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What is Ozone? Ozone, sometimes referred to as energetic oxygen, is a powerful oxidizer, sanitizer and precipitant. It is made available for hot tubs and spas through the use of a device called an Ozonator. Ozone is formed when three atoms of oxygen are bound together, instead of the normal two. If you have ever detected a faint, sweet smell in the air after a lightening storm, that was ozone!
Reduces need for high chemical doses Destroys bacteria, viruses, algae Reduces chlorine odor Prolongs equipment life Reduces maintenance time & cost Reduces excessive water hardness How is Ozone produced? There are two widely used methods for producing ozone: The corona discharge system, where air is passed through a high-voltage spark. This method requires expensive equipment, and is generally used in large commercial pools and bottled-water plants. For home spa use, an inexpensive, energy-efficient Ozonator is much more practical. The ozonator generates ozone as air is exposed to Very Ultra Violet light, and then injects it into the water. See all of our easy-install Ozonator Kits (Del Models, our #PX2001/ PX2002 shown here) See: Spa Anatomy for spa circulating system basics Installing an Ozonator for step-by-step directions The ozone not only destroys microorganisms, it also breaks down harmful chemicals and causes total dissolved solids to clump together for easier removal by the filter. Ozone also oxidizes combined chlorine and bromine, freeing them to be continuously reused. The result is water which is cleaner, clearer, and smoother feeling to the skin. What are the other benefits? Ozone helps prevent the calcium in spa water from chelating, and thus conditions the water. This is good for equipment and more enjoyable for you. For many, the water will actually feel softer! Will Ozone replace my current sanitizer? No. Ozone has a very short half-life in water (about 15 minutes) and it is not totally effective as a sanitizer. You will still need to use a system such as bromine, chlorine, or Nature 2. However, you will find that you can use a lot less chemicals-- often 25 to 50% less, and this will pay for your ozone system over time, and make spa maintenance much more trouble free. With Nature 2, you will probably be able to reduce the amount of shock used. Actual reductions will depend on many factors, including water quality and bather load. How long should I operate my ozonator each day? To be effective, you should run your ozonator at least 4-6 hours per day. If your spa filter/pump is controlled by a timer, a good method is to set it to run for two 2 to 4 hour cycles, 12 hours apart, each day. Check your spa owner's manual. Some spas are set for continuous ozonator operation via the slow speed pump. Spas without timers will operate the ozonator whenever the thermostat kicks-in the pump motor. Can I add an ozonator to my spa? Yes! 90% of all new spas come "ozone ready" requiring only a simple hookup of an ozonator kit. With spas not so equipped, there are several ozonator models available, and one of them will likely be suitable for your system. |