Up Requirements
13 Filling Your Spa
14 TOPSIDE CONTROL - TURNING ON YOUR SPA
14 Topside Control Button Reference Display, 6-Button
19 WATER PURITY & FILTRATION
19 Keeping The Water Clean
20 Spa Chemistry 101
22 How To Use the Chemicals
22 Usage Denitions
23 Starting A Chemical Maintenance Program
25 Filtration
26 Ozone Generator
26 Genesis Start-Up with ISIS Control Panel
28 JETS
28 Types Of Jets
29 Jet, Air and Waterfall Controls
30 Cleaning The Rotating Jets
30 Jet Removal
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4
30 MAINTENANCE & MISCELLANEOUS
30 Spa Light
30 Pillows
30 Spa Skirt
30 The Shell
31 Spa Cover
31 Winterizing
32 Draining The Spa
33 Energy Eciency
34 APPENDIX A
34 Troubleshooting
34 System Trouble
34 Controls
35 Pumps
35 Jets
35 Water
37 Warranty
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5
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of a new Divine Hot Tubs™
spa! Your Divine Hot Tubs™ spa is designed and manufactured
with the nest components available and is engineered with
comfort, low maintenance, and durability in mind.
You will enjoy your spa for several years to come if you are dili-
gent with the care and maintenance of your spa. This manual
will help you to determine the best way to take care of your spa
based on the amount of use and the type of environment your
spa is installed.
It is very important for you to read the entire manual before
attempting to use your spa. Contained in this manual are im-
portant
maintenance and start-up procedures as well as safety
precautions that must be followed to ensure the prolonged life
of your spa and the safety of the people using the spa. Failure
to follow start-up procedures may damage your unit and void
your warranty.
Please feel free to contact Divine Hot Tubs™ if you have any further
questions after reading this manual. We hope you enjoy many
years of fun and relaxation in your new Divine Hot Tubs™ spa.
ICON Key
The Icon key on the left denes the type of information boxes
that will appear throughout the manual. The boxes highlight
helpful information that contains useful tips or warnings that
apply to the use and care of your spa.
Warning!
Safety Tip
Key Point
ICON KEY
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6
Safety
Warning!
SAFETY FIRST
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS!
READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
When installing and using this electrical equipment it is recom-
mended that a licensed and bonded electrician perform the work.
Basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the
following:
• A pressure wire connector is provided on the outside of
the control box to permit the connection of a solid copper
bonding wire between the spa and any metal equipment,
metal enclosures of electrical equipment, metal water
pipe or conduit within 5 feet of the spa as needed to
comply with local requirements.
• A green colored terminal (or a wire connector marked
“G”, “GR”, “Ground”, or “Grounding”) is provided. To reduce
the risk of electric shock, connect this terminal to the
grounding terminal of your electric service or supply
panel with a continuous green insulated copper wire
equivalent to the circuit conductor supplying this
equipment.
• The electrical supply must include a suitably rated
Ground Fault Interrupter Circuit to open all underground
supply conductors to comply with section 422-20 of the
National Electrical Code. ANSI/NFPA 70-1987. The power
supply cut o must be readily accessible to the spa
occupant, but installed at least 5 feet from spa water.
• Test the performance of the GFCI according to manufac-
turers recommendations. If the GFCI does not perform
correctly, there may be a ground current owing indicating
the possibility of electric shock. Disconnect the power
until the fault has been identied and corrected.
• DANGER –RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. Install at least 5
feet from all metal surfaces.
• DANGER – RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. Do not permit any
electric appliance such as a light, telephone, radio or
television within 5 feet of a spa or hot tub.
• WARNING –RISK OF CHILD DROWNING. Extreme caution
must be exercised to prevent unauthorized access by
children. To avoid accidents, ensure that children cannot
use a spa or hot tub unless they are supervised at all times.
Electrical
Warning!
Electrical
Warning!
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7
• DANGER – To reduce risk of injury, do not remove suction
ttings.
• Installation should provide drainage of the electrical equipment
area to prevent electrical shortage.
• Store all chemicals in a cool dry area and keep out of children’s
reach.
• To reduce the risk of injury:
A. Spa heat can cause hyperthermia and unconsciousness! The
water in a spa or hot tub should never exceed 104° F (40° C).
Water temperatures between 100° F (38° C) and 104° F (40° C)
are considered safe for a healthy adult. Lower water tem-
peratures are recommended for extended use (exceeding
10 –15 minutes) and for young children.
B. Since excessive water temperatures have a high potential for
causing fetal damage during the early months of pregnancy,
pregnant or possibly pregnant women should limit water
temperatures to 100° F (38° C).
• The use of alcohol, drugs, or medication before or during spa or
hot tub use may lead to unconsciousness with the possibility of
drowning.
•
Persons suering from obesity or with a medical history of heart
disease, low or high blood pressure, circulatory system problems
or diabetes should consult a physician before using a spa or hot tub.
• Persons using medication should consult a physician before
using a spa or hot tub since some medication may induce
drowsiness while other medication may aect heart rate, blood
pressure, and circulation.
• Before entering a spa, the user should measure the water
temperature since the tolerance of water temperature-
regulating devices varies.
WARNING
PREVENT DROWNING
1. SUPERVISE CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES.
2. ATTACH SPA COVER AFTER EACH USE.
3. SPA HEAT CAN CAUSE HYPERTHERMIA AND
UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
4. SPA HEAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALCOHOL,
DRUGS, OR MEDICATION CAN CAUSE
UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
PREVENT ELECTROCUTION
1. NEVER PLACE ANY ELECTRIC APPLIANCE
WITHIN 5 FEET OF SPA.
NOTE: THIS MARKING IS TO BE REMOVED ONLY BY THE CUSTOMER.
!
r
Safety
Warning!
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8
STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION:
1. PREPARE FOR YOUR DELIVERY
Prior to having your new spa delivered to your house, you will need to prepare
an area to install the spa. You will need to arrange to have your spa placed in
your desired location and the connection of the elec-
trical circuits. In most cities, permits are required for
the installation of electrical circuits.
Review the path that your spa will take through your
property along with the size of the spa to ensure you
have enough clearance. If there are stairs or other
obstacles, the spa will have to travel over to get to
the site, additional clearances may be required.
We have listed some key points to installing your spa
that will help eliminate some of the unforeseeable
situations that could occur.
• Avoid installing too close to a building or structure.
• Leave enough room around all sides to allow access to
service panels.
• Install on a load bearing, level platform.
• Do not install less than 5 feet from ground conductors.
• Use non-conductive conduit for all wiring.
• If installing below a deck surface, leave enough room
to access and remove service panels.
We recommend a level 4” thick concrete pad if you are installing on land (ver-
sus deck or platform). The dimensions of the pad should be at least the out-
side dimension of the spa. You should also accomodate for steps or other
items around the spa. Allow a few days for curing the cement when calculat-
ing your scheduled delivery date.
Balconies and upper decks are not recommended for spa installations, but if
you choose to do so, keep in mind that a large lled spa with 6 people can
weigh as much as three tons. Balconies and decks must be constructed to
current state and local building codes and must support at least 100 pounds
per square foot.
If you are building a deck around the spa, be sure that the deck does not cover
any of the service panels to the spa. If you are building stairs for getting up to
the spa, it is recommended that they be installed in such a way that they can
be moved out of the way if entrance to the service panels is required.
The most obvious thing to remember is to plan your installation in a loca-
tion where it will be easy to move from the delivery truck to the location site.
Spas are typically transported on a mover’s dolly lying on their side. Check for
adequate gate clearance and remove any fence panels if necessary to allow
access to the installation site.
Important
installation
highlights!
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9
2. SITE SELECTION AND PREPARATION
The location of your hot tub is entirely up to you. Carefully read these instructions
for various ideas of locations that your new hot tub may be placed.
By the time you have made your spa purchase, you probably have a spot already
picked out. Prior to the spa delivery, please verify the following:
• Always place the spa on a compacted and level surface. The best surface is a
level concrete pad. A spa, full of water, can weigh a great deal. Please ensure the
spot can support the weight.
• Make sure to level your spa before lling it.
• Locate the equipment panel. The system pack, drain valve, owner’s manual
and optional ozone generator are usually located all in the same area.
Be sure that the connections are tightened during draining. Water inside
the system pack will cause the pack to fail and the breaker to trip.
• The panels, on all four sides, are removable. Be sure to have access on all
four sides.
• Be sure to have easy access to the circuit breaker in the sub panel (240 volt
models).
• Never let water into the sub panel (240 volt models), or into the electrical
outlet that your spa is plugged in to. Your 240 volt spa’s sub panel is rain
tight when installed correctly with the door closed.
3. INSTALLATION  PLACING YOUR SPA
Outdoor and patio installation
To position the spa correctly in your backyard is very important. The reason is your
spa’s warranty. The warranty on a spa is voided if the site is not level. If you install
your hot tub outdoors, a concrete pad is the best method for a stable and level sur-
face. The concrete pad should be four inches thick. Your spa may be installed on a
deck, providing the load rating can handle a full spa with people in it.
Deck installation
When placing the spa on a deck, please ensure the
maximum load capacity of the deck. Consult a qual-
ied deck builder or structural engineer before you
place the hot tub on an elevated deck or indoors.
To determine the weight of your hot tub, please re-
fer to the specications on the website. This weight
must not exceed the structural weight of the deck.
Indoor installation
When installing a spa indoors, there are some special considerations. The combi-
nation of heat and moisture will accumulate on the oor and surrounding the spa.
The ooring material needs to provide a grip when wet. The location also needs
proper drainage to prevent water build-up around the spa. When building a room
for your spa, it is best to have a oor drain installed. The humidity of a room with
a spa can become a problem if there is not enough proper ventilation. Otherwise,
problems such as dry rot, mildew or other problems may occur.
Ground preparation
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Your spa has been engineered to rest on a variety of surfaces. The insulated
spa oor base gives you the ability to nd the perfect place. A concrete slab is
the best for long term. There are other options available as long as the surface
is level prior to delivery. The alternatives are 5/8 minus crushed packed rock,
or a deck that is rated for the load.
Brick pavers
Cement
Decorative cement, stained
Packed/crushed gravel: 5/8” minus
Stone, slate, granite
Decking: wood, synthetic
Decorative cement & bricks
Marble, travertine
When placing a spa on
crushed rock, the easiest
way to maintain its form is
to build a frame and ll it
with the crushed packed
rock. Remember, if the
spa is placed on grass or
dirt, debris will get inside
the spa as the users enter
and exit.
It is incredibly important
to the operation and the
draining of the tub for
the tub to be level once
it is installed. Failure to
have the spa level prior
to adding water can aect
the warranty.
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4. ELECTRICAL HOOKUP
REQUIREMENTS  240V
Electrical connections by licensed personnel
To ensure you will have an opportunity to use your hot tub soon after
delivery, it is very important that the required electrical service has
been installed.
IMPORTANT: Electrical connections must be made by qualied,
licensed personnel. Please contact a licensed residential electri-
cian for these services.
All models require a 50 amp single phase, 240 volt circuit breaker in
the main electrical service panel. NOTE: WE RECOMMEND THAT A
SUB PANEL BE USED TO SUPPLY POWER AND PROTECT THE SPA.
All 240 volt Divine spas must be wired in accordance with applicable
local electrical codes, and all electrical work must be done by a li-
censed electrician. A licensed electrician should install a four-wire
electrical service (two line voltages, one neutral, one ground) from
the main electrical service panel to the sub-panel, and from the sub-
panel to the spa per the appropriate wiring diagram as illustrated
below. The grounding conductor must be at least #6 AWG. Your
electrician should mount the sub-panel in the vicinity of the spa but
it should not be closer than ve (5) feet from the spa’s water edge
(NEC 680-38 to 41-A-3).
WARNING: Removing or bypassing the GFCI breakers in the sub panel
at any time will result in an unsafe spa and will void the warranty.
WIRE SPECIFICATION NOTE: Long electrical runs may require a
larger
gauge feed wire than stated. We recommend that a maximum
voltage
drop of 3% be used when calculating the larger wire size.
Refer to the Wiring Diagrams (gure 1-1) for the electrical require-
ments of the 240 volt models.
Do not turn on power to the spa when the tub is not lled.
The closer you
locate the spa
to the main
service panel,
the less money
you will have to
spend on wire.
Wire can become
expensive if you
run long lengths.
Always shut o
power at the
source when
working with any
electrical power!!
Failure to do this
could result in
serious injury or
even death!
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RED (HOT)
BLACK (HOT)
WHITE
GREEN
GREEN (GROUND) WHITE (NEUTRAL) RED (HOT) BLACK (HOT) GREEN (GROUND)
WHITE (NEUTRAL)
GREEN (GROUND)
WHITE (NEUTRAL)
RED (HOT)
BLACK (HOT)
GREEN (GROUND)
WHITE (NEUTRAL)
RED (HOT)
BLACK (HOT)
WHITE (NEUTRAL)
RED (HOT)
BLACK (HOT)
WHITE (NEUTRAL)
Figure 1-1
240 volt wiring conguration from the house to the spa
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS  240V (cont.)
IMPORTANT: Electrical connections must be made by qualied, licensed personnel.
Please contact a licensed residential electrician for these services.
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5. FILLING YOUR SPA THROUGH
THE FILTER CHAMBER
Before you begin to ll your spa, it is advisable to have your water tested
for hardness (water rich in calcium and mineral content). Wells usually
contain harder water than urban water supplies. Mineral and metal im-
balances in your water can shorten the life of the equipment in your spa.
Contact for proper water analysis.
We recommend that you purchase a high quality “Water Test Kit” for checking
pH and sanitizer levels. Test the water daily until your “user load” is deter-
mined.
Make sure there is no dirt or sediment at the bottom of the tub and that
there is nothing inside the lter compartment before lling with water.
Filling the spa through the lter housing will help to prevent air locks
(trapped pockets of air) in pumps on start up.
1. Place your garden
hose into the lter
housing. This will ensure
that air bubbles are
removed from the lines
while you ll the spa.
2. Turn the water on so
that most of the water
enters through the lter
chamber.
3. Fill the water to the
proper level – half way
up the lter housing as
shown in picture above.
IMPORTANT!
Improperly
balanced
water may
damage your
spa and void
your warranty!
IMPORTANT!
Do not ll your
tub with water
from your hot
water heater!
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14
TOPSIDE CONTROL  TURNING ON YOUR SPA
Topside control button reference display
Identify your topside 6-button control (See gure 1).
After you identied your topside control system, and the spa is lled, turn your
power on and go to your controller spa operations.
Power on
It’s time to turn on the power. Set the breaker at the main service
panel to the on position. Now set the breaker at the service panel or
spa disconnect outside the spa to the on position. Then proceed to
Initial Start-up referencing your specic control system.
Initial Start-up
Your spa will enter Priming Mode (‘PR’) when it is energized. During
Priming Mode, press “Jets” button(s) repeatedly and be sure all pumps
are free of air. Priming Mode lasts less than 5 minutes. Press “Temp” to exit.
After Priming Mode, the spa will run in Standard Mode (see Mode section).
Some panels may not have a “Temp” button. On these panels the “Set,” “Warm,”
or “Cool” buttons are used.
Temp Control (80°F-104°F/26°C-40°C)
The last measured water temperature is constantly displayed. The water tem-
perature displayed is current only when the pump has been running for at
least 2 minutes.
On panels with a single “Temp” or “Set” button, to display the set temperature,
press the button once. To change the set temperature, press the button a
second time before the display stops ashing. Each press of the button will
continue to either raise or lower the set temperature. If the opposite direction
is desired, allow the display to revert to the current water temperature. Press
the button to display the set temperature, and again to make the temperature
change in the desired direction.
Figure 1
6-Button topside control panel
IMPORTANT!
Do not turn
power on until
tub is full of
water and all
valves are open!
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15
On panels with “Warm” and “Cool” buttons, to display the set temperature,
press “Warm” or “Cool” once. To change the set temperature, press a tempera-
ture button again before the display stops ashing. Each press of “Warm” or
“Cool” will adjust the set temperature. After three seconds, the display will
stop ashing and begin to display the current spa temperature.
Jets 1
Press “Jets 1” to turn pump 1 on or o, and to shift between low and high
speeds (if equipped). The low-speed will turn o after 4 hours. High-speed
will turn o after 15 minutes. Low-speed may run automatically at times, dur-
ing which it cannot be deactivated from the panel, but high-speed may be
operated.
Jets 2
Press the corresponding button once to turn the device on or o. The device
will turn o after 15 minutes.
Light
Press “Light” to operate the spa light. Turns o after 4 hours.
Mode
Mode is changed by pressing “Warm” or “Cool,” then pressing “Mode.”
Standard Mode maintains set temperature. ‘STD’ (Std) will be displayed mo-
mentarily
when you switch into Standard Mode.
Economy Mode heats the spa to the set temperature only during lter cycles.
‘Ecn’ (Ecn) will display when water temp is not current, and will alternate with
water temp when the pump is running.
Sleep Mode heats the spa to within 20°F/10°C of the set temperature only
during lter cycles. ‘SLP’ (SLP) will display when water temp is not current, and
will alternate with water temp when the pump is running.
Preset Filter Cycles
The rst preset lter cycle begins 6 minutes after the spa is energized. The
second preset lter cycle begins 12 hours later. Filter duration is programma-
ble for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours or for continuous ltration (indicated by ‘F ILC’). The
default lter time is 2 hours for non-circ systems and 4 hours for circ systems.
To program, press “Temp,” then “Jets 1.” Press “Temp” to adjust. Press “Jets 1” to
exit programming.
For non-circ systems, low-speed pump 1 and the ozone generator (if installed)
run during ltration.
For circulation systems, the circ pump and the ozone generator (if installed)
run 24 hours. In hot environments, the circ pump may turn o for 30 minute
periods, except during lter cycles. At the beginning of each lter cycle all
other equipment will run briey to purge the plumbing.
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16
Diagnostic messages
MESSAGE MEANING ACTION REQUIRED
No message on display.
Power has been cut o to
the spa.
The control panel will be
disabled until power returns.
Settings are preserved until the
next power-up.
0XX
(OHH)
“Overheat” - The spa has
shut down. One of the
sensors has detected 118°F
(approximately 47.8°C) at
the heater.
Remove the spa cover and
allow water to cool. Once the
heater has cooled, reset by
pushing any button. If spa does
not reset, shut o the power to
the spa and contact customer
service for assistance.
0XS
(OHS)
“Overheat” - The spa has
shut down. One of the sen-
sors has detected that the
spa water is 110°F (approxi-
mately 43.3°C).
DO NOT ENTER THE WATER.
Remove the spa cover and
allow water to cool. At 107°F
(approximately 41.7°C), the spa
should automatically reset. If
spa does not reset, shut o the
power to the spa and contact
customer service for assistance.
(ICE)
“Ice” - Potential freeze
condition detected.
No action required. The pumps will
automatically activate regardless of
spa status.
(SnA)
Spa is shut down. The
sensor that is plugged into
the Sensor “A” jack is not
working.
If the problem persists, contact
customer service for assistance..
(May appear temporarily in an
overheat situation and disappear
when the heater cools.)
(SnB)
Spa is shut down. The
sensor that is plugged into
the Sensor “B” jack is not
working.
If the problem persists, contact
customer service for assistance.
(May appear temporarily in an
overheat situation and disappear
when the heater cools.)
SnS
(SnS)
Sensors are out of balance.
If this is alternating with the
temperature, it may just be
a temporary condition. If the
display shows only this mes-
sage (periodically blinking),
the spa is shut down.
If the problem persists, contact
customer service for assistance.
XFL
(HFL)
A substantial dierence
between the temperature
sensors was detected.
This could indicate a ow
problem.
Check water level in spa. Rell if neces-
sary. If the water level is okay make
sure the pumps have been primed.
If the problem persists, contact cus-
tomer service for assistance.
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17
MESSAGE MEANING ACTION REQUIRED
LF
(LF)
Persistent low ow prob-
lems. (Displays on the fth
occurrence of “HFL” message
within 24 hours.) Heater is
shut down, but other spa
functions continue to run
normally.
Follow action required for “HFL”
message. Heating capacity of the
spa will not reset automatically; you
may press any button to reset.
If the problem persists, contact
customer service for assistance.
dr
(dr)
Inadequate water ow
detected in the heater
(indicates not enough
water in the heater).
Check water level in spa. Rell if
necessary. If the water level is okay
make sure the pumps have been
primed. Press any button to reset.
0rY
(DrY)
Inadequate water detected
in heater. (Displays on third
occurrence of “dr” message.)
Spa is shut down.
Follow action required for “dr”
message. Spa will not automatically
reset; you may press any button to
reset.
PR
(Pr)
When your spa is rst
actuated it will go into
Priming mode.
The Priming mode will last for up
to 4 minutes and then the spa will
begin to heat and maintain the water
temperature in the Standard mode.
-- Temperature not yet
known.
This is normal within the rst few
minutes of the spa power-up.
STD
(Std)
The spa is operating in
Standard Mode.
Press “Warm” or “Cool” then press
“Mode”
Ecn
(Ecn)
The spa is operating in
Standard Mode.
Press “Warm” or “Cool” then press
“Mode”
SLP
(SLP)
Sleep Mode has been
activated by pressing a
button combination on
the user panel.
Press “Warm” or “Cool” then press
“Mode”
Sby
(SBY)
Standby Mode has been
activated by pressing a
button combination on the
user panel.
Press any button to leave Standby
Mode and return to normal opera-
tion.
pHl
(PHL)
pH is low. Add pH increaser according to
manufacturer’s instructions.
PHH
(PHH)
pH is high. Add pH decreaser according to
manufacturer’s instructions.
Warning! Shock Hazard! No User Serviceable Parts. Do not attempt service of this control system. Follow all owner’s
manual power connection instructions. Installation must be performed by a licensed electrician and all grounding
connections must be properly installed. Contact customer service or for assistance.
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18
MESSAGE MEANING ACTION REQUIRED
SAL
(SAL)
Sanitizer is low. Add sanitizer according to manufac-
turer’s instructions.
SAH
(SAH)
Sanitizer is high. Remove spa cover and allow
sanitizer to dissipate.
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19
WATER PURITY & FILTRATION
Keeping the water clean – chemical sanitizers
One of the bigger reasons that people require service on their spa is because
they haven’t followed a chemical application regiment. Water can accumulate
impurities that can worsen the performance or even damage the ltration system
if chemicals are not applied on a regular basis. The water can even become un-
healthy if chemicals are not used to sanitize the water. Improper pH levels or
calcium levels can cause either corrosion of parts or scale build-up.
We recommend that you begin a routine of applying chemicals that
you can get comfortable with and follow all the time. If you get into
a scheduled regiment, it will be easier to remember when to apply
the chemicals.
Your spa comes with an ozonator that will do a very good job at kill-
ing bacteria and oxygenating the water, but chlorine or bromine are
used to compliment the job of the ozonator.
Finally, the best way to keep the water clean over long periods of
time is to change the water four times a year. Connect a hose to the
drain valve and open it all the way to allow the tub to drain all the
way. Use a shop-vac to remove any standing water and debris at the bottom
of the tub. Refer to the maintenance section for instructions on cleaning the
tub before relling it.
IMPORTANT!
Always read
directions on
chemical
container
thoroughly
before
using spa
chemicals.
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20
Spa Chemistry 101
At rst, trying to understand spa chemistry can seem like a daunt-
ing task to say the least. We intend on helping you understand spa
chemicals so that you can maintain the health of your spa at the best
level possible.
There are three basic principals to spa water chemistry.
1. Sanitize/Disinfect (kill viruses, germs, etc.)
2. Oxidize (break down organic compounds like oils and sweat)
3. Maintain slightly base (alkaline) water (pH of 7.4 - 7.6). This
controls the corrosiveness of the water, prevents excessive
scaling (mineral formation on surfaces exposed to water, and
insures that the water is comfortable to the skin.
Once you have a good understanding of the chemicals that are used in
your spa, you will be able to maintain proper water balance. Water bal-
ance is reached when all elements (pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness
and total dissolved solids) are within their proper ranges.
The following denitions for chemicals will help you understand what
the chemical is and what it is used for:
Sanitizers
CHLORINE - Chlorine is widely used as a sanitizer or disinfectant in pool
and spa water to kill bacteria, viruses and algae, and oxidizes ammonia
and nitrogen compounds such as swimmer waste. Its formal name is
Sodium
Dichlor and is referred to as a chlorinated concentrate. Sodium
Dichlor is a fast-dissolving, granular, stabilized organic chlorine com-
pound
providing either 56% or 63% available chlorine. Cyanuric acid
and/or stabilizers are added to prevent U.V. light destruction of the chlorine
by the sun.
Chlorinated concentrate produces chlorides and chloramines, which are
formed when chlorine has combined with ammonia and nitrogen in pool
and spa water. Chloramines exude a foul, “chlorine” odor and causes skin
and eye irritation.
BROMINE – Bromine is the other commonly used sanitizer or disinfec-
tant in pool and spa water to kill bacteria and algae, and oxidizes am-
monia and nitrogen compounds such as swimmer waste. This chemical
does not eliminate swimmer waste unless it is combined with an oxidizer
(non-chlorine shock). It is very susceptible to direct sunlight, therefore is
not ecient in outdoor pools. Bromine is sometimes used as an alterna-
tive for people whom are allergic or sensitive to chlorine products.
Bromine products are available as sodium bromide and bromine tablets.
The bromide ion has no eective disinfectant or sanitizing capabilities
without the use of nonchlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate). Po-
tassium monopersulfate is added to oxidize, or activate, bromide ion to
The pH scale
goes from
0 to 14, with
zero being
extremely
acidic and 14
being extremely
base (alkaline).
Seven is
considered
neutral pH.
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