SPA WATER CARE & TROUBLESHOOTING

Spa Start Up

Congratulations on your new hot tub! 

 

Your spa should be on a firm and level surface. Fill with water to the water line mark making sure all jets are below the water level. Do not overfill, as water will rise when each additional person enters the spa.

The Importance of Chemical Balance

Chemicals serve a variety of functions in your spa. They purify and disinfect the spa water and they help to prevent mineral build-up and damage to spa’s heater pack. Failure to maintain proper Ph balance in your spa at all times can cause severe and permanent damage to your spa’s heater pack, pillows, and cover.

A Simple Overview of Spa Chemistry and Disinfecting: The filtering action of your spa’s filter can effectively remove soil particles and other debris, but the addition of spa chemicals is required to disinfect your spa. Bromine is the disinfecting agent most commonly used in spas. Bromine products possess strong oxidizing properties, which cause them to react with and destroy many foreign materials other than bacteria.


Ph Control
Ph is measured on a scale between 0 to 14 ppm. Ph is a measure of the relative acidity of water. The midpoint of 7 is said to be neutral. In spa water it is important to maintain a slightly alkaline condition of 7.2 to 7.8. Problems may become severe if the Ph range is exceeded or diminished.

Total Alkalinity
In simple terms, alkalinity is the measure of water’s “buffering capacity”, or it’s ability to resist changes in Ph. Total alkalinity should be in the range of 80-150ppm. After the total alkalinity is brought within its proper range it should be tested weekly. With high alkalinity it becomes extremely difficult to balance the Ph.

Disinfect Water with Bromine
The most common type of disinfectant is Bromine. The ideal range for bromine is 1.5 to 3.0 ppm. Refer to your test strips to find the level of bromine in your spa. The amount of bromine needed in your spa is dependent upon temperature, length of time the spa is used, the amount of water in the spa, and the number of people in it.

Other Additives
Many other additives are available for your spa. Some are necessary to compensate for out of balance water. Many additives aid in cosmetic water treatment and others simply make the water fell or smell better.

Remember…
• Test water at least once a week
• Drain spa every 3 to 4 months
• Keep your filter clean
• Shock your spa once a week
• To raise Ph or alkalinity add Ph/Alkalinity plus
• To lower Ph or Alkalinity add Ph/Alkalinity minus
• Bromine kills algae and purifies water

 

For more information on how to add chemicals to your spa by watching our How To Videos

Cause

  • High pH
  • Low bromine level.

Solution

  • Add defoamer
  • Shock with a Spa Oxidizer
  • Drain, clean & refill the spa.

Cause

  • Chlorine level too high
  • low pH or

Solution

  • Shock spa with sanitizer
  • Adjust Ph to recommended range

Cause

  • Dirty filter
  • High pH or alkalinity
  • Improper sanitizing
  • Over-used or old water water.

 

Solution

  • Clean filters
  • Adjust Ph and/or alkalinity
  • Shock with a Spa Oxidizer
  • Add clarifier
  • Drain, clean & refill the spa.

Cause

  • Over-used water
  • Build-up of body oils lotions or detergents

Solution

  • Add defoamer
  • Shock with a Spa Oxidizer
  • Drain, clean & refill the spa.

Cause

  • Build-up of body oils, lotions, or detergents

Solution

  • Wipe off scum with clean rag.
  • If severe, drain spa, clean, and refill the spa. 

Cause

  • Total alkalinity and/or pH too high.
  • High calcium content in water.

Solution

  • Adjust total alkalinity and pH down
  • If scale requires removal, drain spa, scrub off the scale, clean spa shell and refill spa.
  • Add Stain & Scale and balance the water using pH/Alkalinity Up or Down.

Cause

  • Over-used or old water
  • Soaking too long
  • Water temperature too high

Solution

  • Make sure all sanitizers are at proper levels.
  • Soak for small time intervals.
  • Reduce water temperature.

Cause

  • Total alkalinity and/or pH too low.
  • High iron or copper in source water.

Solution

  • Adjust total alkalinity and/or pH up
  • Use Stain & Scale to inhibit minerals.

Cause

  • Improper sanitation
  • Inadequate filtration
  • Low pH.

Solution

  • Shock with a Spa Oxidizer
  • Adjust pH
  • Clean filter.
  • Drain, clean & refill the spa.

FROG @ ease Floating System

@ease

How many times have you thought, “this hot tub is just too much work!” We set out to change that with FROG @ease - it gives you that “ahhh” feeling of relaxation and peace of mind. FROG @ease combines our sanitizing minerals with SmartChlor® Technology to kill bacteria 2 ways. The result is Fresh Mineral Water®∞ that’s silky soft with far less odors and the easiest water to maintain because it’s self-regulating. It knows when more sanitizing power is needed and automatically delivers it. When you need to do something, it flips over.

@ease 75 Percent Less

Up to 75%* less chlorine with no frustrating yo-yo chlorine levels

Shock only once a month

Self regulates for continuous crystal clear water

@ease Easy On

Easy on hot tub surfaces with less odors

@ease Color Match

Single color match for easy reading – exclusively with FROG @ease Test Strips

No Constant Monitoring

No constant monitoring

@ease No Mixing

No mixing chemicals

Money Back Guarantee

@ease in-line

@ease inline system

Introducing a breakthrough in sanitizing that comes ready to use on your hot tub.  With the built in FROG @ease In-Line System, you simply open the cap on your hot tub, snap in the conveniently adjustable cartridges and enjoy weeks of cleaner, clearer and softer water. FROG @ease uses FROG Minerals and SmartChlor® Technology that creates Fresh Mineral Water® by killing bacteria two ways with up to 75% less chlorine and a lot less work!

FROG Maintain

Maintain

For periodic shocking, use FROG Maintain, it’s one dose in one single easy-to-pour pouch for one easy maintenance shock to keep your water crystal clear. No measuring, no guess, no mess. The hot tub is ready in 15 minutes of shocking.  Once in the water FROG Maintain quickly dissolves and eliminates organic contaminants. Non-chlorine shock means you get the clean without any Cyanuric Acid, ever.

pH is measured on a scale between 0-4 ppm. pH is a measure of the relative acidity of water. The midpoint of 7 is said to be neutral. In spa water, it is important to maintain a slightly alkaline condition of 7.2 to 7.8. Problems may become severe if the pH range is exceeded or diminished.
In simple terms, alkalinity is the measure of water's "buffering capacity", or its ability to resist changes in pH. Total alkalinity should be in the range of 80-150 ppm. After the total alkalinity is brought within its proper range it should be tested weekly. With high alkalinity, it becomes extremely difficult to balance the pH.
The most common type of disinfectant is Bromine. The ideal range for bromine is 1.5 to 3.0 ppm. Refer to your test strips to find the level of bromine in your spa. The amount of bromine needed in your spa is dependent upon temperature, the length of time the spa is used, the amount of water in the spa, and the number of people in it.

Before you all for service, below are a few common issues that can be solved by the homeowner.

Possible Cause 

  1. The thermostat is turn off.
  2. The timer is set to off.
  3. The circuit breaker is tripped.

Solution

  1. Turn up the thermostat
  2. Adjust timer.
  3. Check the main panel and reset the breaker.

Possible Cause

  1. Clogged filter.
  2. The water level is too low.
  3. Partially close gate valves.

Solution

  1. Clean filter.
  2. Add water.
  3. Make sure all gate valves are open.

Possible Cause

  1. The unions are loose.
  2. Seal leak.(At the pump shaft)

Solutions

  1. Tighten unions are pump.
  2. Replace the seal or bring the pump to your dealer.

Possible Cause

  1. Air is in the filter system.

Solution

  1. Loosen the drain valve and bleed until water comes out.

Possible Cause

  1. The cover was left off.
  2. The thermostat is set too low and is not reaching the desired temperature.
  3. The filter is clogged.

Solution

  1. Always leave the cover on when not in use.
  2. Turn up the thermostat.
  3. Run spa without the filter cartridge. If the spa heats to the desired temperature, clean the filter.

Possible Cause

  1. The thermostat is set too low.
  2. Hi-Limit is tripped.
  3. The filter is clogged.

Solution

  1. Turn up the thermostat
  2. Press the reset button.
  3. Clean filter.
  4. Make sure the spa is set to heater mode.

Possible Cause

  1. Motor is loose on the base.

Solution

  1. Retighten the pump to the base.

Drain and refill the spa every four months, which is when we recommend replacing your spa mineral product.
Shock the spa with a chlorine or non-chlorine shock once a week or if the water looks hazy.


The @ease System combines the proven FROG mineral formula for killing bacteria with SmartChlor Technology that maintains a consistently low chlorine level for weeks.

Unlike normal chlorine that is used up when you get in, SmartChlor continues to maintain the same level which is up to 75% less than hot tubs using Dichlor (standard hot tub chlorine). That’s why we call it self-regulating.  It goes to work when the hot tub needs sanitizing so there are no frustrating yo-yo chlorine levels.  This time-released method is also why less shock is needed to maintain the hot tub.When the SmartChlor Cartridge is depleted the system will flip over as a visual reminder to replace the empty cartridge with a new one.

The @ease System combines the proven FROG mineral formula for killing bacteria with SmartChlor Technology that maintains a consistently low chlorine level for weeks.

Unlike normal chlorine that is used up when you get in, SmartChlor continues to maintain the same level which is up to 75% less than hot tubs using Dichlor (standard hot tub chlorine). That’s why we call it self-regulating.  It goes to work when the hot tub needs sanitizing so there are no frustrating yo-yo chlorine levels.  This time-released method is also why less shock is needed to maintain the hot tub. When the SmartChlor Cartridge is depleted, the FROG @ease Test Strip will show a lighter color than the out indicator on the bottle.

In 2 seconds, you can know precisely whether your pH, Total Alkalinity and Hardness are balanced, plus whether or not SmartChlor® needs replacing. Simply dip the FROG @ease Test Strip into the water, remove with the pads facing up and shake once to remove the water on the FROG Test Strips. Then hold it up next to the color chart on the back of the bottle to compare colors.

If the SmartChlor color on the strip is darker than the bottle label, the water is fine. If it is lighter it’s time to replace the Smartchlor Cartridge.

FROG @ease Spa Start Up

  • Less Chlorine - Up to 75%* less chlorine with no frustrating yo-yo chlorine levels.
  • Only shock once a month!
  • Self-regulates for continuous crystal clear water.
  • Less Odors
  • Easy on hot tub surfaces with less odors.
  • Unique form of chlorine that works only with FROG minerals
  • It’s EPA registered
  • Unlike dichlor it’s slow dissolving
  • It’s self-regulating by automatically delivering more free chlorine when needed
  • It maintains a consistent 0.5 – 1.0 ppm free chlorine level at all times