WATE
R
CHE
M
I
STR
Y
DEFOAMER
– removes foam build-up from the water surface. At best, this is a temporary
remedy, as
excessive foam is merely a symptom of improper water balance (typically
high organic residue and/or high pH).
SEQUESTERANTS (STAIN AND SCALE CONTROLLERS)
– keeps dissolved metals and
minerals in the water
from attacking the hot tub shell and support equipment components.
TOTAL ALKALINITY (TA)
– the amount of carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide
compounds present in the water that deter mines the ability or capacity of the water to
resist change in pH. Also known
as the ‘buffering’ capacity.
BROMAMINES – are formed when bromine destroys nitrogen-bearing organic
matter. Unlike
chloramines, bromamines don’t cause eye irritation, however, when
allowed to go unchecked, will
cause an objectionable odour.
TWO-PART BROMINE – composed of a liquid or powder component introduced
manually into the
water on a weekly basis, and a granular component that is added daily
or as the hot tub is used.
ONE-PART BROMINE
– also available in puck/tablet form, is another type of
oxidant/biocidal agent, and is introduced into the hot tub water via a brominator.
Recommended bromine residual level is
3.0 to 5.0 ppm
C
HLOR
I
N
E
–
in
g
r
a
nu
la
r
,
liq
u
id
or
pu
c
k
/
t
a
blet
f
o
r
m
,
is
a
n
oxid
a
n
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a
n
d
bio
c
id
a
l
a
g
e
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t
.
I
t
is
v
e
r
y
effective and fast acting. Recommended chlorine residual level is 3.0 to
5.0 ppm.
C
HLOR
A
M
I
N
ES
–
a
c
om
po
un
d
f
or
m
ed
w
h
e
n
c
h
lor
in
e
c
ombine
s
w
it
h
n
i
t
r
og
e
n
or
a
mm
onia
pr
e
sen
t
in
the water. When allowed to go unchecked, it causes eye and skin
irritation and is indicated by a strong chlorine odor.
SHOCK – the practice of adding an oxidizing agent to hot tub water to destroy
ammonia,
nitrogenous and organic contaminants (chloramines and bromamines).
CALCIUM HARDNESS –
the calcium portion of the total alkalinity which represents 70 to
75% of total
hardness. Calcium concentrations determine whether water is ‘soft’ - too
little calcium, or ‘hard’ - too much calcium.
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) –
a measure of the total amount of dissolved
matter in the water (calcium, carbonates, bicarbonates, magnesium, metallic
compounds, etc.)
PPM
– abbreviation for ‘parts per million’, the unit of measurement used in chemical
testing which indicates the parts by weight in relation to one million parts by weight of
water. Essentially identical
to the term mg/L - milligrams per liter.
CARTRIDGE FILTER CLEANER
– degreases and cleans cartridge filters.
OZONATOR – generates Ozone (a gaseous molecule composed of 3 atoms of
oxygen) and is
injected into the hot tub water for the oxidation of water contaminants.
pH
– a logarithmic value expressing the relative acidity or basicity of a substance (such
as hot tub water) as indicated by the hydrogen ion concentration. pH is expressed as a
number on a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 is most acidic, 1 to 7 being acidic, 7 considered
neutral, 7 to 14 being basic, and 14 being most basic. The ideal range for hot tub water is
7.4 to 7.6 ppm
pH DECREASER –
lowers the pH level of the water.
ALKALINITY BOOSTER –
raises the alkalinity.
SOLUTION DE HAUSSE DU CALCIUM
– hausse le niveau de calcium.
pH INCREASER
– raises the pH level of the water.
TEST KIT
– used to monitor specific chemical residual or demands in the water. May be in
the form of
litmus strips or liquid drops.
WATER BALANCE SUMMARY FOR YOUR HOT TUB*
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