swimming pool maintenance tips

Water Maintenance
It's Important to have clean water. Water maintenance is one of the least understood, but very important areas of spa ownership. your dealer can guide you through the process of achieving and maintaining perfect water in your spa, given your local use your spa, and how many people use it. Here is our suggested step-by-step program:
General Information:
There are three fundamental areas of water maintenance. They are (1) Water Filtration, (2) Water Sanitation, and (3) Chemical Balance/pH Control.
Although your spa's filter system is working several hours a day to remove particles from you water, it does not remove bacteria or viruses. Water sanitation is the responsibility of the spa owner. It can be achieved through the regular and periodic (daily, if necessary) addition of an approved sanitizer. The sanitizer will chmically control the bacteria and viruses present in the spa water. Bacteria and viruses can grow quickly in undersanitized spa water. The water's chemical balance and pH control are also the responsibility of the spa owner. You will have to add chemicals to maintain proper levels of Total Alkalinity (TA), Calcium Hardness (CH) and pH. Proper water balance and pH control will minimize scale buildup and corrosion of metals, extend the life of the spa, and allow the sanitizer to work at maximum efficiency.
Methods For Testing The Spa Water:
Accurate water testing and analysis are an important part of effectively maintaining your spa water. To follow the Arctic Spas recommended program , you must have the ability to test for:
+ Total Alkalinity (TA)
+ Calcium Hardness (CH>
+ pH
+ Sanitizer
Although reagent liquid test kits provide the highest level of accuracy, Test Strips are the most convenient testing method used by many spa owners. Keep in mind that test strips are susceptible to heat and moisture contamination, which will result in inaccurate readings.
IMPORTANT: Always read and carefully follow the directions included with the Test Kit or Test Strips to ensure the accuracy of the test results.