Like most people, you probably invested in a spa to have your own personal sanctuary to escape the aches, pains and tension that comes with life. What you didn’t expect was the challenges of spa maintenance. Constantly adding chemicals to keep the spa balanced and clean can become a chore that nobody wants to do, kind of like walking the dog and cleaning up after it. Well the drudgery of maintaining a spa has finally come to an end with the introduction of a chlorine generator.

What makes the ColorChlor and TechniChlor different?

Simplicity, economy and pure relaxation are what you can expect from using the ColorChlor. No more driving to the spa store to buy expensive spa chemicals and no constant testing and adding chemicals are needed to keep your spa in an inviting state. You will also find that the water in a ColorChlor treated spa is like nothing you have ever experienced before. Your water will have a silky-smooth feel without offensive chemical smell, and no itchy, dry skin when you get out – these are problems associated with traditional chemical treatments.

What’s wrong with traditional spa chemicals?

When you bathe in a salt water spa , get out, dry off and go about your evening without feeling the need to take a shower.  Your skin, suit and towel will smell as fresh.  Your skin will be silky smooth.

With all that said, here is how you can really start enjoying your spa with minimal effort and pool supplies purchased from any grocery store for a fraction of what you would pay at a spa store.

1. Put a Chlorination system in your spa according to the directions supplied. It is important to start with fresh water and a clean tub in order to obtain the results expected.
2. Add recommended amount of salt to the spa water.
3. Check the alkalinity of your spa water and adjust to 80-120 PPM if needed. This will help maintain optimal pH levels. Common baking soda is all you need to increase alkalinity. If your alkalinity is too high, you can lower it with pH adjustments listed next.
4. Adjust pH. If you needed to add baking soda, wait 2-3 hours before performing this step. To lower pH add small amounts of white vinegar. To bring alkalinity down maintain a pH of 7.0-7.2 for a week and test again. Low pH can also be increased using a small amount of baking soda. The ColorChlor will also slightly increase your pH so as long as it is 7.0 you don’t need to adjust it.
5. Check your water every month and adjust if needed. Every 2 weeks if heavily used.

This is all you will have to do in most cases. Should you experience any difficulties send me an e-mail and I’ll be happy to assist you.

With so many different choices to sanitize your hot tub available, how do you know which on to use? The answer is not always easy to come by as there are a lot of opinions, almost to the point of putting 5 people in a room, asking the question and getting 10 different answers!

In the 23 years I have been in this business, I have seen many things come and go and come again but few ever really do what they claim. I have even been suckered into many of them myself.

Traditional Pool Chemicals

For decades, traditional chlorine and bromine tablets and powders have been the dominant players in the marketplace. They are widely available and you can get started with them for under $100.00. The problem with these products is not so much the chlorine or bromine itself, but all the other “stuff” needed to carry the chlorine and bromine molecules. As these other ingredients dissolve and build up in the water, they actually inhibit the chlorine or bromine from being able to oxidize the contaminants which leads to poor water quality. This is the reason you need to frequently drain a hot tub to keep the water clear.

Another problem with chlorine and bromine tablets is the fact that they are extremely low in pH which causes your water to become very aggressive as the pH and total alkalinity start dropping to low levels. This causes metal parts to deteriorate potential discoloration to the shell and of course eye and skin irritation.

Ozone Sanitation Systems

Ozone is a very effective oxidizer provided you have enough being properly introduced into the water. It’s only real downfall is that it is highly unstable and only lasts a short period of time so there is no residual of ozone in the water. It doe make for a very effective supplement though. If you do have ozone, it is necessary to replace the cartridge every couple of years in order to keep it producing an effective level of ozone.

Mineral Treatments

Now we have mineral treatments which have plenty of arguments for and against them. These are typically copper/silver ions being introduced into the water by passing water through a cartridge filled with beads containing low levels of copper/silver ions. The ions have the ability to kill bacteria and algae but at a slower rate and they will not oxidize impurities so they can be filtered out. Minerals are also likely to fall out of solution when the pH goes up and then stain surfaces, skin and clothing.  Ozone in high enough quantity will actually oxidize the ions so they end up in the filter. Minerals must have a supplemental oxidizing agent in order to make the water acceptable to use.

Bromine Generation

Bromine generation was a short lived fad that showed promise but was found to have produced questionable by-products and would work great for an undetermined amount of time and then suddenly crash.

Chlorine Generation

Chlorine generation has been the best option in the alternative sanitizer category because it actually makes pure chlorine that is highly effective in keeping water clear & sanitary as long as it is properly used. Chlorine generation also is good as it recycles. The electrolytic cells split ordinary salt into chlorine and sodium. When the chlorine is used, it reverts back to salt and the process begins all over again.

Quality chlorine generation systems that are properly sized and maintained have proven themselves over a long period of time. They continually produce chlorine at a user selected rate to satisfy the demand of their particular situation. Chlorine generation users also have the benefit of clearer water, increased comfort and ease of maintenance. Chlorine generation has become so popular that it is now installed in approximately 50% of all new pool construction.

Saltwater / Chlorine Generation Process

When salt is dissolved in your water and your spa chlorinator in running, the chloride portion of the salt is transformed into pure liquid chlorine. Chlorine dissolves in the water to form hypochlorous acid. The acid performs the same functions as conventional “Pool Chlorine” in oxidizing bacteria, algae, mildew, etc.

Salt chlorinator systems generate free chlorine that destroys odors and irritating chloramines as the water passes through the TechniClor or ColorClor. Chloramines are responsible for the chlorine odor, red-irritated eyes, bleached hair and ruined bathing suits that are associated with traditional pool and hot tub chemicals.

Chlorine Generator Benefits

Chlorine is an agent to disinfect water and is necessary for safe swimming pool water. Chlorine residual is necessary so that it may instantly react to kill disease causing organisms and oxidize bacteria, algae, ammonia and other organic matter that may be introduced into the pool.

After purchase and installation of a TechniChlor or ColorChlor chlorine generator, you simply add Pool Salt (99% pure or better) to the water and sodium hypochlorite (free chlorine) is produced automatically by electrolysis of the water.

• Eliminates the need to handle and store hazardous chlorine containing chemicals
• Softened water does not sting eyes and leaves your skin silky soft
• Sufficient chlorine oxidizes chloramines
• No more chlorine smell
• No dryness, itchy skin, red eyes, or green hair
• No more bleaching of bathing suits
• Lower cost than liquid chlorine (bleach), powders or tablets
• automatically generating chlorine on demand
• there is always sufficient chlorine in the water to remain sanitized

In summary, it’s a convenient, simple and safe way to disinfect water, producing high quality pool water with reduced maintenance.

Chlorine Generators are changing how Americans, Canadians and Europeans are managing their hot tubs and spas.  The technology was first implemented in Australia years back, but has now come to this side of the world.

Salt water Chlorine Generators are the natural way to keep your hot tub or spa water sparkling clear, fragrant  and fresh.  Spa owners are turning to this natural way to keep their tub clean and healthy,  rather than continually dumping harmful chemicals into the water.

How a salt water chlorinator works

The first component is, of course, salt. Instead of the hash chemicals, you put a small amount of salt in the water - less than the salinity of your tears. The salt, dissolved completely in the water, is made up of sodium and chlorine.

The chlorine generator contains a series of plates with opposing electrical charges.  These charges start a very small chemical reaction called electrolysis which releases chlorine from the salt.  This is the most pure form of chlorine and since it is already in the flowing water, there is never any residue or by-products.

Note: Saltwater from the ocean has approx 20,000ppm (parts per million) of salt. Saltwater chlorinators require around 3000ppm, which generally can’t even be tasted.

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