SALT POOL VS. LIQUID CHLORINE POOL

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Why do they call it a Salt Pool? Isn’t it just a device that generates chlorine from salt?

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is a measurement of ALL things that come into contact with the water when a chemical is added it leaves behind “salts”. When a swimmer swims they sweat just as much as they would if they were running. The difference is that it is all washed away by the water. Sweat is salt. If the wind blows dust into the pool it will add to the TDS. If the birds “drop” into the water this adds the TDS. And Urine adds to the TDS.

Fresh water is anything from 250ppm to 1000 ppm

Saline Solution (eye drops) 15,000 to 30,000 ppm

Sea water is 30,000 to 40,000 ppm

If the TDS is higher than 2500 ppm in a swimming pool we recommend draining the pool.

(In the pool industry we usually get complaints about the pool tasting salty at 5000 ppm)

If the pool has a high concentration of swimmers at one time and the TDS has tested at or above 2500 ppm, the usual source of the “salty taste” is from sweat floating at the top of the water level. (Sweat doesn’t sink).

NOW WE COMPARE LIQUID CHLORINE TO A SALT (GENERATOR) POOL.

*** Note there are many types of ways to make chlorine. This ONLY compares Liquid Chlorine to a Salt Pool.  Dry Chlorine is very different.

Liquid Chlorine:

In Every gallon of liquid chlorine is a POUND and a HALF of salt. The chlorine manufacturer has a giant storage tank that they use to make liquid chlorine. It uses water and salt NACL. The tank uses a low voltage charge to polarize the NA (sodium) and the CL (Chlorine) using a negative charge the can separate the two elements and make what we call liquid chlorine (Sodium hypochlorite). Notice the Salt and chlorine in the words of sodium hypochlorite?

Over the course of time as more and more chlorine is added, water evaporates leaving the TDS from the tap water behind. When you add more water, more TDS are introduced to the pool. Adding chlorine and other sanitizing chemicals contributes to the rise of TDS.

A commercial pool may need to be drained annually depending on how many people use the pool over a course of the year. Hotter summers will require more chlorine and all will make TDS rise faster.

Fresh water out of the tap (today 9/6/2013) is 486 ppm. At 2500 ppm draining of the water is recommended.

Higher TDS readings are not harmful as long as there is a chlorine reading above 1.0 ppm. Higher TDS readings DO cause the pool to require a bit more chlorine. High TDS may cause cloudiness to the water.

Salt (generator) Pool:

This is exactly the same thing as a liquid chlorinated pool.

The difference is that in a Salt Pool, the owner of the pool owns the salt generator (the machine that makes the chlorine) and your pool is the storage tank.

Initially when the pool is filled, depending on the size of the pool, about 200 to 500 pounds of salt will be added to the water, dissolved, and when the salt generator is turned on it will do the following:

The water in the pool must be circulated (on the customers dime) in order for salt to be introduced as chlorine and mixed throughout the water. Approximately every 4 hours the unit will reverse polarity and separate the NACL into Salt and Chlorine and then reverse and turn itself back into NACL Table Salt. The strength of the chlorine in the water is determined by the setting on the salt generator and the length of time that the pool is running.

Over time more salt will be required and this will add to the TDS.

Neither a freshly filled salt water pool nor a pool that is sanitized using liquid chlorine should have a “salty” taste. However, over time both pools may develop some sort of taste. This usually is when the pool needs to be drained. A TDS test can confirm this.

Note**** Do not confuse the above description of a salt pool with a pool filled with salt water. A salt water pool is a relaxation pool in which the salt level is that of the Dead Sea and you actually float on the water. You can’t swim in this type of pool.

Remember Sea Water is over 30,000 ppm. A pool is usually under 5000 ppm.

Now that you know a Salt Pool is the same thing as liquid chlorinated pool you should ask your pool professional about things like the initial cost of a salt generator, annual maintenance costs, how often do you add more salt,  and how long do they last? Compare this to the cost of liquid chlorine (at about $4.00 per gallon) and you can make an educated decision.

For more information visit our website @ Spa Covers Etc.

NOTE*** As of March 2022, a case of chlorine (4 gallons) has been reported to cost over $30.00. If you use a case of chlorine and you probably do in the summer a salt generator may be for you!

SPA WATER CHEMISTRY USING BROMINE TABLETS

HOW KEEP THE SPA SANITIZED WITH BROMINE.

Maintaining the spa water chemistry with Bromine can be very effective chemical used to sanitize water. Always maintain a level of 3.0 to 5.0 ppm

pH (potential Hydrogen): A scale of 1 to 14 that measure the alkalinity of the water. A reading below 7.0 equals acidic water and will cause etching of the plaster, staining and corrosion to the metal pipes and heater and could be irritating to swimmers. If the pH is above 8.0 the water will be cloudy, scale will build up along the tile and in the pipes. The filter will become clogged and circulation will diminish. High pH makes chlorine less efficient but Bromine works OK at a pH up to 8.0. In A Fiberglass spa keep the pH at 8.0 or above.

Acid Demand: If the pH is above 7.8, use the #3 test solution 1-drop at a time to determine how much acid is required to bring the pH down to the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6. Count the number of drops and compare against the chart in the test kit to determine how much acid. NOTE*** Dry acid is preferred when adjusting spa water.

Total Alkalinity: This is a buffer for the pH. The ideal range is 80 to 120 ppm. If the Total Alkalinity is above 120ppm the pH will drift up (above 7.8) and the demand for acid will be higher. If the Total Alkalinity is below 80ppm the pH will drift below 7.4 and Base will be needed to raise the pH on a regular basis. In addition, the spa will be prone to blue stains.

Base: When the pH is below 7.4, a Basic (opposite of acidic) product will be added to the spa to raise the pH. The name of this product is Soda Ash. This should not be needed and only used if the chemicals are allowed to be out of range for extended periods of time.

T.D.S.: Total Dissolved Solids can be tested at the local pool store. Check every other month. The maximum reading is 2000 to 2500 ppm, if above 2500 ppm drain pool. T.D.S. is a measurement of ALL dissolved particles in the pool. Everything leaves some particles behind. Chemicals, dirt, people etc. all leave some TDS and over time the measurement rises. Liquid chlorine is the biggest contributor to this reading. When the spa has a high T.D.S. level people may complain the spa water “tastes salty”. A high T.D.S. level won’t cause damage but will make the chlorine a lot less efficient and the cost of chemicals will be more.

Conditioner: Made from Cyanuric acid and is used to preserve chlorine levels in the water. The ideal range is 40 to 80 ppm. Test for this chemical with a Cyanuric acid test kit. Not used with Bromine

Algaecides: Kills algae. Identify the color of the algae and the location of the algae. Common colors in California are Green algae, Yellow (mustard) algae, and Black algae.

Scale: Deposits of calcium on the tile and plaster, caused by high pH.

HOW TO MAINTAIN SPA WATER CHEMISTRY
USING BROMINE TABLETS

Items Needed:

• Bromine Test strips
• 1” Floating Bromine Dispenser
• Bromine Tablets (1”)
• Sodium Bromide
• Leisure Time “Metal Gon”
• Non-Chlorine Shock (often sold as Renew) (individual 1oz packets or 2lb bottle)
• pH increase (Raises pH. Often sold as Spa Up)
• Spa clarifier with enzymes
• Foam Down

Where to Buy: Purchase these items from a POOL SUPPLY…..NEVER PURCHASE SPA CHEMICALS FROM HARDWARE STORES!!!  Their products aren’t as good.

Weekly Maintenance:

Test spa water with test strips (designed for use with Bromine)

• Dip test strip in water and hold flat for 15 seconds and compare colors to chart.
  (For best results do this out of direct sunlight)

Check the reading of the pH and Total Alkalinity first.

pH: Measurement of 7.4 to 8.4 is ideal for Bromine. If it is higher don’t worry. If it is lower add 1 ounce of Spa Up, allow water to circulate for 15 minutes and re-test. Repeat if necessary up to 3 times in 24 hours.  Drain spa if it will not stabilize.

Total Alkalinity:  Readings of 110ppm to 160ppm are ideal. If the readings are below 80ppm drain the spa.

If the pH and Total Alkalinity are OK, proceed to next step.

With a Bromine sanitized spa it will be very simple to maintain fresh clean water.

A reading of 5.0 or better, you have plenty of Bromine.

If the Bromine Level is too high just remove floating bromine dispenser (the floater) for 24 hours and retest.

A Low level of Bromine (below 3.0 ppm). Verify that the floater has tablets 3 to 4. Set to # 3 or # 4 on the side of the floater are numbers. Close the floater exposing the numbers. Lock in place with locking ring. Add tablets if necessary.

Adding 1oz of Non-Chlorine Shock (Renew) will instantly activate the Bromine in the water and you will have a healthy Bromine Reading (above 3.0).

Always add chemicals with the filter on. Always wait 15 minutes before you add additional chemicals

Tips:

• Testing the water is important. Test the water one time per week and most importantly before using it
• Dedicate a bathing suit to the spa and NEVER wash it. Laundry soap causes foaming.
• Adjust a small shot of Foam Down if spa has Excessive foam (may cause cloudiness)
• The Spa Cover is ESSENTIAL…. It prevents the sun from burning out the Bromine
• Add 1 oz of Spa Clarifier each week to help the filter (preventative maintenance).
• Using high pressure garden hose clean filter pleats each month
• Drain Spa 3 to 4 times per year (it’s just a big bath tub).
• Always add the chemicals to the water…never add the water to the chemicals!!!
• Keep at a 2lb. container of Spa Up on-hand and hope the pH just stays high and that you do not need to add it at all.
• Circulate the spa for approx. 3 hours per day
• Don’t try to balance the pH. Its just too hard to do. Just keep it at 7.4 to 8.4 and if it goes higher don’t worry. PH below 6.8 is bad your skin and the spa equipment.
• If the water looks and smells its probably OK to use the spa. If it smells bad, is cloudy or discolored there is definitely a problem!
• When the cover is removed strong fumes may be present. Choking and coughing are not normal.
• Bromine is considered to be less irritating than Chlorine.

For More Info Call Spa Covers Etc. 949) 496-2883… ask for Chris

IS A HOT TUB COVER REALLY NECESSARY? YES THEY ARE.

PORTABLE SPAS – FIBERGLASS / ACRYLIC SPAS / HOT TUBS

A hot tub cover has many benefits. If your spa / hot tub is made of fiberglass or acrylic, you MUST cover it because the sun’s UV rays will damage all areas above the waterline. “Spider web” type cracks will begin to appear and they will eventually turn into cracks that cause the tub to leak. For more information about portable spa covers click here https://www.spacoversetc.com/portable-spa-covers/

Plaster Spas (aka Gunite)

Reasons To Cover Your Spa / Hot Tub

IN THIS ARTICLE YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO ORDER A HOT TUB COVER.

Measure the spa/ hot tub (not the old cover). I do not recommend ordering using the Make, Model & Year.

Your measurements will provide the Hot Tub Cover manufacturer the exact size. Best of all, you will be able to verify that the order is correct when the hot tub cover arrives.

You will need:

• Length & width (measured outer edge to outer edge of the spa in inches)
• Corner dimensions – Radius (rounded) corners or Cut corners?
• Skirt length – Protects the portion of the fiberglass/ acrylic from UV exposure.

Click here for a complete “how to measure spa” guide https://www.spacoversetc.com/how-to-measure-a-spa/

Colors

Our spa covers, Jacuzzi and hot tub covers, are available in 16 vibrant colors. All colors have UV protection built into the vinyl to help prevent fading.

Click here to see all available colors https://www.spacoversetc.com/spa-cover-colors/

Foam Core

You just need to decide which foam core is best for your scenario.

Your new spa cover will keep dirt and debris out of the water. It will protect the chemicals from U.V. exposure. If locked,It will keep children out of the spa. BEST OF ALL, it will keep the spa hot and ready to use.

Spa owners that keep the spa heated and ready to go this is the MOST important decision when purchasing a new spa cover; WHICH FOAM CORE DO I NEED? Do I need the 4”x 2” or the 5”x 3” and what’s with the 6”x 4”?

The numbers reflect the thickness and the taper (slope/pitch). Most of the spa covers that we sell are 4”x 2” meaning that they are 4” (four inches) thick and they taper to 2” (two inches) this allows for rainwater to run off the cover. The key here is the 2” (two inch) taper (I can’t believe how often I see flat foam spa covers).

Super Foam 5”x 3” is available for EXTREME situations. For instance, to protect against heavy snow loads. In-ground spas that may be stepped on may want to consider Super Foam. Note ** they are thicker but they are HEAVIER.  And the 4”x 6” is almost double the foam weight as our 4”x 2”. The main thing all of these foam types have in common is the 2” (Two inches) of taper.

You will need to choose the foam density. The 1.0lbs (one pound) foam density (aka standard) is the lightest and is recommended for warm climates.

We recommend the 1.5lbs (one & half pound) foam core for its added insulation. The price increase pays for itself thanks to the reduced heating costs.

The 2.0lbs (two pound) foam is BEST for cold climates and areas that have snow. This cover is great for in-ground applications.
Super Foam 5”x 3” is BEST suited for extreme snow climates or for dogs that insist on lying on the spa cover.

By the way, did we mention that we offer the ONLY 5”x 2” spa cover? Our cover features a full 3.0” (three inches) of taper for the BEST water run-off. Recommended for areas with rain and snow. Check out the Ultimate Waterfall Spa Cover here https://www.spacoversetc.com/portable-spa-covers/

NOW YOU ARE READY TO BUY A NEW SPA COVER!

Call today for more information 949.496.2883 – Ask for Chris

Order online (covers up to 96”) https://www.spacoversetc.com/portable-spa-covers/

For larger spa covers over 96” and for spas with free-formed shapes, please call for a quote 949-496-2883.

HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EFFECTED THE HOT TUB COVER INDUSTRY

The hot tub cover industry was hit pretty hard at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic for a few reasons. And as of March 2022 it doesn’t appear that things will be getting better in the near future.

In 2008 the USA and the rest of the world experienced a global recession and that caused a domino effect that we are still feeling today. Many of the hot tub cover manufacturers either went out of business or they moved their operations to countries such as Mexico and China. It was a tough time, fortunately Spa Covers Etc. was able to survive and we are still in business. located in Southern California.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE HOT TUBS/ SPAS DO NOT MAKE THE COVERS THAT THEY SELL WITH THEIR HOT TUBS?

In March of 2020 we were hit with Covid-19 and the world came to a stand still. Well… not really. What really happened was that everyone stayed at home and got really, really bored. Some were paid to stay home and some were fortunate enough to retire early, blah, blah, blah. My point is sales in industries such as HOME IMPROVEMENT went NUTS! Sales of hot tubs began to soar. Customer’s with existing hot tubs wanted new hot tub covers. Suddenly everyone wanted a new hot tub cover but the industry wasn’t prepared for the demand.

Since the 2008 recession ONLY 2 of the 3 manufactures of hot tub covers in Mexico are still in business. And the 3rd was acquired by one of the remaining two, creating a huge back-log.

TODAY – March 2022, Boy, Oh Boy have I heard stories from other customers about the nightmares they have gone through. AND frankly, I cant believe the patience some people have. I’m actually amazed. As recently as last year 2021, Spa Covers Etc. was offering a standard production time of only 2 weeks. Today its EIGHT (8) weeks. At first I thought 8 weeks would be a deal-killer. Then I found out that the “industry standard” of 6-8 weeks that all my competition quotes on their websites had been raised to 12 weeks “and up”. In reality production was taking over 6 MONTHS. I had a customer referred to us by our competition. He said he was told it would be over 1 year before he could get his new cover. WOW!

So what’s really going on?

You heard about the back-logs of container ships waiting at the Port of Long Beach & Port of L.A., right? YES we have been hit a couple of times last summer. That didn’t help

You have heard about a trucking shortage? Partially True. The real problem is the INCREASE in shipping/ freight charges. I’m not just talking about how much it cost to ship a box with UPS to your neighbor. When materials are shipped from another country you rent the container that it being shipped in. The rental fee has increase OVER 1000% in the last 18 months.When you have a spa cover shipped, it is shipped by an independent freight company. Their fees have also sky-rocketed by over 300%.

OK, but why the big delay and long wait?

The back-log at the ports don’t help. The lack of truckers isn’t great. In MY opinion this is the real reason for the delays: The Hot Tub Mfg. CAN’T sell hot tubs without hot tub covers. They have relied on a cheap supplier of covers for years and when the pandemic hit they were in a world of hurt. Already in February of 2020 a friend of mine that sells hot tubs told me that a customer wanted a new hot tub but couldn’t get it for 9 months due to the lack of covers. For awhile the Mexico/ USA border was closed and the covers made in Mexico couldn’t get to their destinations. They had to find a new source. The Mfg. of Hot Tubs began to source hot tub covers made in the USA but there aren’t many left. However, some of the hot tub cover manufacturers saw big $$$ ahead of them and decided to take on the new customers. They knew that the Hot Tub companies would order 150 covers a week, usually the same model and same color. The hot tub covers could be mass produced. BUT what about the replacement spa covers? There are OVER 1000 models of hot tubs out there. Spa Covers Etc offers spa covers in 16 colors. That alone would create a need for over 16,000 different possibilities. The obvious answer – sell hot tub covers to the hot tub manufacturers and put the little guy, that only needs one (1) replacement cover, on the back-burner.

Spa Covers Etc. deals EXCLUSIVELY with the retail public. We specialize in replacement hot tub/ spa covers. Our covers are Made in USA since 1989 so we don’t have issues with the USA/ Mexico boarder closing. We WON’T put you on the back-burner in order to please a customer that is willing to spend more money. Our standard production time is about 8 weeks. Sometimes less, sometimes a bit more. The thing most people do not realize when they are told how long the production time is, it ONLY takes a few days to make your cover. The wait time is waiting for your turn. The factory is able to make hundreds of covers per week but its those that are waiting in the queue ahead of you. This is where the wait time comes from when you buy from Spa Covers Etc.. Best Customer Service! Quick, Local Production, Custom Covers, Free Shipping in California – That’s Spa Covers Etc. in a nutshell.

Call Chris (the owner) today to discuss your hot tub cover project.

949.496.2883

#spacoversetc #spacovers #hottubcovers

INTERNATIONAL RESIN SHORTAGE EFFECTS THE SPA COVER INDUSTRY!

The resin (glue) that is used to bind the foam beads together, to make foam is in short supply. Already, as of February 2022 rumors have begun to circulate. Companies that purchase resin for manufacturing will be limited to just 40% based on what they bought in 2021. That’s a 60% decline!

This will have a HUGE impact on the Spa Cover industry. When the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020, manufacturers of spas & hot tubs realized that they had a problem on their hands. Since 2008 many of the hot tub companies had moved production of their hot tubs to Mexico or China (we are in the USA). They have been able to purchase cheaply priced spa covers with relatively quick production times and had no intentions to bring manufacturing back to the USA.

As far as I know, NOT ONE manufacturer of spas or hot tubs actually makes the cover sold with their spa.

Fast forward to April 2022 and its beginning to take its toll. Ive had customers tell me that they purchased a spa cover from another company and after 6 months they still haven’t received it. Typical production delays have been between 6 to 8 weeks here in California due to things like delays at the Port of L.A. and Port of San Pedro. But that doesn’t explain why their customers hadn’t received the cover after 6 or more months. Typical production time with Spa Covers Etc. is about 8 weeks. A bit longer for templates and free-formed spa covers.

Because the Spa & Hot Tub manufacturers do NOT make their own covers, they have to buy them from somebody that does (just like we do).  BUT because they are BIG business they can bully their way to the TOP of the list. Imagine you have 100 dealers that sell 2 or 3 covers a week or you could sell 200 covers per week to just one Hot Tub company all at once. Hmmm. Sure you may have to give a discount but you can make the same cover all day long like an assembly line. Ask Mr. Ford which option he would choose.

Here is the difference…. Spa Covers Etc. has been in business since 1997. The owner has sold and tested other brands of spa covers and the choice was obvious…. The best brand of spa covers is Ideal™ Spa Covers. Since Spa Covers Etc. has been a customer of Ideal™ Spa Covers for over 20 years and the fact that we offer FREE local delivery, we are at the factory every week picking up spa covers. For many years Ideal™ Spa Covers accumulated dealers from all over the USA to sell their spa covers. We choose to sell their spa cover because of their reputation. Ideal™ Spa Covers provides preferential treatment to their loyal customers. They do NOT put the LITTLE guy on the back burner.

If you are thinking about buying a spa cover and they tell you production time is MORE than 8 weeks, you have to ask yourself, do they want to sell me 1 spa cover or 100 covers to a BIG company with $$$?