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Posts Tagged ‘Spa Sanitizer’

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Hot Tub Chemicals

June 21st, 2011 by

Spa and Hot Tub Chemicals

Spa Frog bromine and mineral floaterAfter a tiring day, most people resort to spas as form of relaxation. It is now possible to have your own spa at home. Contrary to popular belief, this is not expensive and it will not take a lot of effort to maintain a spa. Spas and hot tubs offer something enjoyable with quite a number of health benefits that you can get from it as well.

If you have a spa at home, keeping it clean is your number one priority or else it will have a negative effect on your relaxation. The good news is that there are a lot of chemicals that would keep your spa clean.

Using hot tub chemicals is very simple. There are test strips that you can purchase to test the chemicals in the spa. Putting chemicals on the spa will make the water last longer and it could also protect the users from becoming sick since this will kill the bacteria in the water.

Before putting the chemicals in the spa, you will need to know the pH level of the water and the level of alkalinity and calcium hardness. Once the spa water is balanced, you can shock the spa with a non-chlorine or a chlorine oxidizer. After that you will want to run the filter for several hours, to mix up the chemicals.

To keep the water sanitary, most spa owners use bromine or chlorine mini-tabs. Chlorine is cheaper, but stronger smelling and a bit less stable in high pH situations. You can also take advantage of using minerals to help with the sanitation. Frog or Nature2 purifiers for spas allow you to reduce your level of sanitizer.

Spa pH: To examine the PH level of water, use a good test strip. Your spa pH level should be somewhere 7.2 to 7.4. If it is lower, there is pH additive that you can add. On the other hand, if it is too high, there is a pH reducer that you can use. Knowing the calcium hardness is also important as well, so the water is not too hard or too soft. In case it doesn’t reach the recommended level of at least 150 ppm, there are calcium adjusters that you can purchase to raise the calcium level, or harden the water.

Observe the color of the water. If it has a curious shade, it could mean that your spa contains metals. There are metal reducers sold for your spa, that will keep metals in solution, so they don’t stain your spa surfaces.

Aside from adding chemicals to spa water, it is best to clean the hot tub filter regularly. Remember to change the spa water every two months. Clean the filter at least once a month. Perform chemical tests every week, and shock the spa. These steps will help you to keep the spa always clean and sanitary for your users.

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Hot Tub at Playboy Mansion Needs Some Love…

April 18th, 2011 by

Health scare: Playboy bunnies pose under the marquee at the Mansion before the party. Officials have found the Legionella bacteria in a hot tub

Being experts on the subject of hot tub maintenance, I was surprised to see this outbreak come from one the most infamous hot tubs that exist in LA.

It would be real easy to make a moral correlation here but I’ll refrain from the obvious……

Article below.

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Health officials have confirmed that the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease was found in a whirlpool spa at the Playboy Mansion where more than 100 people fell ill in February.

The Los Angeles County Health Department presented its findings on Friday at an annual conference at the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta. The legionella bacteria also causes a milder illness called Pontiac fever.

Health scare: Playboy bunnies pose under the marquee at the Mansion before the party. Officials have found the Legionella bacteria in a hot tub.
Struck down: Investigators found the bacteria which causes Legionnaires' at the Playboy Mansion after scores of people fel ill on the same day
Struck down: Investigators found the bacteria which causes Legionnaires’ at the Playboy Mansion after scores of people fell ill on the same day
Investigation: 200 guests fell ill after attending a fundraiser at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion in February

Symptoms, which include fever and headache, are the same as those suffered by the Playboy Mansion partygoers. The people who fell ill were at the mansion to mark the end of the three-day DOMAINFest Global Conference on internet business. The conference took place at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica.

On the second night, there was a party at the Sky Bar on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The finale on the third night was at Playboy founder Hugh Hefner’s famous mansion. Within 48 hours after leaving it, scores of people reported coming down with symptoms including fever, respiratory problems and violent headaches. About 700 people from 30 countries attended the conference.

DOMAINFest asked people who were at the event to fill out a confidential survey to help in the health department investigation. Officials ended up speaking to 439 people and found that up to 200 of them had a fever and at least one other symptom. Sixty-nine people reported falling ill on the same day.

Something in the air? Public health investigators believe the illness which affected 200 guests may have been spread through the atmospheric fog
Something in the air? Public health investigators believe the illness which affected 200 guests may have been spread through the atmospheric fog. Dr Jonathan Fielding, director of the county Department of Public Health, said that Legionella bacteria are commonly found in moist environments. Pontiac fever, which is caused by bacteria, typically lasts two to five days and treatment is usually unnecessary, ktla.com reports.

The bacteria are not spread from person to person, they are inhaled in water vapor from hot tubs, showers and even air conditioning systems. Some of those who became ill originally suspected a fog machine that was used at the party in February.

A Playboy spokesman said at the time: ‘There is no truth in the rumor that anyone caught anything at the Playboy Mansion, nor is there any evidence. ‘None of the Playboy staff became ill, the deejay was in the middle of the fog and she didn’t get ill. ‘We have been contacted by the Health Department and the Playboy Mansion is cooperating fully with the investigation.’

One partygoer, Elliot J. Silver, said: ‘It is scary that everyone came down with the same thing at the same time. ‘It knocked me on my ass. A lot of people are blaming the Playboy Mansion on the blogs, but you can’t be sure.’

- Legionnaires disease is one of many bacterias that can cause sickness, from improperly sanitized and filtered hot tubs.

Thanks;Jerry

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Posted in spa chemicals | 3 Comments »

Why use MPS-Shock In a Spa or Hot Tub

April 15th, 2011 by

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “why use Non-Chlorine Spa Shock?”

Zodiac Cense - Shock and Aromatherapy in One! - Multi-Pack

In order to answer this question we need to understand what sanitizer does and this will help you understand why it is important to add shock at all.

Sanitizing your spa water is the most important spa maintenance you can do for yourself. Soaking in a spa is like taking a bath however you do not drain the spa when you are done like you would your bath tub. The warm water of hot tubs provides an ideal breeding ground for potentially harmful microorganisms. If we do not maintain an effective sanitizer system to control them, bacteria from our bodies, as well as airborne mold spores, algae, and even viruses can find their way into the water.

A Sanitizer such as Chlorine, Bromine, Nature2 or Spa Frog is used to destroy these microorganisms and keep the spa water safe and healthy. When using a Sanitizer alone the sanitizer has to do two jobs. The first is to destroy microorganisms and the second is to oxidize (burn up) the dead organic material left behind in your water, as well as non-filterable material such as dirt, soap films, hair spray and perspiration. That is a lot of work for the sanitizer to do.

MPS Shock (MonoPeroxySulfate) is a non-chlorine compound that will do the job of oxidizing allowing the sanitizer to do the more important job of destroying the microorganisms. Regardless of which sanitizer you use, shocking is essential for clear, clean hot tub water. It will also allow your sanitizer to perform at peak efficiency.

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Pseudomonas and Hot Tub Folliculitis

March 30th, 2011 by
Leisure Time Free System 6 Month Kit

Itching to get into your Hot Tub?

With spring just days away many of us are just “itching” to get into our hot tubs. Longer days and warmer weather is perfect hot tub weather.

On a serious note; we may be itching to get into our tubs but we really do not want to come out of the tub all itchy! If you have not drained your water in over three months it really is a good idea to hold off the first soak until you drain the old stale water and do some spring cleaning.

Spring is a great time to give the tub a good cleaning. Flush out your jets with Leisure Time Jet Clean, give the shell a good scrub with Leisure Time Citrabright All-Purpose Spa Cleaner , protect and shine to the shell with Leisure Time Fast Gloss Spa Polish , deep clean your filters with Leisure Time Spa Filter Clean. Now you can safely enjoy a nice soak!

If you could not wait and you decided to get a soak or two in before draining and cleaning the tub and you find you are itchy when you get out, or see a rash develop,  DO NOT GET BACK INTO THE WATER UNTIL YOU DRAIN AND CLEAN THE TUB. Most people think that the chemicals in the water cause their skin to be dry and itchy, this is true only if the sanitizer level is way too high or if pH and Alkalinity are way out of balance.

The most likely cause for a rash from a spa is low sanitation. Using a hot tub with low or no sanitation can cause a condition called Folliculitis. Folloculitis is inflammation of the hair follicle caused by infection, chemical irritation, or physical injury. There are several different types of folliculitis, but a common type is called “hot tub” folliculitis, or pseudomonas folliculitis.

The rash of hot tub folliculitis consists of several small .5 – 3 cm red papules or wheals with a central pustule. The rash can erupt anywhere on the body that has been in contact with the contaminated water. Areas that are in contact with wet clothing tend to have more lesions. The rash usually resolves on its own in 7 to 10 days leaving a hyperpigmented lesion that resolves over months.

Some people experience fatigue in the first few days of the rash, but fever is uncommon. We strongly recommend seeing a doctor as soon as possible for proper diagnoses and not using the hot tub until it is properly sanitized.

We have a complete “how to” section on how to take care of your hot tub on the site.

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Ozone and Minerals for Spas & Hot Tubs

February 17th, 2011 by

ozoneMineral Sanitizers (Nature2, Frog Floating System, Sundance Spas Sunpurity, Hot Spring AG Mineral Purifier) is offered as an alternative sanitation system for spas and pools, with promises of cleaner water without the drawbacks of chlorine. However, these Mineral Sanitizers recognize that they do not oxidize all the organics that a spa may contain, so it recommends using its product ‘Cense’ as the required oxidizer (a version of MSP, or monopersulfate).

We have nothing against MSP, but why not have the best oxidizer you can have, without adding ANY more chemicals? It’s not just DEL saying this. Here’s the assessment of freedrinkingwater.com:

What is Ozone for Spas?

“Ozone, fed into the water continuously by an Ozone generator, is the strongest oxidizer for pool [or spa] water treatment. …Ozone has a minimal effect on pH and water chemistry.”

The bottom line for spa and pool disinfection is that ozone is the strongest, broad-spectrum oxidizer that can be delivered simply and reliably. Ozone combines well with Mineral Sanitizers (Nature2, Frog Floating System, Sundance Spas Sunpurity, Hot Spring AG Mineral Purifier) minerals to cover the gaps in sanitation left by Mineral Sanitizers alone.

What is a Mineral Sanitizer?

Mineral Sanitizers are a “mineral bed” that is installed in your spa circulation to deposit silver and copper ions into the water to kill bacteria and algae, respectively. This is distinct from ionizing systems because the minerals are deposited through the flow of water through a cartridge rather than an electrical ionization process. Mineral Sanitizers shares some benefits with Ozone in that neither of them relies on excessive use of chemicals like chlorine that can have harmful byproducts when used at high enough doses to be effective.

Is Ozone and a Mineral Sanitizer Your Best Option?

No disinfection system is perfect, but if your criteria are for a simple and effective disinfection routine that produces clean, fresh smelling water with minimal harmful byproducts, start with Ozone. Whether you choose to supplement it with Mineral Sanitizers (Nature2, Frog Floating System, Sundance Spas Sunpurity, Hot Spring AG Mineral Purifier) or a small residual level of chlorine, you will be able to maintain fresh, safe water in your spa.

We have traditionally recommended a strong Ozone system coupled with a small residual amount of chlorine (maintained at about 3 ppm for spas, depending on your typical usage) for a simple, low cost way to keep spa water pure. The chemicals and the tests they need are widely available and understood. But if a Mineral Sanitizer appeals to you, we know it can also work.

Thanks;

Jerry

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Posted in Consumer Research for Best Hot Tub, Spa Ozone | 6 Comments »

New Hot Tub Research Finds New Benefits

December 15th, 2010 by

Numerous studies have examined the effects of water immersion temperatures on the cardiovascular system, but few have examined the effects of immersion temperature on factors relating to autonomic nervous system regulation (ANS).

Our research thus far has assessed aquatic immersion temperatures upon the cardiovascular system, peripheral circulation and core temperatures in a young college-aged group and a middle-aged group. We have found a number of important physiologic changes within the ANS that occur during immersion, with a striking decrease in sympathetic nervous system function during warm water immersion. Interestingly these changes are almost identical between age groups, with the older age group at higher baseline measurements.

These changes may well have beneficial public health implications for water use.

NASMI
Physical Education Building Room 101AA
PO Box 641410
Pullman, WA  99164-1410
Phone: 509-335-8226
Fax: 509-335-4594
aquatic.research@wsu.edu

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Hot Tub Supplies Could be Tax Deductible

November 1st, 2010 by

According to the 502 publication of the IRS some medical costs can be deducted when filing income tax. In its opinion letter Index No.: 213.05-00, “Section 213(a) allows as a [tax] deduction the expenses paid during the taxable year for medical care of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Under § 213(d)(1)(A), an expense is for ‘medical care’ if its primary purpose is the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

If a medical professional has diagnosed a medical condition that can be cured or relieved with hydrotherapy or swimming, a consumer may be able to claim a hot tub purchase as a tax deduction. Because a hot tub or spa is of a particularly personal nature, the consumer must establish that a hot tub is primarily for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease before the cost can be deducted. ThermoSpas, a national hot tub manufacturer and retailer, encourages those suffering who may benefit physically or mentally from warm water therapy, to discuss the benefits of a hot tub or pool with a qualified medical care professional.

Capital improvement expenses can be deducted for the installation of special equipment in the home. The purpose of its installation should be for medical care of either the spouse or any of the dependents living in that home. Those improvements that increase the value of property can be included partially as medical expenses. If the improvements have absolutely no effect on property value the entire cost of installation can be considered as a medical expense. Consumers may need to have property appraised to determine if the value has or has not increased.

Consumers who have purchased a hot tub or spa for medical benefits to contact both medical and tax professionals before deducting the cost of the hot tub or any related equipment.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/31/prwebprweb4723234.DTL#ixzz1445WWcUA

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Dont Invite Riff Raff to a Hot Tub Party!

October 11th, 2010 by

Hot Tub Party 101:  Know all the people who you invite over for a party.  Seems pretty basic, well I guess not for one Canadian.  He rents a hot tub for a good time party, next thing he knows, 4 people got knife wounds.   Turns out when you have youngsters show up you dont know and they drink too much, bad shit happens.    There’s a lesson here…hope they learn it soon.

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Bank Scandal from a Hot Tub

October 11th, 2010 by

I didn’t see this one coming yet I’m not too surprised.    So imagine this; B of A bankers, shady developers, and greedy loan processors, colluded in a hot tub to make money.  Sadly, not so hard to imagine.   Here’s the full story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/09/AR2010100903468.html

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Camping With Hot Tubs

October 5th, 2010 by

I am always amazed the extent people will go to enjoy the warm soothing waters of a Hot Tub. I stumbled upon a group of people who figured out the best method of making a Hot Tub while camping. Now I admit this is not the first time I have seen this. For example the guy who turned the front loader of his bull dozer into a Hot Tub heated by fire, or the red necks who used an old cast iron tub with a bomb fire under the tub for their heat source.

What it does tell me is people love sitting in a hot tub and people are nuts. I appreciate both facts equally.

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Posted in Consumer Research for Best Hot Tub, life | 3 Comments »

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