The Truth about Spa Water Care
Some of our competitors make claims regarding their water care systems, in their showrooms and on-line, that
may be confusing or misleading to the consumer. The information provided below is intended to help prepare
you and your sales staff address claims about “chemical free” water care, Microban® filters, and the use of
copper ions instead of, or in addition to, silver ions. Also included is a list of some of the features of a Hot
Spring® spa that help ensure your customers will have sparkling, clean water.
There’s no such thing as “chemical free” water care.
Some spa manufacturers claim that their water care system is “chemical free.” They support their claims with a
variety of filtration systems, organic water additives, or other unique technology. However, the truth of the
matter is that the EPA recommends the use of one of only three approved sanitizers – chlorine, bromine, or
biguanide – for healthy spa water. Many of the systems that claim to be “chemical free” are based on the same
principles as the EverFresh® water care system, which means they use organic elements like ozone and silver to
decrease the need for harsh chemical sanitizers, but do not eliminate the need completely. The consumer must
always test and balance their spa water, which may require at least the occasional addition of chlorine. Urge
consumers to read the fine print, or the owner’s manual, for more information about any system that claims to be
“chemical free.” The best option for a consumer looking for natural water care is to choose a Hot Spring spa
and the EverFresh water care system, because it is as close to “chemical free” as safely sanitized spa water care
can be.
The difference between silver ions and copper ions.
Some water care products use silver ions, copper ions, or a combination of the two, to help reduce the need for
chemicals like chlorine. While both silver and copper ions can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria, there
are a few risks associated with the use of copper ions. As with any product that is manually added to the spa
water, there is always the potential for human error. Overdosing a spa with a product that contains copper ions
could lead to higher than recommended concentration levels of copper, which is considered toxic and a mild
health hazard. In addition, high concentration levels of copper can also lead to discoloration of the spa water and
cause irreversible staining of the spa shell. Silver is not as potentially toxic nor damaging as copper. We
recommend using the FreshWaterAg+ silver cartridge which uses only silver ions, so there is no copper. And, the
ions are released automatically, so there’s no potential overdosing due to human error.
How a Hot Spring® spa provides sparkling, clean water.
Filtration
• Our SilentFlo 5000® circulation pump continuously filters the spa water 24 hours a day.
• The circulation pump is energy efficient; it costs less to operate than a 75 watt light bulb.
• Unlike in some spas, all the water in a Hot Spring spa passes through the filters all the time, even when
the jets are on, for 100% No-bypass filtration.
• Balanced filtration ensures there’s no need to bypass the filters, because the square footage is carefully
matched with the gallon-per-minute flow of the pumps.
• Our specially-designed Tri-X® filters provide more effective filtration even on our High Performance
models – and they’re dishwasher safe!
• The multiple filter system eliminates the need for suction fittings, providing added safety.
FreshWater® III Ozone System
• The FreshWater III ozone system is standard on all Hot Spring spas (except the Classic® Series).
• Corona Discharge technology provides a constant, high output of ozone (600-900ppm).
• The system uses a Corona Discharge cell, rather than a chip, so it is virtually maintenance-free and
provides a more stable output of ozone throughout the life of the system.
• A 10-foot contact chamber allows for optimal mixing of ozone and water to eliminate off-gassing.
EverFresh® Water Care System
• A more natural approach to water care using the power of ozone, combined with silver ions, to reduce
the need for harsh chemicals, like chlorine.
• The FreshStart® pre-filter helps ensure the cleanest water possible from the first time the spa is filled.
• The FreshWaterAg+® silver ion cartridge automatically releases silver ions into the water, so there is no
chance of overdosing.
• The FreshWaterAg+ silver ion cartridges are maintenance-free. Simply replace the cartridge every four
months.
• The FreshWater® MPS non-chlorine oxidizer helps activate the silver ions and is pH neutral so it won’t
alter water chemistry.
• When necessary, the FreshWater concentrated chlorinating granules can be used to bring the spa
sanitizer level into the normal range.