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A7 Understanding Sanitizers
A. CLEARRAY
Our water purication system will begin disinfecting your water instantly.
CLEARRAY Water Purication System
is exclusive technology utilizing natural ultraviolet technology to sanitize your water, disinfecting bacteria,
viruses, and algae in portable hot tubs. The ultraviolet light otherwise known as UV-C or germicidal light inacti-
vates the microorganisms by disrupting the DNA so that it cannot reproduce and is considered lifeless. The bal-
last is the power supply for the purication system; it has two LED indicator lights the green indicating incoming
power ow and the red indicating the system is properly working. CLEARRAY is standard for all models.
• As the water is ltered, it passes through the CLEARRAY unit, and is exposed to UV light that sanitizes the
water.
• The combination of the CLEARRAY system and a residual sanitizer work in conjuction to keep your water
clear and clean.
B. Ozone
Oxygen is an element, and like other gaseous elements, normally exists as a pair of atoms bonded together
to make a whole molecule. Chemists therefore use the symbol O
2
to speak of “oxygen molecules” rather than
oxygen atoms.
In the presence of an electric discharge like lightning, three molecules of O
2
can combine to form O
3
known
as ozone. While oxygen has no smell, ozone has a very pronounced smell in large concentrations. In small
quantities, it causes the pleasant “fresh air” smell that laundry has when dried on a outdoor clothesline. Some
clothing dryer manufacturers have installed an ultraviolet lamp inside their machines to give clothes that “fresh-
as-all-outdoors” smell.
The technician must understand three things about ozone:
1. Ozone (O
3
) breaks down quickly into plain oxygen (O
2
).
2. Ozone kills germs.
3. Ozone is a strong oxidizer.
Because ozone breaks down quickly into oxygen (O
2
), a residual sanitizer must be used. There are two
choices, chlorine or bromine. While chlorine is oxidized by ozone just as quickly as bromine, residual bromine
compounds are a much better disinfectant than residual chlorine compounds. Hence ozone and bromine team
up much better to do the overall job than ozone and chlorine.
A8 Understanding pH
Keeping hot tub water clean and clear involves a very complex set of chemical reactions. Most importantly,
the hot tub must be sanitized. Bacteria, algae, and other single-cell life forms that may nd their way into the
hot tub must be killed. Three chemical elements, chlorine, bromine, and ozone are all good sanitizing agents.
When any of these elements come into contact with bacteria or algae, these single-cell organisms die. There-
fore, to keep the water germ free, we must simply keep a residual of the sanitizing agent in the water.
Making germs dead is only half the objective, however. The dead cells of the bacteria and algae we have killed,
and the organic “stuff” (dandruff, perspiration, dead skin cells, etc.) that our bodies deposit in the hot tub, will
make the water cloudy and uninviting as they decompose. These microscopic contaminants must be “burned
out” or oxidized. These oxidation reactions occur simultaneously with reactions known as reduction reactions.
The balance of these chemical reactions is quite critical and can occur properly only if pH levels are maintained
from 7.2 to 7.8 pH (Ideal 7.4 to 7.6). If the pH is out of range, the sanitizing agent itself will be oxidized or re-
duced and in effect be “used up” before it has a chance to do it’s job.
pH is critical for maximum disinfection, sanitizing, and cleaning results with the least amount of chemical addi-
tion. Make sure your customer understands the importance of regular water test intervals and the proper use
of chemicals. Both are necessary to ensure maximum water quality and to maintain a healthy and fun hot tub
environment.
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