Characteristic Elements And Defi Nitions; Total Alkalinity (Ta); Water Hardness; Treatments - Jacuzzi UNIQUE Montageanweisung

Characteristic elements and defi nitions

Before beginning disinfection of the spa, it is a good idea to know
which are the characteristic components and how they interact; it
is essential to establish the correct values by using an appropriate
test-kit, so as to plan optimum treatment.
For the purchase of a test-kit and its use, contact Jacuzzi® autho-
rized dealers or specialized technicians.
A fi nal consideration: the quantity of chemical additives that are
used for water treatment are expressed in various units of measu-
re; the most common are "ppm" (parts per million), "mg/l" (milli-
grams per litre) and "g/m 3
the same thing. An example will show more clearly the amounts of
the various substances required.
For example, if the spa can contain 700 litres of water and the
level of chlorine must be 2 mg/l, this means that each litre of
water should contain 2 mg of chlorine. Therefore, if we multi-
ply 700 x 2 we obtain the total quantity of disinfectant, that
is 1400 mg; on the other hand, taking into account that 1000
mg is equivalent to 1 g, dividing 1400 by 1000 we have 1.4 g,
and this means that to reach a value of 2 mg/l (or ppm, or
even g/m3) we must add 1.4 grams of chlorine in the spa.
pH
This parameter represents the concentration of hydrogen ions
(H +) dissolved in water and the acidity or alkalinity of the water,
measured on a scale from 0 to 14 (from 0 ÷ 7 = acid zone; 7 ÷ 14 =
alkaline zone).
The ideal value must be between 7.2 and 7.4; in fact, if the
water has higher values, the disinfectants become less eff ective,
while scale deposits increase, to the detriment of the spa surfa-
ces and its components.
pH values lower than 7.2 also reduce the eff ectiveness of di-
sinfectants; they promote corrosion of spa metallic components
and can cause irritation for the eyes and skin.
The pH level can be controlled by appropriate additi-
ves, that allow the values to be raised or lowered accor-
ding to each situation.

Total Alkalinity (TA)

This parameter represents the quantity of some alkaline sub-
stances (carbonates, bicarbonates and hydrates) in the water.
With a low TA value (less than 80 mg/l), the pH may change
unexpectedly, with sudden and uncontrollable oscillations. This
makes it nearly impossible to maintain good water quality.
A high TA value (greater than 150 mg/l), even if it does not
involve great inconvenience, can lead to water cloudiness and
cause problems related to the pH level.
" (grams per cubic metre), which are all
To increase the TA value bicarbonate of soda can be
used, while to lower it dry acid is recommended.
Refer to the instructions on the packets for the quantity
and methods; if in doubt, contact a specialized dealer.
CAUTION
If the alkalinity level becomes excessive, you should
completely drain the system, thoroughly clean all the
surfaces of the spa and re-fi ll with fresh clean water.

Water hardness

Water is called "hard" or "soft" according to the quantity of cal-
cium and magnesium salts present in solution.
Hardness, which can be controlled with appropriate kits that
are found on the market, is expressed in French degrees (°f) or in
mg/l of calcium carbonate (CaCO
Hard water, that is with a carbonate content of over 150 mg/l
(>15 °f), can easily cause scale deposits on the tub sides and the
hosing.
To resolve these problems it is advisable to install a cation re-
sin scale remover (softener), adjusting the minimum residual
hardness to 10 °fr (100 mg/l of CaCO
use special chemical products (called organic or inorganic seque-
strants) that inhibit the formation of carbonate crystalline.
In the case of water with a hardness lower than 10 °f (100
mg/l of CaCO ), which can occur when using mountain water
3
supplies or in the case of particular geological areas, it is conve-
nient, in order to avoid corrosion phenomena on the spa metal-
lic components, to use suitable products to block and neutralize
the excessive amounts of CO

Treatments

Super-chlorination (or "shock treatment")
Just after installation, and/or after long periods of non-use, the
spa must be subjected to super-chlorination treatment, or shock
treatment. This is to completely disinfect the tub.
The frequency of super-chlorination depends on the frequency of
use of the spa. Afterwards, maintenance treatments will be suffi cient.
Fill the spa until the highest nozzles are covered (i.e. the ones
on the backs.
Check that the pH, the total alkalinity TA and the water
hardness are correct; if not, act according to the recommenda-
tions in the related paragraphs.
37
).
3
. As an alternative, you can
3
(carbon dioxide) that are present.
2