3 Alternative Methods Of Hot Tub Sanitation
Posted on: 5 October 2016
The traditional method of keeping a hot tub free from unwanted microorganisms involves the addition of copious amounts of bromine or chlorine. Yet these substances lead to skin irritation for many people. Fortunately, recent developments in hot tub sanitation have led to some equally effective techniques. Read on to learn about three alternative methods of sanitizing a hot tub.
Metal Ions
Metals such as silver and copper, when in their ionized states, are highly effective at eliminating common microorganisms such as bacteria and algae. This practice first got started in the world of roofing. There, copper strips are often affixed to the peak of a roof. As the copper ions are washed down the roof, they eliminate the algae spores responsible for unsightly discoloration.
The basic principle involved is exactly the same when dealing with hot tubs: expose the water to ionizing anodes of silver and copper. These anodes, located inside of a circulation tube, are stimulated with electricity, thus producing an abundance of positive ions. These ions are carried by the water out into the hot tub, where they continue to act as a powerful sanitizing force.
UV Light
The use of ultraviolet light to sanitize water is hardly a new technique. In fact, this spectrum of light has been used to purify drinking water since as far back as 1910. UV sanitation in hot tubs involves the addition of a special glass chamber to the water circulation system. This chamber contains one or more powerful UV bulbs. As the water is circulated past these bulbs, their light acts to kill off any microorganisms present.
UV light is every bit as effective at sanitizing as metal ions. Yet it does have the disadvantage of not offering continuous sanitation. In other words, once the purified water has passed into the hot tub, it may become contaminated by microorganisms before it has had a chance to cycle back past the UV chamber. For this reason, UV light systems are often installed in conjunction with either traditional disinfectant materials, or other alternative sanitation techniques.
Ozone
Ultraviolet light can also be used to sanitize a hot tub indirectly, through the production of ozone gas. When pure gaseous oxygen gets exposed to UV light, ozone is formed. This ozone can then be bubbled up through a hot tub's air jets. This method is highly effective at killing bacteria and algae. In fact, it has been proven to be as much as 3000x more powerful than the traditional use of chlorine and bromine. Water that has been exposed to ozone gas will remain free of microorganisms for around twelve hours.
Contact a company like Budget Pool & Spa Tech Inc. for more information.
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