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Balancing Your Water Is Step A
Balanced spa water has the right pH, total alkalinity and calcium
hardness levels to prevent corrosive or scaling conditions. This
is vital to:
• Improve product effectiveness, especially the bacteria-killing
power of the sanitizer.
• Prevent corrosion of metal components.
• Prevent the formation of scale deposits that can damage
spa equipment and cloud the water.
What is pH and why is it important?
Maintaining a proper pH level – a balance between the acidity
and alkalinity in your spa water – is essential for your sanitizer
product to kill harmful bacteria effectively. Proper pH also prevents
staining and corrosion of spa equipment, skin and eye irritation,
cloudy water and scale.
For proper spa maintenance, the pH level should always be kept
between 7.2 - 7.6. Your test kit or test strip is all you need for
a quick pH check. If you’re using a test kit, add a few drops
of the test reagent to a small sample of the spa water. Then compare
the water sample with the test kit color chart to determine the
pH level. With a test strip, simply dip the strip into the spa water
and compare the color pads on the bottle chart to determine the
pH level.
If the pH level is too low (below 7.2), the water can become corrosive,
irritating bather’s skin and damaging the spa. To correct this,
add SpaTime® pH Up according
to label directions.
If the pH level is too high (above 7.6), the sanitizer is less
effective, scale forms and the water becomes cloudy. An application
of SpaTime pH Down as
recommended on the label will bring the pH level back into the desired
range.
SpaTime pH Stable is
an easy, one-step liquid for maintaining a stable, comfortable pH
and softening your spa’s water. It makes balancing the water
simple, eliminating the need for most pH balancing products. pH
Stable not only establishes proper pH, but prevents pH from "drifting"
so your spa and its equipment are protected. At the same time, it
softens the water by removing dissolved calcium for a clearer, more
comfortable spa. pH Stable enhances water clarity and helps prevent
stains from dissolved metals in fill water. The result is a spa
that is easier to maintain and enjoy.
Always keep the pump running while adding pH balancers to the water.
During one application, do not add more than one ounce of pH balancer
per 250 gallons of water. Retest the next day to make sure the pH
reading is in the proper range.
What is total alkalinity?
Total alkalinity measures the amount of carbonates and bicarbonates
in spa water. They are the buffering agents that control the stability
of pH. A total alkalinity of 125-150 ppm (parts per million) is
crucial to keeping pH in the desired range.
Total alkalinity should be tested at least once a week until it
stabilizes in the proper range. Testing can then be limited to monthly
as levels do not change abruptly like pH. If your total alkalinity
level is low, pH may bounce up and down frequently. Water may become
corrosive, damaging metal components. To raise total alkalinity,
add a total alkalinity increaser according to package directions.
NOTE: Always make adjustments to low total alkalinity
before adjusting pH levels. Addition of a total alkalinity increaser
will also raise the pH level.
If your total alkalinity is too high, it can cause scaling and
cloudy water. The addition of SpaTime
pH Down helps to lower the total alkalinity level, but will
also cause the pH level to decrease. It may take repeated applications
to neutralize the excess alkalinity enough to stabilize the pH and
bring the total alkalinity down to an acceptable level.
What is calcium hardness?
The amount of calcium (hardness) in your spa water depends on your
local water source. The ideal hardness range is 200-275 ppm for
plaster spas or 175-225 ppm for other types of surfaces. Testing
once or twice annually is usually sufficient in all but extremely
hard water areas.
When hardness is too high, the spa can be drained and refilled
with water that has a lower calcium content. If this is not practical,
use SpaTime Stain & Scale
Control to tie up excess calcium and reduce scale formation.
Be sure to follow label directions.
If the calcium hardness level is too low, it can corrode metal
pipes and equipment. In this case, raise the calcium hardness level
with the addition of a calcium hardness increaser, following label
directions.
This analysis is designed for use only with the Spa TimeŽ brand products named in this computerized water analysis printout, and is correct to the best of RWP, Inc.'s knowledge. RWP is not responsible for any use of this printout with products other than the Spa TimeŽ brand products named in this printout, and use of this printout with other products could result in improper or incorrect treatment of the spa water.
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