Maintenance; Water Quality And Water Chemistry; Filtration; Water Chemistry - Jacuzzi Alexa Owner's Manual

Water Quality and Water Chemistry

Maintaining water quality and water chemistry in your spa is extremely important and should be a regular part of your spa
maintenance program, as a neglected spa can be a breeding place for dangerous bacteria.
The water quality of your spa is maintained by a combination of filtration and chemistry. The spa's integral filter system
helps maintain the water cleanliness and clarity by trapping most solid materials such as hair and other debris resulting from
normal use. However, the most important part of maintaining water chemistry is keeping the proper level of disinfectant in
the water at all times. This is accomplished by adding chlorine or bromine to the water, which will control particles too small
to be trapped by the filter, such as bacteria and algae, and will oxidize any organic materials. Follow instructions provided
here, and with water quality products for the health and safety of spa users, as well as to make your spa bathing as enjoyable
as possible.

Filtration

The filtration system of your spa will keep your water
clear and clean if used properly. We recommend that you
run your filter system for at least one hour each day. The
filter cartridge elements will trap most solid materials and
debris in the water. However, the presence of materials
such as body oils or other particles which are too small to
be captured in the filters may bring about various undesir-
able water quality conditions. These conditions can be
corrected with the use of spa treatment chemicals which
are available from your Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath dealer.
Such conditions include the following:
Foaming: A defoamer is available to minimize foaming of
the water. This condition is usually caused by the addition
of soaps or oils, or other fatty substances to the spa water.
The interaction of these with hot water, especially at high
pH (more alkaline), will cause the water to foam. (See
"Water Quality Definitions.")
Oil Film or Cloudy Water: Add clarifier to congeal oil film
on the water surface into globules sufficiently large to be
trapped by the system's filter. Cloudiness is caused by
particles that are too small to be trapped in the filter and is
also due to the presence of human body oils, lotions, and
cosmetics. During normal use, these materials can accu-
mulate on the filter element and clog its pores. The addition
of clarifier will make the water clearer, but clogged filters
must be cleaned as prescribed under the section entitled
"Filter Maintenance" in this manual.
Hard Water: Add a de-mineralizer to break down or
deionize mineral particles present in the spa water.
Follow the "Filter Maintenance" procedure described in
this manual to ensure optimum performance of your spa's
filtration system.

MAINTENANCE

Water Chemistry

You can ensure better water chemistry by testing your
spa water every day and adjusting the chemical balance
frequently. Obtain a water quality test kit designed espe-
cially for spas from your Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath dealer.
The test kit must be of the type which allows you to test for
the disinfectant (chlorine) level, pH, and total alkalinity.
Also, make sure, that chemicals used in your spa are
especially for spa use and not for swimming pools, as
water quality maintenance of spas and swimming pools is
very different.
Set up a daily program, at first, to check the disinfectant
level, pH, and total alkalinity of the water. Familiarize
yourself with the amount of chemicals to add and deter-
mine how often to make chemical adjustments during
normal use. Remember that the more heavily the spa is
used, the more often you should check the water chemis-
try.
When adding any chemicals, always run the filter sys-
tem to ensure complete dilution with the water. Do not add
chemicals directly into the skimmer opening.

Disinfecting:

When filling the spa for the first time, follow the purge/
sanitizing instructions in the "Equipment Set-Up proce-
dure" of the Installation Instructions.
Add a disinfectant to the water on a regular basis to help
control the amount of bacteria, algae and organic materials.
Such bacterial contaminants, if not controlled, could cause
skin rashes or other physical problems. To disinfect the spa
for normal use, first establish the amount of chlorine or
bromine to add and determine how often you need to add
it.
We recommend that you maintain a free chlorine level of
2.0-5.0 ppm at all times except when you must exceed that
during the initial purge/sanitizing procedure or during
superchlorination (see "Water Quality Definitions" below).
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