SPECIALTY CHEMICALS
Specialty chemicals address occasional water problems and help to maintain clean, clear water when a spa is
heavily used. Whether you will or should use these chemicals will be based on the quality of your source water
and how frequently your spa is used. Following is a summary of the most common specialty chemicals and when
they should be used.
1
Metal Removers and Stain Preventers
- Many people have a well as their source water and quite often, this
water contains dissolved metals such as iron and/or copper. If your water is in this category, you should use
metal treatment and stain prevention chemicals in your spa. These chemicals will bind with the metals in your
water, preventing them from precipitating from the water and causing stains.
2
Enzymes
- Bathers introduce oils and greases into spa water. They normally originate from natural body oils
and perspiration, artificial body oils such as moisturizers and cosmetics and other complex bather wastes.
When excessive, they can cause scum lines and foul up filter cartridges. To help prevent the build up of
these oils and greases, you can add Enzymes to your spa water. Enzymes help to break down oils and
greases into smaller fragments so that they can be destroyed and removed through a shock treatment with
chlorine or a non chlorine oxydizer. If your water stays clear, that’s great. If you experience visible oil and
grease conditions on the water’s surface and/or a continuous scum line, you should consider adding enzymes
on a regular basis.
3
Clarifiers
- When a spa is heavily used, there can be a build up of micro particles in the water that are too tiny
to get trapped by the filter. They cause the water to look hazy. These particles are negatively charged
.
They
repel each other and they won’t form larger particles that can be filtered. Clarifiers are positively charged
ions. When added to spa water, they neutralize the negative charge of the micro particles and they allow
them to clump together into larger particles that can be filtered out of the water. If your spa water is properly
balanced and your spa filter is functioning properly, but you still have a cloudiness problem, you should add a
clarifier to your water.
4
Defoamers
- Occasionally, spas will get foam on the water surface. This occurs if calcium hardness is low,
from bather wastes, improperly rinsed filters and soap from bathing suits. If persistent, check the water’s
calcium level and adjust if needed. Also, ensure that filters and bathing suits are well rinsed. A defoamer is a
temporary fix and it will not remove the source of the problem. Add 5-10 drops at a time.
5
Biofilm Control
– A spa environment is very enticing to microorganisms and bacteria. Its warm and wet and
dead organic compounds provide a good food source. When microorganisms attach themselves to a spa
surface, they can begin to colonize if they are not removed and destroyed. If allowed to colonize, they will
secrete a substance, known as biofilm. This biofilm protects them from destruction by normal spa chemicals.
When there is significant bacterial growth, a spa can begin to smell musty and swampy. The normal cure has
been to drain, clean and refill the spa. A product called “Aqua Finesse” is now used in the spa industry and it
has proven itself capable of penetrating biofilm and enabling microorganisms and bacteria to be destroyed.
Using “Aqua Finesse” on a regular basis is good preventative maintenance.
DISINFECTING AND SANITIZING CHEMICALS
There are many different systems available to disinfect and sanitize your spa. The system that you choose should
be geared to the frequency of usage of your spa and who is using it. Following are four traditional systems that
address different preferences and usage parameters. You should choose the system that is best suited for you.
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