SPA CARE GUIDE
There are many reasons why you own and use your spa: Relaxation. Therapy. Entertainment. Comfort. No matter why you use your spa, when you are using it, you are relaxing by submerging yourself in water hot water. Whether you are enjoying the spa by yourself or with a group of people, you want to make sure that the water inside is fresh and clean. This information has been compiled to help you understand how easy and stress-free water maintenance can be. Our line of safe and unique Caribbean Spa products has been specifically formulated for Your Spa the harsh conditions of spas and hot tubs. With periodic maintenance you will be confident that throughout the years your spa will provide clean, safe fun for you and your guests. The periodic use of these products will make your spa experience easy and stress free. Caribbean Spa products are supported by our network of dedicated and knowledgeable water care professionals. If you have questions please feel free to contact them for assistance.
Keys to Success Often exceeding 100 F, water temperature is one of the factors that impacts how spa water is maintained. However, there are other things that affect water in a spa and could impact your bathing experience. Water issues can arise from the introduction of residual soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, and our natural body oils. Water can be affected if there are many bathers that use the spa. Also, your spa water can be affected if your spa is equipped with certain accessories, such as an aerator. Regardless the conditions, Caribbean Spa products are ready to tackle any situation that occurs in your spa. Other than adding chemicals to the water, there are a few extra steps that you will need to maintain a beautiful looking spa. Water issues can arise from the introduction of residual soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, and our natural body oils. Circulate & Filter the Water These two steps go hand in hand because without circulation, water cannot be filtered. Most spas are hands off in its normal operation. However, you should occasionally check your spa and make sure that your circulation system is running every day. When water is moving it is harder for germs, bacteria, and other contaminants to cause issues in your spa. Circulation allows your filter to trap visible and invisible materials that have entered the water. Periodically your filter will need to be cleaned and degreased with Caribbean Spa Filter Magic. You should perform this task monthly with light to moderate spa use. Keys to Success Drain, Clean, Refill, Repeat Compared to swimming pools, in spas there is a small amount of water that users enjoy, so the impact from use is greater. When we enjoy spas, many things are introduced simply by entering the spa. We also add products to the water to help keep the water appearance and comfort in check. All of these things added to the water leave a small invisible trace of themselves behind in the water called dissolved solids. These dissolved solids may cause issues such as increased sanitizer use or hazy water. The only way to remove these solids is to drain and refill the spa. For most spas this should occur every three months. Between refills, clean the spa surface with Caribbean Spa Surface Magic. This cleaner, safe for all surfaces, will help keep surfaces looking and feeling their best for years.
Water Needs Balance Water balance is important for many reasons. Balanced water will allow your sanitizers to work more efficiently to eliminate bacteria and germs. Balanced water will contribute to brilliant looking water and protect the spas equipment. When water is in balance, the spa will be more comfortable for bathers, unpleasant odors are virtually eliminated, and burning eyes and itchy skin are less likely to occur. Before filling you spa, you need to know the chemical properties of the water you are using to fill your spa. This water is commonly known as your source water. To do this, take a sample of your source water to your local Caribbean Spa dealer and have it professionally tested. Balanced water... allows sanitizers to work more efficiently protects your equipment is more comfortable for bathers helps prevent hazy looking water prevents burning eyes & itchy skin ph ph is the most important factor in water balance. ph is a number scale between 0 and 14 indicating how acid or base the water is. ph of 7.0 is neutral in water, but spas should have ph between 7.4 and 7.6. Low ph levels will start to corrode equipment and plumbing. If ph becomes high, water is likely to form damaging scale around the pump and the heater. These scale deposits can also form on jets and surfaces, which can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Additionally, high ph can cause a haze in water and cause skin and eye irritation. If ph is below 7.4 apply Caribbean Spa Prep 20, if ph is above 7.6 apply Caribbean Spa Prep 25 according to label instructions. Total Alkalinity (TA) The function of total alkalinity in water balance is to help keep ph at ideal levels. Typically, when total alkalinity in water is low, ph will bounce in and out of range. When total alkalinity is high, ph should be high or difficult to adjust. Proper TA in spa should be maintained in the range of 125-150 ppm. If total alkalinity is low add Caribbean Spa Prep 10 according to label instructions. Calcium Hardness (CH) Calcium hardness refers to the amount of dissolved minerals in water. Proper calcium hardness levels for a spa or hot tub is 150-300 ppm. Low CH can lead to corrosion of equipment; CH that is too high may cause cloudy water and scaling. Test your source water for calcium hardness levels before you fill your spa, then monthly between refills If calcium hardness is low in your spa add Caribbean Spa Prep 30, according to label instructions. Water Needs Balance
Adding a Sanitizer Using an effective sanitizer is an important part of any spa water maintenance program. Properly sanitized water looks great, feels great, and has no odor. However, if not properly sanitized, bacteria and bather wastes can build up in spa water. If this build up occurs, spa water can turn cloudy, uncomfortable, and an unpleasant odor can occur. Besides, water that isn t sanitized is, well... unsanitary. Bromine Sanitizing Using bromine is the most popular and effective means of treating spas and hot tubs. Bromine is less likely to cause offensive odors and skin irritation in the spa. Bromine is highly effective in hot water applications and will not dissipate rapidly. Using Caribbean Spa Bromine Tabs in a floating dispenser is the most effective way of adding bromine to your spa. Chlorine Sanitizing Chlorine is the most recognized sanitizer and an effective treatment of water. The best way to introduce chlorine into a spa is using Caribbean Spa Granular Chlorine, according to label directions. Shocking As the spa is used, we introduce bacteria, body oils, cosmetics, and other contaminants into the water. If these materials build up, spa water can become cloudy, hazy, or even smelly. Adding shock removes the buildup of these materials from the water. Shocking water also revitalizes the sanitizer in the spa and prevents spa water from emitting an unpleasant odor. No matter which sanitizing system you choose, it will be necessary to shock your spa on a routine basis. Caribbean Spa Shock Plus This product does many things in one easy to apply product. It has two shocks, perfectly blended to shock water quickly and effectively. Shock Plus also contains water clarifiers and ph buffers to decrease maintenance and keep water looking great. Caribbean Spa Chlorine Free Shock A quick dissolving non-chlorine shock, compatible with chlorine, bromine, and silver ion systems. Also, Chlorine Free Shock works well in conjunction with ozonators to help maintain great looking water and eliminate undesirable compounds from accumulating. Santitizing Shocking Properly sanitized water looks and feels great and has no odor. Adding a shock removes bacteria, body oils, cosmetics, and other contaminants.
Safety You and Your Spa Your spa experience should be a pleasurable experience follow these simple steps to ensure that your time is a safe one. Your spa or hot tub should never be set above 104 F Do not consume alcohol when using the spa Shower before entering the spa Limit your time in the spa to 20 minutes each time you use the spa Never allow children to use spa without adult supervision Periodically you will need to use products to maintain your spa and its water. Always read labels and follow label directions. Some important handling instructions for everyone s protection: Store chemicals in a well-ventilated area that is cool and dry Never store liquid chemicals above dry chemicals Do not store chemicals next to lawn equipment, bikes, or cars Firmly place container lids on products after use Quickly clean up spills as soon as they occur Never use a vacuum to pick up or clean up a spill Never place spilled product back in to the container it came from Never combine any two water care products together Never add water to chemicals Add chemicals directly to water Never allow children to handle chemicals; keep them out of reach of children Safety You and Your Spa
Spa Care = Easy In this guide we have highlighted the most important steps to spa care. Just like your home or car needs periodic care, so does your spa. The steps that we have listed will guide you through the cycle of spa ownership. From regular maintenance to issues that may arise, your Caribbean Spa authorized dealer is prepared to answer any questions that you have. These recommendations are for a residential spa with light to moderate use. If your spa is used frequently you should New spa owners check the balance and sanitizer levels more often than suggested. The water in the spa may need to be changed more frequently as well. Filling your spa 1. Fill your spa to the center of the skimmer or See your Caribbean Spa dealer for your own instructions tailored for you and your spa. the middle of the tile line. If you re using a garden hose to fill the spa, run your source water for several minutes. This action is to flush out any bacteria or other containments that might have accumulated in the hose. 2. ADD Caribbean Spa Spa Soft, according to label instructions. Wait 15 minutes 3. ADD Caribbean Spa Stain & Scale Preventer, according to label instructions. Wait 15 minutes 4. Balance spa water using your dealers recommendations or with the aid of your own testing strips or kit. 5. ADD a sanitizer Bromine users: Fill your tablet dispenser with 1 Caribbean Spa Bromine Tabs and place it in the spa Add Caribbean Spa Bromine Builder to your spa to achieve a 3 5 ppm of sanitizer. Chlorine users: Add Caribbean Spa Granular Chlorine to your spa to achieve a 1 3 ppm of sanitizer Weekly Spa Care Test the ph, total alkalinity, and sanitizer levels in the water and adjust to their proper ranges Apply Caribbean Spa Clarifier, according to label instructions Shock your spa with Caribbean Spa Shock Plus or Caribbean Spa Chlorine Free Shock Monthly Spa Care Test the levels of calcium hardness and Caribbean Spa Spa Soft and adjust to proper desired range Apply Caribbean Spa Stain & Scale Preventer, according to label instructions Remove the spa filter and clean using Caribbean Spa Filter Magic 3 Month Spa Care Drain and refill spa Clean surfaces with Caribbean Spa Surface Magic Spa Care = Easy
Other Solutions for your Spa Caribbean Spa Stain & Scale Preventer will remove iron, copper, manganese and excessively high calcium hardness from your water. Use one ounce for every 100 gallons of water. You may use your spa shortly after treatment. When Stain & Scale Preventer is added, the filter will work harder to remove metals that typically pass through the filter. If you have large amounts of metals in the spa water it may be necessary to remove the filter and clean it sooner than normal. Caribbean Spa Foam Free will break up unsightly foam in your spa and/or hot tub. Add a small amount directly into the water to eliminate foam quickly. Over time, continued use of Foam Free may cause it to become less effective. If foaming becomes a consistent issue in the spa then the spa should be drained and refilled. Caribbean Spa Clarifier is a liquid formulation that increases the efficiency of spa filters. Clarifier takes small particles and clumps them together allowing them to become large enough so the filter can remove them. Clarifier can be added to your weekly spa care routine to help make the water look its best. It can also be added to the spa if the water is looking dull or cloudy to help restore clarity. With Caribbean Spa Spa Soft added to your spa, your bathing experience will never be the same. After application, the water will feel softer on your body, while eye and skin irritation will be virtually eliminated. The clarity of your water will be second to none. Spa Soft does this all while leaving behind a fresh fragrance in the water. When introducing Spa Soft to the water, the goal is to achieve a Spa Soft level of 50 ppm. When at 50ppm, Spa Soft is working at peak efficiency in your spa. Levels can be determined by using Borate Test Strips or by seeing your local Caribbean Spa dealer. Once you have added Spa Soft to your spa, you are on your way to a spa that will be easier to maintain. You will be saving your hard earned money and be able to relax and enjoy your spa more! Need Help? In the event that you have an issue with your spa water, you should contact your local Caribbean Spa Dealer. You may even want to take a sample of water to them for a water analysis. This may allow your dealer to be able to pin-point your situation. If you are not able to see your local dealer once issues begin, you may want to ask yourself these questions: When was the spa shocked last? Regular shocking eliminates contaminants in the water. These contaminants can build up in the water causing odors, cloudiness, or green water. Are the water balance factors (ph, total alkalinity, calcium) in the acceptable ranges? If water is out of balance then water may become cloudy or smelly. Balance is necessary for other solutions in the water to work more effectively. When was the last time I cleaned my filter? A dirty filter is a common cause of cloudy or hazy water. Cleaning it allows the filter to catch more matter that causes poor looking water. Have we been using the spa more often lately? If the spa has been used more frequently than normal, you may need to perform maintenance steps more frequently. Your normal routine might not be enough to keep up with how often the spa is used. When in doubt, take a sample of water to your local Caribbean Spa Dealer for assistance. Need Help?
Ideal Ranges for Residential Spas Chlorine 1.0 3.0 ppm Bromine 3.0 5.0 ppm ph 7.4 7.6 Total Alkalinity 125 150 ppm Calcium Hardness 150 300 ppm Metals 0 ppm Gentle Spa 50 ppm MY Spa Information Spa Make Spa Model Spa Serial Number Gallons of Water 421 Ann St. N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49504-2075 800-333-0400 fax 616-361-7801 CB02-0310