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Scroll
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questions and answers. Please click the Spa Topics
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of Spa and Hot Tub Problem subjects, an alphabetized
Website Table of Contents, Spa and Hot Tub Equipment
Information, About Alan Biographic Material and a Spa
and Hot Tub Glossary. Use
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Many spa water problems require a
different chemical approach. |
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The water
used to fill or top off a spa
can contain dissolved metals and unwanted
contaminants. Usually,
after chlorine and pH control chemicals
are added, discoloration and staining
can follow, if the water contains iron,
copper or manganese. Testing the
water, before it is added, will alert
you to the presence of a potential
problem. A
MetalTrap Filter or
MetalTrap Dual-Cartridge Filter can help
you remove any dissolved metals and
sediments, avoiding staining and
discoloration problems. If the underwater
surfaces have stains, a
MetalTrap Stain
Reversal Kit contains everything to
dissolve the stains, eliminate the
stain-causing metals from the water and
help prevent a recurrence.
TotalTrap - Pool
Refresh can be used to remove
dissolved heavy metals and phosphates,
by vacuuming to waste or filtration. |
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If you have a pool or spa water
testing need, we should have the
product.
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Scroll down to read through some
Question & Answer information.
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How to use
some of the less common pool chemicals? |
As the spa and
hot tub industry has matured, specialty chemical
products have evolved. There are specific
products - for specific problems! Various
products make maintenance easier or more
effective and choosing the right product for the
task can help assure a better prospect of
success, as well as saving time and money. If
problems arise, refer to the
Spa Problems
Page, as a source of problem-solving
information, broken down into various
categories. Scroll down the page and click on the linked
keywords,
catch phrases
or images, in the archived answers below, to access additional information, on that topic or product.
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Helpful,
Problem-Solving Information, in a question and
answer format.
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Enzyme Use Causing Foaming?
We have a
large swim spa, 1,950 gallons, new last summer. 3 of us
use it regularly, at least 4-5 times per week. We try
hard to keep the water clear and balanced, although it’s
still a learning curve. We recently decided to add an
enzyme product to help with summer lotions, self-tan,
etc. The addition of enzyme seems to create foam! We are
using it once a week, but each time I end up scooping
out foam. Later the spa seems to clear up, but I’m
wondering what is going on. I had the water tested last
week, made adjustments, but still got the foam. It is a
swim spa, with mineralizer filter, regular filter
system, and ozonator. We use small amount of chlorine
each use and shock with non-chlorine.
Lynnda,
5/26/2019
Enzymes can help speed the
decomposition of organic wastes. To
help accomplish this, some enzyme
products contain wetting agents or
surfactants, added to help improve
their performance. These additives
can cause some foaming. The enzyme
products are based on proprietary
formulas and do not all contain the
same ingredients or the same
concentrations. If the foaming is
the only problem, I suggest
switching to another brand. A spa
professional might help you make a
better selection, if the
circumstances are explained. Adding
some spa anti-foam might help solve
or control the problem. I hope
that this is helpful.
Sincerely,
Alan Schuster
► Enzyme Spa
Sanitizer?
Alan, I was wondering if you could
share some info on a spa sanitizer, that is an enzyme
powered sanitizer. It sounds too good to be true. Is there a
catch with this product? Thanks.
Don S., 10/16/2017
Enzymes are not sanitizers. All sanitizers must have an EPA
registration number. Look for it. This product might help
reduce chl orine
requirements, but it is neither a
sanitizer or oxidizer. I like to be
able to measure a
sanitizer level. Free chlorine is
the active sanitizing form of
chlorine and the
recommended level is 1-3 PPM.
Very much higher levels can be
irritating. As a backup to chlorine
and to allow good results, while
maintain a lower chlorine level, you
might consider adding an EPA registered spa sanitizer and
disinfectant and will help you maintain a suitable free chlorine
level and maintain proper
sanitation. A salt
chlorine generator can do that,
while avoiding many of the issues,
associated with traditional chlorine
products. To further improve the water quality, an
Ozone Generator will make a big improvement and
reduce chemical usage. It will provide oxidation and reduce
chlorine usage, even more. I hope that this information
will prove helpful.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster 10/17/2017
► Cyanuric
Acid In A Spa?
Alan, awesome website. I just bought
the ColorQ Digital Water Analyzer and love it, as I'm
colorblind. I've never tested Cyanuric Acid before, and with
the ColorQ, I received a reading of "LOW" which means it is
too low for the ColorQ to register it (and according to
LaMotte, it is accurate +/- 10 when it is between 0-80).
Here's my question: If my ColorQ says there is no Cyanuric
Acid, and I have a hot-tub with a cover on all the time, do
I care? Should I somehow get the Cyanuric Acid up? If so,
how? Thank you for your awesome website! Regards.
Joseph F., 9/25/2018
Glad to hear the you are happy with the
ColorQ Digital Water
Analyzer. You do not need to have any cyanuric acid present.
A zero reading is expected, in a freshly filled spa or one
that has not been using dichlor. If you are using bromine,
none is being contributed by the chemicals and none is
required. I hope that this has resolved the matter. Enjoy
the hot water experience and thank you for the purchase of
the ColorQ.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 9/25/2018
► Will Fix A
Leak Work?
I have a 5-6 person hot tub outside in
North Dakota. Our temperature is dropping and my hot tub is
leaking. I have had so many problems with it this past year.
Put in a new circuit board and new pump, 2 new sensors and a
flow switch. It was finally up and running and has now
started to leak, approximately ½ - 1 inch per day. There is
no water in the equipment compartment. I removed one side
panel and could not see any plumbing - it has that sprayed
in insulation. It sits on my deck and I can see water
dripping underneath. Is this something that the fix-a-leak
stuff would fix? Thanks much.
Deb, North Dakota, 10/12/2010
The letter below was received immediately prior to yours.
Yes, it can work, in a great many cases, and this letter
says it all. For ordering information go to
The Fix A Leak
Store.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 10/12/2010
Alan, I purchased a bottle of
Fix-A-Leak last month hoping to repair a leak in my 8-year
old spa. The spa developed a leak 2 years ago around several
fittings and had to be shipped back to the factory for
repairs. And because of the foam insulation, there is no way
I could have located or repaired the leak myself. It cost me
$900.00 to have the unit craned out and back into to my
backyard the first time, but fortunately, it was still under
warranty so the repair was free. With the warranty now over
who knows what this repair would have cost. I applied the
FIX A LEAK product, per the instructions and no more leak.
The supplemental instructions, you
supplied, were very helpful. It saved me
the cost of factory repair. Thanks.
Ed F., Castro Valley, CA, 10/12/2010
► Enzymes In
A Spa?
Can enzyme products be used to help
deal with oily accumulations around the water line? Thanks.
C. M., Naples, FL, 12/19/2010
The removal of oily residues is one of the main uses of
Enzyme products. Enzymes help to digest or decompose these
organic deposits and help to prevent them from forming
"soaps." The formation of these "soaps" will add to the foam
problem. Regular additions are a good maintenance practice.
Enjoy the spa.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 12/19/2010
► Spa Water
Clarifiers?
My spa water gets cloudy on occasion.
It doesn't seem to be the water chemistry or the bromine
level, as all tests seem to be within balance. Is this a
filtering problem? Thank you for allowing the questions to
be asked.
Joshua, Hicksville, NY, 2/27/2013
It certainly could be a filter problem, but it is difficult
to say for sure. It could be bather waste products, debris
and byproducts. Adding
an enzyme treatment can help
decompose the waste products and
help improve the water clarity. The
regular, periodic addition of a spa
formula clarifier can help improve
the filter efficiency and help
eliminate the spa water clarity
problem. I hope that the
information helps to clear things up.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 2/27/2013
► Benefits Of
Enzyme Use?
My local spa dealer has been touting
the benefits of using enzymes in spas. Exactly, what do they
do? It is worth doing?
Leon H. Spartenburg, SC, 3/21/2012
Enzymes can do many beneficial things for your spa. Enzymes
can help digest or biodegrade oily residues, bather wastes,
cosmetic residues and organic byproducts. In turn, this can
improve the appearance of the waterline area and the water
clarity. And there 's more. The oily residues can harbor
bacteria and impede sanitation, cause an increase in foaming
and require more frequent water replacement. Enzymes can
help remove organic deposits from the filter cartridge and
lead to better filter efficiency. If fact, the more the spa
is actually used, the more likely it is that an enzyme will
be of significant benefit. Enzymes work very well in spas
and hot tubs because the warm water helps to speed up the
degradation process. The end products of the process are
harmless inerts and there are no residues to buildup. Yes,
it is worth using! However, if it is being touted as a spa
sanitizer, that is another matter.
Sanitizers must be registered, with
the EPA, and enzymes are not
registered. While it can help
improve spa water quality,
sanitizing should be left to
products such as
salt chlorine generators,
chlorine and bromine. I hope that I have been helpful. Enjoy
the spa experience.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 3/21/2012
► Waxing A
Spa?
Can I use auto wax on my spa?
Nameless, 2/23/2011
I have no idea what is in an auto wax and, whether or not,
it is suitable for use on a spa. I suggest that you use a
product especially formulated for use in a spa. Check with
the spa manufacturer, as to care recommendations. Good luck.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 2/23/2011
► Spa
Fragrances?
I see products that are used to add a
fragrance to the spa. Are they safe? Can I use cosmetic bath
products? Thank you.
Joanne F., Arlington, VA, 4/9/2007
The spa fragrance items that are specifically formulated for
use in the spa environment are safe to use. These products
are not similar, in terms of their ingredients, to bath
products. Spa water is not changed after each use. Bath
water is. Do not use any cosmetic bath products in your spa.
To do so might result in cloudy water, loss of sanitizer and
oily residues. I hope that I have been helpful.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 4/9/2007
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A $9.99
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to Continental U.S. Orders,
under $75.00. Orders
outside of the Continental
U.S. may require some
additional charge, based on
quantity and destination.
Most products can be
shipped World-Wide. International
and orders outside of
Continental U.S. - see
comments on the ordering
pages. |
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