1 - Water Balance - SunSpot

1 - Water Balance - 2 - Water Treatment - 3 - Products - 4 - Spa Cleaning - 5 - Maintenance - 6 - Safety

1 - Water Balance

Step 1: Water Balance


Before water treatment begins, it is important that you read and familiarise yourself with the workings of your spa and support equipment  because good water circulation and filtration are essential to achieving a safe and clear bathing environment.
The first step is to ensure good water balance which will create the right conditions for bather comfort, chemical efficiency and equipment protection. The main criteria affecting water balance are calcium hardness, pH and Total Alkalinity.
Calcium hardness
Hardness is the measurement of calcium salts in the water and this will vary depending where you live. Low levels are calcium hardness occur in soft water areas and can lead to corrosion and potential damage to equipment. High levels of calcium hardness occur in areas of hard water and can often lead to the formation of scale in pipework and equipment.
pH
The pH scale has a range of 0 – 14 with 0 being very acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being very alkali. It is essential to maintain spa water within the 7.2 – 7.6 range which, being slightly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and provide the optimum conditions for bather comfort and sanitiser efficiency.
Total Alkalinity (TA)
Total Alkalinity acts as a buffer to prevent pH change. If TA levels are too low the pH will fluctuate widely and high levels of TA will not only affect water clarity, but also make pH adjustments extremely difficult.
Water balance should be checked regularly (see Maintenance routines – page 6) and, certainly, every time you top up or refill your spa. 4-way Test Strips are available to help you or your Sunspot supplier will be pleased to test the water on your behalf.