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COMMON WATER CHEMISTRY qUESTIONS
Question:
Why can’t I use a floater to sanitize my spa water?
answer:
Watkins Manufacturing corporation does not recommend the use of a floater for three reasons.
1. The floater is unable to control the rate at which sanitizer is dissolved into the water. When a floater is first placed in a spa, the sanitizer level
can be extremely high. High sanitizer levels can chemically burn or discolor the spa’s shell or the underside of the cover. Then, after a period of
time, the sanitizer level dispensed by the floater will fall to near zero. A low sanitizer level will allow viruses, bacteria or algae to grow.
2. Floaters tend to stay in one area of the spa most of the time (usually over the cool down seat), causing this area to be exposed to extreme
sanitizer levels.
3. The floater may allow pieces of the highly concentrated sanitizer to fall out and settle on the floor or seat of the spa shell. These pieces of
sanitizer will chemically burn (blister) the spa shell. Although your spa shell is specifically designed to resist the effects of spa chemicals, no
spa surface can withstand this type of highly concentrated chemical. Remember, chemical abuse is specifically not covered under the terms of
the warranty.
Question:
When I open my spa, I smell chlorine. How do I get rid of this smell?
answer:
There are two types of chlorine in your spa. The first is the Free Available chlorine, which is the chlorine available to sanitize your spa.
This available free chlorine does not have an odor. The second is chloramine, which is residue from chlorine already expended. chloramines
have a strong chlorine odor. The smell from chloramines can be eliminated by “shocking” the water. If you smell chlorine in the water, your spa is
reminding you to add a shock treatment.
Question:
Why can’t I fill my spa with soft water?
answer:
soft water is essentially the same as regular water except that most or all of the calcium has been replaced by sodium. soft water may be
corrosive to the heater and other components. Replacement of spa components damaged by soft water is extremely expensive.
Question:
I am trying to reduce the number of chemicals to which my family is exposed. do I really need to use so many chemicals and in such
large amounts?
answer:
While over-exposure to any chemical can be unhealthful, many low levels of chemicals are effective and beneficial. In the case of spa
water, the chemicals recommended in the Limelight
®
collection Water Maintenance Program are needed to protect the user from water-borne
pathogens (disease-causing microbes) and to prevent corrosion of spa components. The everFresh
®
water care system minimizes the use of
chemicals with harsh side effects, such as halogen sanitizers.
Question:
Why isn’t water chemistry damage covered by the warranty?
answer:
The chemical levels and water quality of the water in the spa are under your direct control. With proper basic care, the spa will provide
many years of hot water relaxation. If you are unsure about any chemical or its usage in the spa, contact your Authorized dealer, or Watkins
Manufacturing corporation.
WATER TERMINOlOgY
The following chemical terms are used in this Water Quality and Maintenance section. understanding their meaning will help you to better
understand the water maintenance process.
Bromamines:
compounds formed when bromine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. unlike chloramines, bromamines
have no pungent odor, and are effective sanitizers.
Bromine:
A halogen sanitizer (in the same chemical family as chlorine). Bromine is commonly used in stick, tablet, or granular form. See the DO’s
and DON’Ts of Spa Water Maintenance for additional information.
Calcium Hardness:
The amount of dissolved calcium in the spa water. This should be approximately 50-150 ppm. High levels of calcium can
cause cloudy water and scaling. Low levels can cause harm to the spa equipment.
Chloramines:
compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. chloramines can cause eye
irritation as well as having a strong odor. unlike bromamines, chloramines are weaker, slower sanitizers.
Chlorine:
An efficient sanitizing chemical for spas. Watkins Manufacturing corporation recommends the use of sodium dichlor-type granulated
chlorine. This type is preferred because it is totally soluble and nearly pH neutral.
Chlorine (or Bromine) Residual:
The amount of chlorine or bromine remaining after chlorine or bromine demand has been satisfied. The residual
is, therefore, the amount of sanitizer which is chemically available to kill bacteria, viruses and algae.
Corrosion:
The gradual wearing away of metal spa parts, usually caused by chemical action. Generally, corrosion is caused by low pH or by water
with levels of TA, cH, pH or sanitizer which are outside the recommended ranges.
DpD:
The preferred reagent used in test kits to measure the Free Available chlorine.
Halogen:
Any one of these five elements: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
mpS:
Monopersulfate is the non-chlorine oxidizer used with the FreshWater
Ag+®
silver ion purification system.
Nitric acid:
The formulation of nitric acid, a highly corrosive chemical, is a byproduct of the ozone generating process. Nitric acid is produced in
very small quantities and is readily dissolved in the water stream with ozone.
Page 47
Water quality and Maintenance
Summary of Contents for Limelight
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