Balancing Your Water Balancing the water is the first step in keeping your spa clean and
clear. It is measured in terms of two factors – alkalinity and pH. These factors
interact with each other, so it’s important to keep them in balance. This will
keep your water sparkling clear and in excellent condition.
In case it’s been a while since your last chemistry class, here are brief
explanations of alkalinity and pH:
• Alkalinity. This is a measure of your water's ability to neutralize
acid and keep the pH level within the proper range. You should always test
adjust alkalinity first because it must be correct before moving on to pH. The
acceptable range for alkalinity is 100-150 parts per million; if your water
falls outside this range you will not be able to balance the pH.
• pH. This is a measure of the acidity in your water. The acceptable
range for pH level is 7.2 - 7.8; if your water falls outside of this range do
not enter the spa until the pH is properly adjusted, or you might find yourself
with some nasty skin or eye irritation.
Unbalanced water can cause skin and eye irritation, cloudy water, and may damage
your spa's shell and inner workings. To keep your water in good condition you
should test alkalinity and pH levels before using the spa.
Keeping Your Water Clean. Even if your water is perfectly balanced at all times, you may still
need to use additional products to keep the water clean. We recommend the
following:
• Clarifier. A clarifier causes coagulation of bacteria, oils and other
organics that manage to escape the effects of your sanitizer. In other words,
using clarifier causes bacteria to clump together in a solid so that the filter
can capture it. Unfortunately, though, with many types of clarifier the clumps
of material tend to attach themselves to the spa’s shell surface. This is what
creates that ugly “scum line” you sometimes see along the water line.
To prevent this from happening to you, we recommend using a natural enzyme
clarifier such as Natural & Clear. This type of product breaks down organic
materials into a gas rather than clumping them together, so it helps to rid your
spa of the “scum line”.
• Stain & Scale Preventer. Minerals dissolved in water can cause staining
or discoloration, as well as oxidization and scaling on the spa’s shell surface
and heating element. We recommend treating your spa with a stain and scale
prevention product on a weekly basis, especially if you use well water or water
high in mineral content in your spa. This will help prolong the life of your spa
and help keep your water sparkling clear.
