Owning a home spa can provide you with many hours of enjoyment and fun. But it also requires plenty of work to keep it maintained and clean, and to protect those using the spa against infections and accidents. This pamphlet will provide you with information about your spa and will outline several procedures which should be followed to ensure that your spa is a safe one.

Disinfecting Your Spa

Most spas are disinfected with a chlorine-based or bromine-based chemical. The chlorine-based chemical is called calcium hypochlorite and comes in a granular or tablet form. This chemical is cheap and easy to handle. It appears as a dry white compound in a granular or tablet form. Although this chemical is relatively safe, there are several rules that should be followed when using it:

1. Mix only with water, adding the chemical to water and not vice-versa.

2. Keep the chemicals away from combustibles, as calcium hypochlorite is highly corrosive.

3. Containers for the storage and dispensing of calcium hypochlorite should be used for no other purpose and should be kept clean.

4. Wear gloves when handling chemicals.

5. Store in a cool, dry place in an upright manner.

6. Never mix acids, solvents or other chemicals with calcium hypochlorite and store calcium hypochlorite well away from these other chemicals.

7. In the event of a chlorine fire or explosion, remove all people from the pool area and immediately call the fire department. Do not try to put out a calcium hypochlorite fire with a home extinguisher. Some extinguishers contain chemicals which will only cause a more serious fire.

To properly disinfect your spa, chlorine levels should be maintained above 5.0 ppm free available chlorine.

Bromine comes in one of two forms; in liquid form in 5 lb glass bottles or in a solid organic complex in the shape of a puck. It works in much the same manner as a chlorine-based compound and should therefore adhere to the same safety precautions as chlorine. Even though it costs more to use, bromine can save in that it will last longer than chlorine in the warm turbulent waters of a spa.

How to Maintain Balanced Water

The water in your spa should always be balanced. Unbalanced water will either cause the water to scale or it will corrode plumbing.

You can determine if the water in your pool is balanced by using the following Saturation Index Formula:

Saturation Index (S.I).= pH + TF + CF + AF - 12.1

TF - temperature factor
CF - calcium hardness factor
AF - total alkalinity factor

• If the Saturation Index is between -0.3 and 0.3, the water is balanced and will not corrode or scale plumbing.

• If the Saturation Index is greater than 0.3, the water will cause the scaling of plumbing.

• If the Saturation Index is less than 0.3, the water will corrode pool plumbing.

EXAMPLE - How to Calculate the Saturation Index

Using your spa test kit, you have tested your spa and have recorded the following results:

pH = 7.4
Temperature = 84oF
Calcium hardness = 200 parts per million
Total alkalinity = 75 parts per million

Refer to the Factor Table:

Temperature factor for 84oF = 0.7
Calcium hardness factor for 200 ppm = 1.9
Total alkalinity factor for 75 ppm = 1.9

Saturation Index = pH + TF + CF + AF - 12.1

= 7.4 + 0.7 + 1.9 + 1.9 -12.1

= 11.9 - 12.1

= -0.2

Since the water in this spa is between -0.3 and 0.3, it is chemically balanced.

Testing Spa Water

A spa test kit should contain the following items:

1. pH tester

2. Calcium hardness tester

3. Total alkalinity tester

4. Chlorine tester using DPD 1. DPD 1 will test for free available chlorine. Free available chlorine should be maintained at a level of 5.0 ppm and should be checked frequently during the course of the day, especially during times of heavy use. Bromine levels can be tested by using the DPD 1 tablets and multiplying the number by 2.25. Bromine levels should be maintained at 10 ppm.

When You Have to Empty Your Spa...

Spas, unlike swimming pools, are small bodies of warm or hot water that make it necessary to periodically replace the water as no amount of chemical intervention will eliminate the bacteria and other organisms that can contribute to illness. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically replace the water entirely and start with a fresh supply. Frequency of water replacement depends on the following criteria:

1. The more bathers, the more frequent the water changes that will be required.

2. The smaller the tub, the less water, and therefore the less dilution and the more frequent that water changes are required.

3. The higher the temperature, the more contamination that is released from the bodies of bathers, and therefore the more frequent the water change are required.

The formula for the number of days the water in a spa is allowed to remain before changing it entirely is as follows:

Volume of tub in liters = number of days between changes
10 X maximum number of users per day

 Regular Maintenance of Filters

1. Keep all filter parts clean at all times.

2. Repair any air leaks at the piping gaskets or filter gaskets.

3. Have gaskets replaced when they become nicked, gouged or otherwise worn.

4. Oil all moving parts specified by a pool service professional.

5. Remove dirt and debris from filter regularly.

Spa Safety

Maintain your spa in good working condition. Check the electrical system frequently. If you do not know how, consult an electrician or plumber. Check the drain cover at the bottom of the pool. If it is corroding or the screws that are holding it in place are worn away you must discontinue use of the spa until it can be replaced with a proper fitting drain cover. The suction that is created by a spa drain can be enough to pull a fully grown person under the water. Without the cover in place, arms and feet can be easily caught by this suction.

Have lifesaving equipment available:

• ring buoy with an attached throwing line
• fully equipped first aid kit
• emergency phone numbers readily available by the phone.

Establish rules, the most important being that no one is allowed to use the spa alone. Other rules to include are:

1. Maintain water at approximately 104oF for adults and 100oF for toddlers and the elderly. Above 104oF, a person in a spa can faint and drown. Water temperature is an extremely important consideration if a person has a heart condition or is pregnant. Consult your family physician if you fit into either category before using a spa.

2. Do not use alcohol when using the spa. The combination of high water temperature and alcohol in the blood makes fainting even more likely.

Terminology

1. Bromine - chemical used for disinfection of spas. It comes in 5 lb. bottles in liquid form and in puck form.

2. Calcium hardness - refers to certain minerals such as calcium carbonate and calcium bicarbonate that may be dissolved in the water. Spa water should be maintained at between 200 and 275 parts per million.

3. Chlorine - chemical used for disinfection of spa water. The most common chemical used for this is calcium hypochlorite.

4. Combined Residual - some chlorine will combine only temporarily with chemicals in the water, in particular ammonia, which occurs naturally in the water and results from people using the water. These combined residuals are also known as chloramines. These chemicals will disinfect water but not as effectively as free available chlorine.

5. Free Residual or Free Available Chlorine - refers to the chlorine that remains after chlorine demands and the combined residual levels of chlorination have been reached. The free residual is what actually does the most disinfecting of pool water because it is not attached to other chemicals present in the water.

6. pH - refers to the acidity or alkalinity of a chemical and is defined on a scale of 1-14. The lower the number, the more acid a solution is. The higher the number, the more basic or alkaline the solution is. If the solution has a pH of 7, it is neutral. Pool water should be maintained at between 7.2 and 7.8.

7. Residual Chlorine - when enough chlorine has been added to react with all of the chemicals in the pool water. Any chlorine left is residual chlorine. This is the chlorine that does the disinfecting.

8. Total alkalinity - refers to other minerals that may be dissolved in the water. Pool water should be maintained at between 80 and 120 parts per million.

9. Total Bromine - some bromines will combine temporarily with organic products in the water especially ammonia. However, unlike total or residual chlorine, such combined bromines are very effective at destroying bacteria.