Arctic Spa Care
Your Arctic Spa® is manufactured from the highest quality, most durable materials available. Even so, the spa care and maintenance program you develop will ultimately determine how long your spa and its individual components will last. Regular maintenance following the advice in your owners’ manual will help you to protect your investment.
Care of your spa is set out in this simple six point plan:
1. Circulation
Every day, bacteria and other contaminants can find their way into your spa water. Proper circulation will prevent these contaminants from becoming problems. As water circulates, it passes through the filter which traps suspended particles. Circulation will also ensure thorough distribution of the SpaGuard products that kill bacteria and eliminate undesirable compounds.
What you need to do:
- Run your spa’s circulation system every day.
- Check your spa owner’s manual to determine how long your spa’s circulation should be run or ask your SpaGuard Dealer for advice.
- If your spa has a separate circulation pump that runs continuously, simply make sure that your system is always in good working order.
2. Cleaning
If left unchecked, contaminants such as dirt, oil and even bacteria can accumulate at the waterline, much like a bathtub ring. Regular cleaning of the spa preserves the surfaces so the whole spa environment looks and feels better.
What you need to do:
- Use a skimmer net to remove floating debris
- Brush and vacuum the spa
- If you have a skimmer basket, empty it once or twice a week
- Clean the oily ring that forms at the waterline using SpaGuard Surface Cleaner. This fast acting product breaks up oils and debris at the waterline so you can easily wipe the surface clean.
Unlike most common household cleaners, SpaGuard Surface Cleaner is totally compatible with your spa’s water chemistry.
3. Filtration
Most spa problems are caused by poor filtration. A filter that’s operating properly helps keep the water clean by capturing the hair, oils and cosmetics that wash off when people use the spa. When the filter is dirty or clogged, all this debris remains in the water. Most spas have a cartridge filter. Check your owner’s manual for detailed information on how to remove the filter for cleaning. Typically, you should clean the filter at least every 4-6 weeks.
What you need to do:
- Remove the cartridge
- Rinse with a garden hose to remove loose debris. A hose-end nozzle is best – a pressure washer has too much pressure. (Note: this will not eliminate the accumulated oils.
- Every time you clean your filter, use SpaGuard Filter Brite according to label instructions. This will dissolve and loosen the built-up oil and dirt.
- Thoroughly rinse the cartridge again. (Ideally, the cartridge should be allowed to dry before being returned to service)
- Return the cleaned cartridge to the filter housing
- Replace the filter element as often as the manufacturer or SpaGuard Dealer recommends
- Use SpaGuard Polysheen weekly.
Some particles of debris are microscopic and too small for the filter to catch. Polysheen will help join these tiny particles together and allow the filter to remove them, keeping the water clear.
4. Draining and Refilling
Regular draining and refilling is a normal part of spa maintenance. Over time, the water absorbs and dissolves minerals, chemicals and other soluble material. Your SpaGuard Dealer can perform a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) test to help determine if it’s time to replace your water. High TDS can make the water look dull, become foamy and develop an odour.
What you need to do:
- Drain the water. Check your owner’s manual for information
- Clean the spa surfaces with SpaGuard Surface Cleaner
- Refill the spa with fresh water
- Take a sample of the water used to refill the spa to your SpaGuard Dealer for complete analysis
- Add the recommended SpaGuard products in the order and amount determined by the water analysis.
When you need to do it and how often you drain and refill your spa depends on how often you use it. This simple formula can help: Spa Litres ÷ Daily Bathers ÷ 12 = Days between Draining Example: 1200 ltrs ÷ 2 daily bathers ÷ 12 = 50 days.
5. Chemistry
SpaGuard products provide numerous benefits. When used according to label instructions, SpaGuard products will:
- Make the water feel clean and comfortable
- Kill bacteria which can multiply rapidly in a spa
- Protect spa surfaces from stains caused by metals which are often dissolved in water
- Protect spa equipment from scale caused by calcium deposits. Scale can accumulate on the spa surfaces, inside filters and heaters, greatly reducing their effectiveness.
Some particles of debris are microscopic and too small for the filter to catch. Polysheen will help join these tiny particles together and allow the filter to remove them, keeping the water clear.
6. Testing
There are two primary components that affect the spa water quality: sanitiser (either Bromine or Chlorine) and pH. These should be checked several times a week.
When both are within the recommended ranges:
- Your water is comfortable, protected and clear
- Your sanitisers and oxidisers work efficiently* Your spa surfaces and equipment are protected