Well the holidays are over now what?

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

Well the holidays are over now what?


It back to reality and the tasks at hand, paying off the credit cards and getting back to some normal life and responsibilities. 


Now for those of you that have a spa and love using it over the winter now is a great time to get back to monitoring the water chemistry and since there most likely were a lot of users over the holidays it probably needs close attention right now.


This will be the time you need to give that filter or filters a good filter soak as to get rid of all the body oils and things that have built up over the last month or so.


Just hosing the filter off will not do it, you need to get a filter cleaning solution such as Filter Perfect made by natural chemistry. Take the filter out and place in a bucket of water, be sure that the water covers the filter. Remove the filter from the water and add the filter cleaning solution and mix, then place the filter back in the bucket and soak over night.


The next day remove from the solution and lightly hose off the grids. Re-install the filters into the spa and you should be back in business for another couple of months. Those of you who have a back up filter are in great shape as you can take your time and just swap out the dirty filter for a clean one and then soak that one at your leisure.


Be sure to test the water to see where everything is at now, usually the PH will be low after a heavy bather load so be prepared to add PH and or Alkalinity to get the water back in shape, REMEMBER to add the products one at a time at a rate of no more than 2 tablespoons per 500 gallons of water and allow water to circulate for 20 minutes then retest and add more as necessary.


Always adjust the Alkalinity first then the PH and then the Calcium Hardness, get those levels good BEFORE you start the chlorine or Bromine treatment.  If these chemicals are off the sanitizer will not work effectively and you will find it a pain to get the water back in balance.


If you take your time and do it one step at a time you will have the water back in shape in no time at all and can get back to enjoying the spa for yourself again.


Until Next Time...

How Important is Calcium Hardness?

Rick the Spa Guy

Just How Important is Calcium Hardness? 

First lets discuss what this product is and how it pertains to water. 


Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral that is frequently found in high concentrations:  such water is called "hard" water.  Calcium hardness chemistry is one of the important pool water parameters and its control is important, to help assure proper water quality and help avoid certain pool water problems.  The preferred ranges, in swimming pools, are 80-150 PPM in a vinyl pool and 150-200 PPM in a masonry finish pool.

  Low levels of pool water calcium hardness (soft water) can lead to the problems of corrosive water conditions.  Chemicals are available to raise the calcium hardness, as might be necessary.  High pool water calcium hardness levels, especially above 400 PPM, can lead to possible pool water clarity problems and scaling conditions. 

Chlorine products containing calcium hypochlorite raise the hardness level, each time the product is added. 

   Various chelating or sequestering Mineral Treating Products are available to help deal with the problems associated with high calcium hardness levels.   Pool water calcium levels can be determined by a simple water analysis.  This is especially important with well water, as other problematic minerals might be present and could require treatment. 


Now all this being said your water needs to have a proper level of Calcium, if not the water will try to draw the calcium from other items in the plumbing such as pump seals, in a pool it will draw it out from the concrete walls or vinyl liner and all these things will cause damage to the pool or spa.


Over abundance of calcium will cause cloudy water and scale deposits which feel like grit on the walls of the pool or spa. To lowel calcium levels you can add fresh water or use a metal sequestering agent, if you need to raise the level add Calcium Hardness Increaser.


Proper levels in a pool are stated above for a spa keep the level at 200-250 ppm (parts per million) By following this you will have nice balanced water as long as your PH and Alkalinity levels are good all will be well.


I hope this better helps you maintain your water, or at least understand why you are doing all this.


Until Next Time...