Is An Ozonator The Right Choice For Your Inground Swimming Pool or Hot Tub?
02 Nov Is An Ozonator The Right Choice For Your Inground Swimming Pool or Hot Tub?
Check out this great article about Ozone and Ozonators by Kaisa Williams, Swimuniversity.com:
Ozone is a strong natural oxidizer which breaks down chemicals and bodily fluids, including:
soap
deodorant
hair spray
cologne
makeup
perfume
body lotion
hand cream
sun tan lotion
saliva and urine
When used in conjunction with your regular sanitizer, ozone helps kill pathogenic bacteria, germs, and viruses, as well as oxidizing organic contaminants. This leads to dramatically better water quality than you would have with just chlorine or bromine alone.
How it Works in Hot Tubs
Hot tub ozonators produce ozone by splitting oxygen molecules apart into two free oxygen atoms through the use of intense UV light, or by corona discharge (CD) within the ozonator unit. When the freed oxygen atoms collide with an oxygen molecule, they merge and form ozone which effectively works to breakdown contaminants in water. This results in clearer, cleaner water.
Ozonators Save Money
Ozone frees up combined chlorine and bromine, allowing them to be continuously reused. Ozone ultimately enhances the effectiveness of bromine and chlorine as well as many natural alternative sanitizers.
Because of this, you generally need to add less sanitizing chemicals to your water, saving you time and money.
Environmentally Safe
The amount of ozone produced by a hot tub ozonator is insignificant to the normal atmosphere we live in. When dissolved in water, ozone is extremely safe. Excessive ozone quickly coverts back to oxygen.
Pros & Cons of Ozone
Ozone not only destroys microorganisms, but also breaks down harmful chemicals, and causes total dissolved solids to clump together for easier removal by your filter cartridge. The result is not just cleaner & clearer water, but also water which feels smoother to the skin.
It is important to note that although ozone is very effective and safe for your hot tub equipment, it can reduce the life of the hot tub cover underside vinyl.
The use of a floating blanket provides an extremely effective barrier to protect your cover, while also providing significant energy savings! Floating blankets are inexpensive, starting at just around $20 online.
How to Prepare
Almost all newer hot tubs are ozone-ready, and adding or replacing an ozonator is very simple! Here is how to prepare:
Verify that your hot tub will accept an ozonator by consulting your owner’s manual. If there is room and a power hook-up for an ozonator, it’s usually a go!
Determine the voltage, 120v or 240v.
Check electrical system: timer set; system GFCI protected.
Check for and fix all leaks in plumbing.
Check filters: clean if necessary.
For best results, drain water and fill with fresh. It is easier for the ozonator to maintain purity with a fresh start.
Balance water chemistry and use a sanitizing system. Ozone reduces the amount of chemicals needed and improves water quality, but will not replace your sanitizer.
Verify the plug type you will need to connect the ozonator to your hot tub’s control pack.
Ozone-ready hot tubs usually have a small ozone jet near the bottom. This jet will have a water port, and an air (ozone) port. When no ozonator is present, the jet acts as a water jet only. A clear 1/4″ I.D. air suction tube from this jet, with the end capped-off, will often be hanging in the equipment bay, if no ozonator has been installed.
Ozone Line Connection
Ozone Line ConnectionLocate the ozone suction connection as illustrated (2). This is typically 1/4″ I.D. x 3/8″ O.D. vinyl air tubing. In this case, the tubing has a cap, which is snipped off to accommodate the one-way check valve included in the ozonator kit. This valve helps prevent water from accidentally entering the ozonator.
Attach the ozone check valve to one end of the vinyl tubing supplied with your ozonator kit. The other end of the check valve attaches to the hot tub’s suction tubing
Ozone Line Connection 2The air (ozone) flow direction is away from the ozonator and toward the hot tub. The valve may be marked as to direction. If not marked, you can determine the flow direction by blowing into one end of the valve. Installing the check valve backward will prevent functionality, so this is important.
Deciding Between CD or UV
OzonatorAs mentioned above, there are two different types of ozonators available for hot tub use: CD (corona discharge) and UV ozonators. UV ozonators are waning in popularity due to their higher energy usage, especially with new CD technology raising new standards for longer life, effectiveness, and lower costs. I recommend the new AquaSunOzone CD Ozonators for the following reasons:
Longer life & best performance
Lower operating/energy costs
Compact design fits most hot tubs
No expensive cartridges, chips or bulbs to replace
Higher quality
“I have found that by adding an ozonator to my hot tub, the amount of time I spend adjusting my water chemistry and adding chemicals has really decreased. I no longer feel the constant need to test my water. This makes owning our spa more enjoyable, and I feel peace of mind knowing that the water we are bathing in is clean.”
-Robert P.
Chillicothe, Illinois