“This product is easy to sell and install,” says Minor. “We really cannot recommend the old chlorine pucks in a dispenser to anyone, as it feels like suggesting horse-and-buggy technology. Not only do you have to load the dispenser once a week, but as the pucks dissolve, cyanuric acid is released into the water, which builds up and makes the water’s pH go way down. Then you find yourself fighting low pH, trying to keep the water chemistry balanced, which is a time-consuming, never-ending battle.”
Kevin Brakebill of KNS Hot Tubs in Redmond, Ore., had a similar experience when he sought out substitutes for traditional chlorine at the onset of the recent chemical shortage. Brakebill has always had concerns about using chlorine and bromine floaters in spas, because they make water caustic and do not measure its need for additional sanitizer.
“I find the bromine tablets cannot keep up with demand, while the chlorine tablets keep adding chlorine, even when the spa water does not need it,” he says. “The salt chlorine generator not only generates chlorine using regular table salt, but it also measures the chlorine levels in the spa water and turns off automatically and stops making chlorine once the spa water has enough chlorine sanitizer.”
Easier maintenance
Salt chlorine generators benefit spa and hot tub owners because they make water maintenance much easier between service visits. In most cases, a saltwater hot tub can be maintained with just salt for sanitation, white vinegar for pH control, and a phosphate remover. Service professionals who install salt chlorine generators on spas will find their maintenance visits will run smoother, and the spa itself can be left unattended much longer between service visits. The system will ensure the water remains clear for weeks with little to no attention.
Hot tub maintenance with a salt chlorine generator simply requires a pH adjustment once a week, as well as a monthly inspection of the cell to help prevent scale buildup. If scale is present, it is recommended to soak the cell in white vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes. Muriatic acid should not be used, unless it is diluted with 10 parts of water per one part of acid, or the cell will be damaged.
Salt chlorine generators can be especially helpful when installed on spas and hot tubs in semi-private rental homes, says Brakebill. Rather than scheduling frequent professional service visits, homeowners can leave a note for renters to hit a button on these intuitive devices at the end of each day—a much more realistic option than asking them to test the water and add chemicals to make sure there is enough sanitizer.
