Owner’s Resources

The ThermoClear™ cartridge will start to become ineffective after four months. So, along with having water that could potentially have a high TDS reading, prohibiting chemicals from being effective, you will have no method of sanitizing your water leading to potential health risks.

If you are not in any way allergic to Chlorine, then it is strongly recommended you use it. Chlorine has a higher ORP rating (oxidation reduction potential) which is the measure of oxidizing power. The oxidizing power is the ability to burn away organic matter. However, you must continue to use the Spa Activator each time you use your hot tub.

Too much Spa Activator can cause the skin to itch and potentially produce a skin rash. Over-shocking your water could potentially damage your hot tub cover, and this would not be covered in the warranty. Also, an excess of sanitizer might not produce any reading on your test strip because you have gone beyond its reading capabilities. This has led people to add more Spa Activator, which can make matters worse. Instead, take measures to reduce your sanitizer level.

There are two simple methods to reduce sanitizer levels: Drain 1/2 of your water and refill the hot tub; or remove the cover and turn on the air bubbling system. Monitor the sanitizer level with test strips until the recommended level is achieved.

There are two reasons: Biguanide and Copper-based Algaecide products may attack critical parts of the pumps and plumbing leading to premature failure of the spa. Chlorine may not be used with Biguanide-based sanitizers. Over time certain bacteria will develop a tolerance to Biguanide. When this occurs, chlorination of the spa is the most effective means of destroying these bacteria. At this time, it is common for most spas to switch to a Chlorine and/or Bromine sanitizer.

The use of ThermoClear™ and Chlorine can be interchanged in the same spa water. All other sanitizers require the draining of the hot tub. It is recommended to use the ThermoSpas® Jet Line Cleaner for cleaning out the lines.

A hot tub is dramatically different from a swimming pool because you are working with water that is both heated and also aerated. The ratios of people are also quite different. For example, four people in a hot tub are equivalent to 300 people in an average size pool. The heated water and higher bather load ratio can cause organic contaminants not found in swimming pools. Because of this, the chemical make-up of swimming pool chemicals is usually quite different from that of hot tub chemicals. One example is that swimming pool chemicals are not buffered so they can create havoc on the pH level of your hot tub water.

Headrests that are constantly submerged in spa water that is not properly treated with chemicals may discolor. However, even if you have been performing your water maintenance faithfully and correctly, the pillows will still naturally discolor over time. ThermoSpas does not provide warranty coverage for bleaching or discoloration of spa pillows.

Yes. If your hot tub includes an Ozonator, you can reduce your use of both sanitizer and activator by approximately 50 percent. For example, hot tubs with Ozonators require a bromine reading of only 1 to 3 ppm. Each week, add only 2 oz. of Bromide Salts (sanitizer) and 1 oz. of Spa Activator (activator) after each use.

Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and is considered to be 25 times more effective and works 100 times faster than traditional sanitizers like Chlorine or Bromine. However, ozone only lasts about 20 minutes in a hot tub when the filtration pump shuts off. There are many contaminants (i.e. algae, ammonia, nitrogen laden compounds, and bather wastes) that are not controlled by ozone. Also, Ozonators have no effect on reducing the use of any other chemical but sanitizers.