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Water Maintenance
It’s important to have clean water. Water maintenance is one of the least understood, but very
important areas of spa ownership. Your dealer can guide you through the process of achieving and
maintaining perfect water in your spa, given your local conditions. Your program will depend on
your water’s mineral content, how often you use your spa, and how many people use it. Here is our
suggested step-by-step program:
General Information
There are three fundamental areas of water maintenance. They are (1) Water Filtration, (2) Water
Sanitation, and (3) Chemical Balance/pH Control.
Before you even begin it is highly recommended to use the pre-filter when filling your spa, because
tap water is not really pure water. By starting with water that is already filtered clean you will find
that you have much fewer problems maintaining crystal clear water.
Although your spa’s filter system is working several hours a day to remove particles from your water,
it does not remove bacteria or viruses. Water sanitation is the responsibility of the spa owner. It can
be achieved through the regular and periodic (daily, if necessary) addition of an approved sanitizer.
The sanitizer will chemically control the bacteria and viruses present in the spa water. Bacteria and
viruses can grow quickly in under sanitized spa water. The water’s chemical balance and pH control
are also the responsibility of the spa owner. You will have to add chemicals to maintain proper levels
of Total Alkalinity (TA) and pH. Proper water balance and pH control will minimize scale buildup
and corrosion of metals, extend the life of the spa, and allow the sanitizer to work at maximum ef-
ficiency.
For Onzen System: Please refer to your Onzen User Guide for direction in water maintenance.
Methods For Testing The Spa Water
Accurate water testing and analysis are an important part of effectively maintaining your spa water.
To follow the Arctic Spas
®
recommended program, you must have the ability to test for:
• Total Alkalinity (TA)
• pH
• Sanitizer
• Calcium Hardness
Although reagent liquid test kits provide the highest level of accuracy, Test Strips are the most conve-
nient testing method used by many spa owners. Keep in mind that test strips are susceptible to heat
and moisture contamination, which will result in inaccurate readings. Very high sanitizer levels will
also render test strips unreliable.
IMPORTANT:
Always read and carefully follow the directions included with the Test Kit or Test
Strips to ensure the accuracy of the test results.
Hints For Successful Water Testing
When using the reagent test kit:
• Always take water samples 30-45 cm (12” - 18”) below the water surface.
