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Glossary
of Terms
Get to know spa-related terms
so you can talk with us and better understand how your spa
works.
Aeration
Process of mixing air and water. In a spa this can happen
two ways: 1) Using an Air Blower to force air into an air
channel or through the spa jets. 2) With Venturi Air Controls
that allow air to be pulled into and mixed with the water
in the spa jet.
Available
Chlorine
Amount of hypochlorous acid (the active form of chlorine that
does the work) that a chlorinating product produces. Also
referred to as Free Available Chlorine in the water.
Bacteria
Single-celled microscopic organisms. Pathogenic bacteria can
cause infections, disease and bather irritation. Hypochlorous
acid or hypobromous acid are used to kill bacteria in pool
and spa water.
Balanced
Water
Pool or spa water that has a proper pH and the appropriate
mineral content to prevent corrosion and scaling.
Buffer
Chemicals that serve to prevent fluctuations in pH.
Chelant
Ingredient that prevents minerals and metals from scaling
and staining.
Clarifier
A coagulent that gathers tiny particles together to make filtering
them out much easier.
Corrosion
Etching,
pitting and other destructive erosion
of the spa surfaces and equipment due to low pH or chemical
imbalance.
Filter
Element
Device (cartridge) within a filter housing designed to remove
suspended debris from the water.
Make-up
(Fill) Water
Fresh water used to fill the spa. Also called Source Water.
Oxidation
Chemical process for removing undesirable compounds from the
water.
Ozone
Gaseous molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen (03). In
a spa, ozone is used to oxidize contaminants. Its instability
and short life in the water require that it be used only to
supplement chlorine or bromine residual to control bacteria.
pH
Measurement that indicates the acidic or basic nature of a
solution. Measured on a scale from 0 to 14. The ideal pH for
spa water is 7.4 to 7.6. Acceptable is 7.2 to 7.6.
ppm
Parts Per Million. Unit of measurement used in measuring chemical
application. Indicates the amount, by weight, of a chemical
in relation to one million parts by weight of water.
Pump
Motor-powered device that creates pressure and water flow
by spinning an impeller to provide circulation through the
filter and heater.
Saturation
Index (SI)
Numeric value indicating whether water is scale-forming or
corrosive. It factors in pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness
and water temperature. Ideal range is between -.3 and +.3.
Scale
Mineral deposits–usually calcium carbonate–that
form on spa surfaces and equipment due to excessive calcium
in the water. Scale is more likely to form in heated water
if proper water balance is not maintained.
Shock
Treatment
Addition of significant amounts of an oxidizing compound for
the destruction of nitrogenous and other undesirable compounds.
Skimmer
Device in the spa that continuously pulls the surface water
and floating debris from the spa to be removed by the filter.
A hand skimmer net can be used manually to dip floating debris
from the water.
Superoxidation
Application of large quantities of oxidizing compounds to
destroy chloramines, ammonia and other oxidizable compounds.
It is done to get rid of odors and cloudy water, as well as
for maintenance.
Total
Alkalinity (TA)
The amount of alkaline components in water. TA acts as a buffer
against rapid pH fluctuation.
Total
Dissolved Solids
Measure of the amount of dissolved matter in the water. High
TDS (2,500 PPM and higher) can interfere with the sanitizer's
ability to combat bacteria growth.
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