WATER CHEMISTRY
Overview of Water Chemistry
Water Quality Maintenance
Maintaining the quality of the spa water within specified limits will enhance your enjoyment of the spa and prolong the life of its equipment. It is a fairly simple task, but it requires regular maintaining because the water chemistry involved is a balance of several factors. There is no simple formula and there is no avoiding it. A careless attitude regarding water maintenance will result in poor and potentially unhealthful conditions for bathing and possible damage to your spa. For specific guidance on maintaining water quality, consult your authorized Villeroy & Boch Spa dealer who can recommend appropriate chemical products for sanitizing and maintaining your spa.
Sanitation
Sanitizers kill bacteria and viruses and keep the water clean. A low sanitizer level will allow bacteria and viruses to grow quickly in the spa water. To raise the sanitizer level, simply add an approved sanitizer. A high sanitizer level can cause discomfort to eyes, lungs and skin. To lower the sanitizer level, simply wait – the sanitizer level will naturally drop over time. Effective and safe sanitizers include Granular Chlorine (Dichlor-type only) and Granular Bromine.
NOTE: Increased use of the spa (or in the number of users of the spa) will result in the need to increase the amount of sanitizer required to maintain the recommended sanitizer level.
NOTE: Ozone purification is recommended only as a supplement to the above sanitizers. The Villeroy & Boch WellSpring™ Ozone Purifiers greatly enhance the quality of the spa water when used in conjunction with an industry standard spa chemical maintenance program.
CAUTION: Never use ozone as a single-source sanitizer, water clarifier, stain & scale inhibitor or foam inhibitor.
WARNING: Trichlor Chlorine tablets should never be used in a portable spa. Dissolve rate, potency and the extreme low pH of this chemical can cause severe damage to the spa surface and components. Use of Trichlor Chlorine tablets will void the warranty.
WARNING: Bromine and Dichlor tablets are also not recommended as an acceptable sanitizer in a Villeroy & Boch Spa unless in an appropriate feeding or metering device. Inconsistency in its application and excessive Bromine or Chlorine in the spa can cause surface damage and component failure. Use of either of these sanitizer tablets in any automatic “floating-type” tablet feeder will require more frequent monitoring and testing. Misuse of Bromine or Dichlor tablets will void the warranty.
WARNING: Products containing Baguanide (Baqua) are also not recommended for use in your spa. These products are known to deteriorate light lenses, pump seals and other spa components. Misuse of Baquanide products will void the warranty.
Super Sanitation
Normal sanitation does not eliminate Chloramines (trapped Chlorine), Bromamines (trapped Bromine), along with other non-filterable wastes, such as perspiration, oils, hair sprays, etc. that can build up in the water. These substances make the water unattractive in appearance and odor, and can interfere with sanitizer effectiveness. Super Sanitizing (or “shocking” or “Super Chlorinating”) the spa water is achieved when the sanitizer level reaches or exceeds 10.0 PPM with granular Chlorine (Dichlor), or 22.0 PPM with granular Bromine (Bromine concentrate). Super Sanitation can also be achieved with a non-Chlorine shock (Potassium Peroxymonosulfate or equivalent). Contact your authorized Villeroy & Boch Spa dealer for assistance.
When Super Sanitizing your spa water, and providing that you are available to attend to the safety of any children present, you should allow the high level of sanitizer to off-gas by opening the spa cover at least half way for a minimum of 20 minutes. Failure to allow high concentrations of sanitizer to off-gas with the spa cover open will cause the underneath side of the cover to discolor and degrade. Such damage to the spa cover is not covered under the terms of your spa’s warranty.
WARNING: Never leave an open spa unattended, especially if there are children present.
IMPORTANT: Always allow the chlorine level to fall below 5.0 PPM (11.0 with Bromine) before entering the spa water.
pH Control
Proper pH balance is extremely important in providing water that is comfortable to the user, and preventing damage to the spa and equipment. The measure of acidity and basicity in the water is called pH. The pH scale ranges from 0-14. Levels of pH less than 7.0 are acidic while pH levels greater than 7.0 are basic. The proper pH range for a spa is 7.4-7.6.
High pH levels (greater than 7.6) can cause scale build-up on the spa and its equipment, cloudy water, a prematurely dirty filter, and less effective sanitation. To correct high pH levels, add a pH decreaser.
Low pH levels (less than 7.4): can cause discomfort to the spa users, rapid dissipation of sanitizer, and corrosion to the spa equipment. To increase pH levels, add a pH increaser.
NOTE: Never use Muriatic or Hydrochloric acid to adjust pH as it can damage the spa shell and surrounding components.
Total Alkalinity (TA)
TA is the quantitative measurement of alkaline components (carbonates and bicarbonates) present in water, which if properly adjusted, act as a buffer against rapid pH changes. Proper total alkalinity levels are important to ensure optimal chemical balance in spas. Low TA can cause the pH to be unstable causing the water to be corrosive or scale forming to the spa and its equipment. To correct low TA, add a Total Alkalinity Increaser. High TA can cause scale build-up, cloudy water, as well as other pH problems. If the spa water has
high TA, contact your authorized Villeroy & Boch Spa dealer
for assistance.
Calcium Hardness (CH)
CH is the measure of dissolved calcium in the water. Low CH (soft water) can stain the spa surface as well as cause corrosion to the spa and its equipment. To correct low CH, add a CH Increaser. High CH (hard water) can cause cloudy water as well as rough scale build-up on the spa surface and equipment. If the spa water has high CH, it is preferable to either dilute the water’s hardness by blending the water with water from a water softener, or by the addition of a special water softening chemical (contact your authorized Villeroy & Boch Spa dealer).
IMPORTANT: Never fill the entire spa with soft water unless an appropriate mineral supplement is immediately added (contact your authorized Villeroy & Boch Spa dealer).
Stain and Scale Control
Stain and scale problems are common in hot water environments. To help prevent and control staining and scaling, add a Stain and Scale Inhibitor.
Foam Control
Spa water that is polluted with body oils and lotions, combined with high water temperatures, can cause excessive surface foaming. For a temporary fix, add a Foam Remover. The best way to control foam is to Super Sanitize the water; this will destroy the soap agents that normal levels of sanitizer will not.
Cloudy Water Prevention and Control There are two basic reasons that spa water becomes cloudy. Non-filterable liquid waste (e.g. perspiration) have contaminated the water. To remove these substances, Super Sanitize the water. Or, non-filterable micro-particulate waste (e.g. dust) has contaminated the water. To remove these substances use a Water Clarifier.
