Watkins CalderaSpas Utopia Series Owner's Manual - Glossary
MOnarCH
®
sIlVer IOn PurIFIer (OPTIOnal)
question: How are the silver ions added to the water?
Answer: The silver cartridge contains ceramic beads that are infused with silver. By placing the cartridge in the holder filter standpipe, it is subject to the flow of water
created by the operation of the 24-hour EnergyPro
®
circulation pump. The flowing water, through a chemical erosion process, carries with it the silver ions necessary to
add a sanitizing residual to the spa water.
question: What happens if I do not add the weekly shock treatment?
Answer: The contaminants in the water may coat the silver cartridge’s ceramic beads, blocking the silver ions’ release into the water. When this occurs, there will be no
residual of silver ions present in the water, eliminating them from the sanitizing process.
question: How often should the Monarch
®
silver cartridge be replaced?
Answer: The cartridge must be replaced every four months. Please refer to the instructions provided with each Monarch silver cartridge.
question: Can I use the Monarch silver cartridge with the SPA FROG
®
water care system?
Answer: The Monarch silver cartridge is not compatible with SPA FROG or with bromine.
COMMOn waTer CHeMIsTrY QuesTIOns
question: Why is the use a floater not recommended to sanitize my spa water?
Answer: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation does not recommend the use of a floater for three reasons:
The floater is unable to control the rate at which the sanitizer is dissolved into the water. When a floater is first placed in a spa, the sanitizer level can be
•
extremely high. High sanitizer levels can chemically burn or discolor the spa’s shell or the underside of the cover. Then, after a period of time, the sanitizer level
dispensed by the floater will fall to near zero. A low sanitizer level will allow viruses, bacteria or algae to grow.
Floaters tend to stay in one area of the spa most of the time, causing this area to be exposed to extreme sanitizer levels.
•
The floater may allow pieces of the highly concentrated sanitizer to fall out and settle on the floor or seat of the spa shell. These pieces of sanitizer will
•
chemically burn (blister) the spa shell. Although your spa shell is specifically designed to resist the effects of spa chemicals, no spa surface can withstand this
type of highly concentrated chemical. Remember, chemical abuse is specifically not covered under the terms of the warranty.
question: When I open my spa, I smell chlorine. How do I get rid of this smell?
Answer: There are two types of chlorine in your spa. The first is the Free Available Chlorine, which is the chlorine available to sanitize your spa. This free Available
Chlorine does not have an odor. The second is Chloramine, which is residue from chlorine already expended. Chloramines have a strong chlorine odor. The smell from
Chloramines can be eliminated by “shocking” the water. If you smell chlorine in the water, your spa is reminding you to add a shock treatment.
question: Why can’t I fill my spa with soft water?
Answer: Soft water is essentially the same as regular water, except that most or all of the calcium has been replaced by sodium. Soft water may be corrosive to the
heater and other components. Replacement of spa components damaged by soft water is extremely expensive.
question: I am trying to reduce the number of chemicals to which my family is exposed. Do I really need to use so many chemicals and in such large amounts?
Answer: While over-exposure to any chemical can be unhealthy, many low levels of chemicals are effective and beneficial. In the case of spa water, the chemicals
recommended in the Caldera
®
Spa Water Maintenance program are needed to protect the user from water-borne pathogens (disease-causing microbes) and to prevent
corrosion of spa components.
question: Why isn’t water chemistry damage covered by the warranty?
Answer: The chemical levels and water quality of the water in the spa are under your direct control. With proper basic care, the spa will provide many years of hot water
relaxation. If you are unsure about any chemical or its usage in the spa, contact your Authorized Caldera Dealer or Watkins Manufacturing Corporation.
GlOssarY
The following chemical terms are used in this Water Quality and Maintenance section. Understanding their meaning will help you to better understand the water
maintenance process.
Bromamines: Compounds formed when bromine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Unlike chloramines, bromamines have no pungent odor
and are effective sanitizers.
Bromine: A halogen sanitizer that is commonly used in stick, tablet, or granular form. The SPA FROG sanitizing system is the only solid bromine-approved system. See
the DO’s and DON’Ts of Spa Water Maintenance for additional information.
Calcium Hardness: The amount of dissolved calcium in the spa water. This should be approximately 100-150 ppm. High levels of calcium can cause cloudy water and
scaling. Low levels can cause harm to the spa equipment.
Chloramines: Compounds formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen from body oils, urine, perspiration, etc. Chloramines can cause eye irritation as well as having a
strong odor. Unlike bromamines, chloramines are weaker, slower sanitizers.
Chlorine: An efficient sanitizing chemical for spas. Watkins Manufacturing Corporation recommends the use of sodium dichlor-type granulated chlorine. This type is
preferred because it is totally soluble and nearly pH neutral.
Chlorine (or Bromine) Residual: The amount of chlorine or bromine remaining after chlorine or bromine demand has been satisfied. The residual is, therefore, the
amount of sanitizer which is chemically available to kill bacteria, viruses and algae.
44
WATER qUALITY AND MAINTENANCE