Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: tkruel on October 19, 2005, 11:44:50 am
-
Does anyone use chlorine floaters?? Advantages/disadvantages??
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks
-
Does anyone use chlorine floaters?? Advantages/disadvantages??
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks
I use one with my DICHLOR routine, all is well. Everyone here will tell you it voids your warranty and yadayada. It does not void my Beachcomber warranty. I have to add some alk increase each week cause the Trichlor brings it down but no big deal.
Ray
-
I use one with my DICHLOR routine, all is well. Everyone here will tell you it voids your warranty and yadayada. It does not void my Beachcomber warranty. I have to add some alk increase each week cause the Trichlor brings it down but no big deal.
Ray
It's still NOT a good idea.
-
It's still NOT a good idea.
When it is recommended by your dealer and your manufacturer then in my opinion it is a good idea. Explain to me why it is bad other than lowering your alc?
-
This method was recommended by a dealer....& I have been reading about how it is not a good idea. That is why I wanted to ask on this message board.
-
This method was recommended by a dealer....& I have been reading about how it is not a good idea. That is why I wanted to ask on this message board.
The trichlor tabs are acidic due to the stabilizers while the dichlor does not have them and is bascially neutral. I realize the dealer has ok'd this (in writing I hope) but it's still not a good idea IMO. Why not just add dichlor after each use and cover it that way? The dichlor works just as well but you have to add it manually (not exactly a chore) and the dealer is figuring he'll give the method that he knows people will be most apt to follow. The floating trichlor works for sanitizing and I guess they figure it's closest to the KISS method so they decide that is more important than it's drawbacks.
-
I've HEARD that chlorine can be hard on the underside of covers, on pillows, etc....
That said, is it possible that leaving a chlorine floater in the spa 24/7 would aggravate this problem, assuming that it's true in the first place?
I use non chlorine Bromine in a floater so I don't have any experience with chlorine and spas.
-
I have been adding the dichlor granules since I purchased the tub in May. I have not had any problems except for the last month or so. My water was a little cloudy & the dealer thought it was from lack of sanitizer because it is sometimes 2-3-4 nights between going into the tub. And as I have found, the chlorine level pretty much drops to nothing after 1 day. Plus when I did go in to the tub it started feeling a little "slimy" which she said was from lack of chlorine. So she had me go home and shock with 1/2 cup of diclor and after 7-8 hours start with the floater. My water looks good this morning before I put the floater in. At my next drain do you think I should switch to a bromine floater?? I am still new to the water chemistry thing & welcome all opinions.
Thanks
again
-
What was the PPM reading you were getting to?
It is recommended to get to at least 3 PPM to satisfy the tubs sanitizing requirements and to put that in at least every other day or after you use the tub, whichever comes first. Unless you shock the tub with chlorine, I wouldn't think the water can stay for 4 days. I personally wouldn't use the floater unless it's OK'ed by the manufacturer.
Brewman, I think even Bromine and ozone can damage the underside of the cover as well.
-
Brewman, I think even Bromine and ozone can damage the underside of the cover as well.
Perhaps. I know that some bromine contains chlorine as well- but the kind I use does not.
Maybe that's part of the damage?
And so far, knock the redwood cabinet of my spa, no apparent damage.
I've heard the same about ozone too, but don't have it.
-
Bump......any more opinions? I don't quite have a warm fuzzy feeling about the floater yet.
-
Bump......any more opinions? I don't quite have a warm fuzzy feeling about the floater yet.
If you just add a little more chlorine to your per use method I think you'll be fine.
-
I use a bromine floater, like Brewman and have no problems, perfectly balanced levels, and very little worrying if I put enough granules in after the use each night.
I love the simplicity, Jacuzzi warranty isn't voided, and I realize the grave danger of my floater getting traped against the acrylic shell and burning it to hell, but will take that risk. ;D
-
I agree with spatech.
I assume this is for your master spa. If so, you should read your warranty. It specifically addresses the use of trichlor...result...void warranty.
-
I agree with spatech.
I assume this is for your master spa. If so, you should read your warranty. It specifically addresses the use of trichlor...result...void warranty.
I wouldn't buy a spa that has a warranty like that, check your warranty before buying.
Ray
-
Almost every spa manufacturer and all the major manufacturers specifically void the use of trichlor as a sanitizer. The majors I inlcude are HotSpring/Caldera, Sundance/JacuzziPremium, Marquis, D1, and Master come to mind. Excluding all these spas would certainly narrow down your choices.
-
Isn't it amazing how this keeps coming up? If you use a floater in your spa use one for bromine. Trichlor is for pools. Trichlor is acidic and can attack your equipment, both spa mechanisms and bodily parts. For a full explanation of how easy it is to use dichlor go to www.rhtubs.com look in the FAQs and read the water treatment program by The Vermonter.
AFAIK, the information that all major spa manufacturers void their warranty if trichlor is used is accurate. In as much as they all use pretty similar materials and equipment, it certainly makes sense that they would. This same information is on the label of every container of trichlor I have ever looked at too. Why is this so confusing?
Again, dichlor is for spas, and trichlor is for pools. If you want to use a floater system in your spa, use one that is designed for spas. Spa floaters use bromine. This is not really difficult.
Regards,
Bill
-
The only manufacturer that I know that recommends trichlor is Emerald. They have it in their user's manual and I even e-mailed them when I was interested in them and they said yes. I didn't know any other manufacturer said it's OK to use.
-
Bill, If you were just learning how to manage your water & a dealer who has been around for a long time told you to try a chlorine floater...what would you do?? Obviously you think you are an expert on this board, but don't you think you could be a little more constructive in your replies?? It is because of guys like you that make me reluctant to ask questions on this forum no matter how "really difficult" they are.
-
Personally, although I'm not Bill, I would try the floater. I did and love it. And I would also try to not be so sensitive in these parts as you'll find great info, but little sympathy to go with widely different opinions.
-
And I would also try to not be so sensitive in these parts as you'll find great info, but little sympathy to go with widely different opinions.
I disagree! ;)
-
Personally, although I'm not Bill, I would try the floater. I did and love it.
Orlandoguy, you are using bromine in a floater. This is exactly what Bill advised to do. What he warned against is the use of TRICHLOR in a floater and he is one hundred percent correct. The original post has to do with trichlor floater in a Master Spa, something that will void the Master warranty as it is specifically stated in the warranty itself. Just because a dealer recommends something doesn't make it automatically correct. The original poster obviously didn't feel secure with the advise of his dealer and came to the forum for opinions and alternate advise. IMO he should not follow the dealers advise and follow his instinct and listen to the well intentioned people such as Bill or yourself and use bromine if he wants to use a floater....or listen to Bill, Spatech and others and follow a granulated chlorine program.
Anyway, I believe he has gotten some good info from here.
-
I wouldn't buy a spa that has a warranty like that, check your warranty before buying.
Ray
Yeah, you most likely would, perhaps you even did.
Trichlor damages many things in a spa, from the acrylic shell, to the pump seals, heaters, cover, pillows, and certain jets.
It is not suitable for use in a hot tub. There are fine-print exclusions for poor water chemistry or use of the wrong type of chemicals in every makers warranty. But only one or two tub makers are actually kind enough to spell it out clearly enough to (hopefully) keep you from having a problem with it.
Don't use Trichlor in a hot tub. It's just that simple.
Why do some dealers recommend it? I could suggest a reason, but it wouldn't be very nice. I had a dealer nearby who sold HS and he set folks up with a cute little basket which set perfectly on top of the filters. He sold tabs to all of his customers - and just about every one of them lost a pump shaft seal. That is absolutely not covered under the warranty, but HS did two very wonderful things: they fired this idiot as a dealer, and they fixed all of those pumps. I know, because my company did the repairs for them. But they did not have to: if the owners had bothered to read the warranty, AND the sticker under the filter lid of the spa, AND the owner's manual, they would have seen warnings about it in all three places.
You will damage your spa: you may just be 'lucky' enough for the problem to show up long after the warranty is up. Or, you may not connect that bad pump shaft seal with the use of Trichlor. Cover getting heavy? Trichlor.
Keep in mind I have no axe to grind, I will make no more or less money if you use trichlor. Just don't.
-
Thank you Chas
-
Yeah, you most likely would, perhaps you even did.
Trichlor damages many things in a spa, from the acrylic shell, to the pump seals, heaters, cover, pillows, and certain jets.
It is not suitable for use in a hot tub. There are fine-print exclusions for poor water chemistry or use of the wrong type of chemicals in every makers warranty. But only one or two tub makers are actually kind enough to spell it out clearly enough to (hopefully) keep you from having a problem with it.
Don't use Trichlor in a hot tub. It's just that simple.
Why do some dealers recommend it? I could suggest a reason, but it wouldn't be very nice. I had a dealer nearby who sold HS and he set folks up with a cute little basket which set perfectly on top of the filters. He sold tabs to all of his customers - and just about every one of them lost a pump shaft seal. That is absolutely not covered under the warranty, but HS did two very wonderful things: they fired this idiot as a dealer, and they fixed all of those pumps. I know, because my company did the repairs for them. But they did not have to: if the owners had bothered to read the warranty, AND the sticker under the filter lid of the spa, AND the owner's manual, they would have seen warnings about it in all three places.
You will damage your spa: you may just be 'lucky' enough for the problem to show up long after the warranty is up. Or, you may not connect that bad pump shaft seal with the use of Trichlor. Cover getting heavy? Trichlor.
Keep in mind I have no axe to grind, I will make no more or less money if you use trichlor. Just don't.
Beachcomber does not have it in threr warranty. I started out with as long as you keep your alk up TRICHLOR is ok. Acidic water can happen with Dichlor can't it? otherwise they would never sell any ALK UP.
Just a thought.
ray
-
The Beachcomber warranty seems to be hard to find on their website. I do notice that they recommend and sell their own brand of chemicals. I didn't happen to notice trichlor being one of them.