Yellow tubing

[Bill_Stevenson]

All of the tubing associated with the pumps and ozonator on my spa have turned yellow.  There is some residual build-up of a white substance (calcium?) in the ozone injector.  Any idea what the cause could be?  Calcium hardness is added with each water change and whenever topping up water level to minimize foaming.  Should I change out this tubing and injector?

Thanks,

Bill

[East_TX_Spa]

You might try running some white vinegar through the system in the fashion your owner's manual advises.  I've got a couple of pieces of ozone tubing over on a shelf and I noticed it's yellow.  The calcium would be more of a concern to me than the yellow tubing.  You might need to take a pipe cleaner and run it through there.

Anybody else got any ideas?

Terminator

[hottubdan]

Cleaning per Term's suggestion is correct.  Ozone will color tubing over time.  Great oxidizer.  Make sure when you add calcium you add small amounts at a time to make sure water absorbs it.  Watch your pH.

[Tatooed_Lady]

If the tubing isn't as flexible anymore, is flaking, or is turning brittle enough to crack.....replace the tubing.
Just my $.02

[Spatech_tuo]

If the tubing isn't as flexible anymore, is flaking, or is turning brittle enough to crack.....replace the tubing.
Just my $.02

The next tubing will just yellow as well. As long as it is not cracked open I'd just run the vinegar through it and call it a day.

[East_TX_Spa]

Well ALRIGHT!!!  I actually answered a technical question right and can now officially be considered an "expert".  Life gets better every day!!!

Terminator

[drewstar]

The next tubing will just yellow as well. As long as it is not cracked open I'd just run the vinegar through it and call it a day.

How do get vinager to run through it? I assume you disconect both ends of the hose, have power turned off, as well as clamp the H20? Or is there another way?

[East_TX_Spa]

How do get vinager to run through it? I assume you disconect both ends of the hose, have power turned off, as well as clamp the H20? Or is there another way?

Turn power off, unplug tube from the suck thingy on the bottom of the ozonator, take 10 oz glass of white vinegar (not Mexican vinegar), put tube in glass, restore power, wait until all vinegar is sucked, replace tube, drink beer.  Piece of pie!

Terminator

[Spatech_tuo]

How do get vinager to run through it? I assume you disconect both ends of the hose, have power turned off, as well as clamp the H20? Or is there another way?

Wrong Grasshopper! Remember how ozone works! It creates a vacuum in the line (venturi) which draws the ozone from the ozone generator. Therefore, you simply disconnect the hose at the ozone generator while everything is running and stick it into a cup of vinegar that you place on the floor of the equipment area and it draws the vinegar into the line just as it drew the ozone.

[drewstar]

Wrong Grasshopper! Remember how ozone works! It creates a vacuum in the line (venturi) which draws the ozone from the ozone generator. Therefore, you simply disconnect the hose at the ozone generator while everything is running and stick it into a cup of vinegar that you place on the floor of the equipment area and it draws the vinegar into the line just as it drew the ozone.

The more you know.     Thanks.  

White vinegar, I assume?

Now that Spring is here, I should open up my front panel and see how things have weathered over the winter.  I'll take a look at my 03 tube as well.

[drewstar]

Turn power off, unplug tube from the suck thingy on the bottom of the ozonator, take 10 oz glass of white vinegar (not Mexican vinegar), put tube in glass, restore power, wait until all vinegar is sucked, replace tube, drink beer.  Piece of pie!

Terminator

Mexican Vinegar?  

I refuse to use my Cabo Wabo  to clean the tube! That just aint right.  

[East_TX_Spa]

Wrong Grasshopper! Remember how ozone works! It creates a vacuum in the line (venturi) which draws the ozone from the ozone generator. Therefore, you simply disconnect the hose at the ozone generator while everything is running and stick it into a cup of vinegar that you place on the floor of the equipment area and it draws the vinegar into the line just as it drew the ozone.

HotSpring Owner's Manual

1. Disconnect power to the spa
2. Access the equipment compartment
3. Locate the tube that turns yellow and connects to the suck thingy on bottom of ozonator.
4. Place 16 ounces of white vinegar into a cup...blah blah blah

Go back to working on your Phoenix Premium spas, you ain't no spa technician!

Terminator

[Bill_Stevenson]

Thanks everyone!

[Spatech_tuo]

HotSpring Owner's Manual

1. Disconnect power to the spa
2. Access the equipment compartment
3. Locate the tube that turns yellow and connects to the suck thingy on bottom of ozonator.
4. Place 16 ounces of white vinegar into a cup...blah blah blah

Go back to working on your Phoenix Premium spas, you ain't no spa technician!

Terminator

Well you do have to turn the pweor back on.

[Chas]

I would only add that if the injector is so clogged that it will not suck, you should used a toothpick to clear it. Just shove it into the thing and wiggle it around until the thing begins to suck again. Then finish with vinegar of whatever nationality you have on hand.

Also - after you are done and everything is buttoned back up, check your pH just to be sure.