Why Use Ozone in Spas and Hot  Tubs?

Simply put, Ozone is a  natural oxidizer of wastes in water that could be harmful or cause unpleasant  smells and cloudy water.  The makeup of ozone is 3 Oxygen molecules that have a  strong potential to change micro organisms such as germs and virus, into a state  that is not harmful to bathers otherwise known as oxidation. 

Air is drawn by one of  two different types of ozonators (corona discharge or UV light) and becomes  ozone.  This is a process that duplicates the ozone being manufactured in our  upper atmosphere by the sun.   However we are controlling the process of ozone  manufacture in our vessel.  Without control of the ozone process there can be  negative effects associated with too much ozone gas which is not healthy.   However being controlled in process for our water and not combined with diesel  fuel by products there is no comparison of danger as in air quaility issues.   Many times ozone for water  quality management can get a bad reputation by being confused with the non controlled manufacture of ozone.  As in any environment with  humidity there should be adequate ventilation to prohibit water borne bacteria  from being inhaled and in turn this ventilation will prohibit any exposure to a  buildup of ozone gas as well.  Properly sizing the unit so that it does not over produce or under produce is also of importance when installing.

Ozone does not leave a  residual in the water so it is used as a secondary oxidizer.  It is recommended  to use ozone in conjunction with chlorine or bromine (only in residential spas)  so there is a continuous sanitizer level to prevent micro organism growth (disinfections).  But  it does not leave chloramines, bleach bathing suits, or damage the equipment.   When ozone is used up it reverts back to oxygen which is natural as the air we  breathe.

Other benefits to ozone  are that you can reduce your chemical usage and there are not strong unpleasant  odors to it.  Because it helps keep the water cleaner you may be able to go  longer between water changes as well.

Ozone is 3,000 times  quicker than chlorine in killing micro organisms but yet is relatively safe.  It  is especially useful in killing Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Legionella and E Coli  which account for the increase in RWI’s  (Recreational Water Illness’s) our  industry is seeing.  It is not expensive and only needs to be replaced depending  on the hour life.  This may be 1 – 2 years but depends on the unit.  If you have not had your hot tub  checked recently to see if the ozonator is operational it is well worth the  money for your safety to have this done by a professional.

With hot water bacteria breed quickly and the small amount of water per person ratio that is in the hot tub make it necessary to take extra precautions to maintain a safe, healthy environment for  your enjoyment.