Sanitizing Systems to Keep Your Spa Clean

Note: Not all sanitizing chemicals mix together safely!

Please request a spa care consultation prior to beginning maintenance of spa chemistry. We are happy to guide you on the path to simple, easy and safe spa care.

Bromine is a popular spa sanitizer in the halogen family. It is milder than chlorine, yet continues to be an effective spa sanitizer.

Chlorine is the pool sanitizer of choice and is also used in many spas. The most frequent cause of algae, haze and foul odors is a lack of chlorine. There are two basic types of chlorine: stabilized and unstabilized. Stabilized chlorine lasts longer in sunlight and tends be more expensive that unstabilized chlorine. Again, please ask your salesperson for a recommendation on selecting the appropriate type of chlorine for your spa.

Mineral systems containing copper, silver, zinc, or a combination of the three can be used to effectively kill bacteria in your spa to keep it clean. Usually mineral systems are used in conjunction with supportive doses of chlorine/bromine. Mineral systems need to be replaced every 3-4 months on average.

Ozone systems help make chemical sanitizers more efficient allowing you to use less in your spa water. Ozone is a gas form of oxygen that oxidizes organic wastes, disinfects bacteria, and deodorizes water. An "ozonator" generates ozone which is then injected into the spa water before being pumped into the spa through the jets. It is important to note that an ozonator only functions when bubbles circulate and the pump is on. Therefore, it is vital that either bromine or chlorine be present in the spa water as a supplementary form of sanitization when the hot tub is not running.

Ionizers like silver and copper naturally release ions (charged particles) which bond by attraction to algae and bacteria. A safe-for-water voltage system pushes the ions through an electrode into the spa water for sanitization. Ionization systems also require complementary chlorine/bromine levels to be present in the spa water for safe and adequate sanitization.