Hot Tub Brand Water Care Systems Reviewed
It’s no mystery that buying a hot tub is a great way to maximize your relaxation, indulge in endless hydrotherapy, and take your social gatherings to the next level. However, the intimidating task of maintaining healthy and clean water continues to discourage many potential owners. To combat this, many brands like Sundance® Spas have developed tailored approaches to water care that significantly reduce effort and long-term costs. Just as with spa design, every brand has its own process for water maintenance, each with different levels of automation, ease of use, and effectiveness.
This article serves to inform potential owners that hot tub water care doesn’t have to be a daunting task, and that with a little bit of research, you can find the perfect brand to make your hot tub water care infinitely simpler. Keep reading to gain an overview of hot tub water care, and then take a closer look at the solutions offered by Sundance® Spas and others.
Why Does Hot Tub Water Care Matter?
Hot tubs require significant water maintenance because of their continuous usage and complex nature. Their water is constantly circulated through a network of filters, jets, and heaters, making it difficult to maintain consistent water chemistry and cleanliness. Consistent utilization also increases the risk of bacteria, algae, and other contaminants in spa water. Keeping your hot tub’s water balanced and sanitary is the most effective and efficient way of maintaining safe, hygienic, and clear water in your spa.
Water Care Basics
Understanding the fundamentals of hot tub water chemistry is key to effective maintenance. Here are some crucial factors to monitor within your tub:
- pH Levels: Ideally, your hot tub water should have a pH between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pH is too low, it can cause skin and eye irritation. If it's too high, it can lead to cloudy water and scaling.
- Alkalinity: This chemical compound helps stabilize pH levels, preventing sudden fluctuations. Aim to keep alkalinity levels between 80-120 ppm.
- Calcium Hardness: This refers to the concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) in your water. Maintain calcium levels of 150-250 ppm to prevent scale buildup and corrosion of spa equipment.
- Sanitizer Levels: Ensure the correct amount of chlorine, bromine, or alternative sanitizers are present to keep your water safe and clean.
Comparing Traditional and Advanced Water Care Systems
Traditional chlorine and bromine systems have been the standard for years, but advanced systems like oxygen, UV-C, and automated solutions can offer lower maintenance and a more natural water experience. Brands like Sundance® Spas now offer smartphone integrations that allow you to stay continuously updated on your hot tub water health and maintenance tasks, even automating some of the most demanding water upkeep duties. But we’ll get into that more later.
Traditional Systems vs. Advanced Systems:
- Cost: Traditional systems are typically more affordable initially, but advanced systems may save money on chemical costs over time.
- Maintenance: Traditional systems require frequent testing and chemical adjustments, while advanced systems automate much of the sanitization process.
- Water Feel: Oxygen and mineral-based systems provide softer, less irritating water compared to standard chlorine or bromine treatments.
- Environmental Impact: Oxygen and automated systems reduce reliance on chemicals, making them a more eco-friendly option.
- Ease of Use: Traditional systems typically require manual testing, repetitive upkeep, and continuous purchasing of chemicals. Automated or modernized systems complete many of these tasks for you, keeping owners updated directly from their smartphones.
The Benefits of Effective Hot Tub Water Care
Let’s take a closer look at exactly why we want to maintain clean and healthy water in our spas:
- Comfort: Balanced water looks and feels good. Unbalanced water can irritate the skin, cause unpleasant odors, and hurt your eyes.
- Extended Lifespan: Properly maintained water will keep your spa’s parts in better shape, reducing damage to components, like the heater, jets, and water pump, from water that is too acidic or alkaline.
- Safety: By balancing your hot tub’s water, you eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens. Bathing in unsanitary water can put your health at risk, exposing your body to germs and other irritants.
- Cost Efficiency: The healthier your water, the safer your investment will be. Regular chemical testing and water care will minimize the need for repairs and save you money on excess chemicals over time.
Let’s Take a Closer Look at Water Care Systems
Jacuzzi and Sundance Spas are both name stays within the hot tub industry and their water care systems only uphold their reputations. Years of innovation and testing have focused on simplifying the water care process and today, both brands offer solutions that are impressive as they are effective.
Jacuzzi True Water™
Sit back, relax, and let oxygen work its magic.
Jacuzzi True Water™ is a cutting-edge water care system that removes the need for traditional cleaning agents like bromine and salt, allowing oxygen to take control. The True™ system’s oxygen-filled nanobubbles float invisibly through the water, working to surround, scrub, and destroy any microscopic contaminants they encounter.
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Key Traits:
- 99.9999% Chlorine-Free: True Water™ uses oxygen nanobubbles to eliminate contaminants, reducing reliance on chlorine and bromine.
- Minimal Maintenance: The platform requires only 15 minutes of monthly maintenance, significantly less compared to traditional systems that necesitate daily or weekly upkeep tasks.
- Highly Effective: True Water™ eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and viruses without harsh chemicals.
- Salt-Free System: This system avoids the downsides of salt-based sanitation, reducing costs and chemical usage.
How Does True Water™ Work?
The True Water™ System generates oxygen-infused nanobubbles that are 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt. These bubbles move through the water, scrubbing and eliminating contaminants at a microscopic level. Unlike traditional systems that rely on harsh chemicals, True Water™ works naturally, making it a safe and eco-friendly option for hot tub owners.
Additionally, the system requires significantly less maintenance than conventional systems, as it only necessitates a small amount of time each month to keep your water in excellent condition.
Sundance Spa Sense™
It’s time to take the work out of water care.
Meet Sundance Spa Sense™, a built-in chemistry sensor and reporting system fully integrated with the SmartTub® System. Supported by the SUTRO Water Monitoring system, this state-of-the-art platform utilizes a unique sensor that offers precise recommendations based on specific spa models and water volume. Rest assured that your hot tub is always being monitored with detailed data—such as pH, free chlorine, and alkalinity levels— only clicks away on your smartphone, anytime, any place.
Key Traits:
- Smart Water Monitoring: Spa Sense™ works to measure your spa’s chlorine, pH, and alkalinity once a day, reporting it back to you directly through the SmartTub® system.
- The Most Reliable Form of Testing: MICROFLUIDIX chip sensing, the only liquid-based reagent sensor on the market, provides the most accurate water testing available, helping you take charge of your hot tub water care.
- No More Test Strips: This system eliminates the need for traditional color-coded test strips by providing precise digital readings directly to your smartphone.
- Unparalleled Intelligence: As the only sensor that offers precise recommendations based on specific spa models and water volume, Spa Sense™ gives you an inside look into your hot tub’s health and needs.
How Does Spa Sense™ Work?
The Spa Sense™ system utilizes the SUTRO Smart Monitor, which floats in your hot tub, to continuously measure key water parameters like pH, free chlorine, and alkalinity. Collected data is then sent to the SmartTub® app, where users receive real-time insights and recommendations for chemical adjustments via their smartphones. While traditional water care utilizes test strips, which can be inaccurate and difficult to interpret, Spa Sense™ provides users with precise digital readings and tailored treatment instructions, making the water sanitization process significantly simpler.
Dimension One UltraPure™ PLUS
This advanced water management system combines ozone generation and ultraviolet (UV) light to ensure exceptionally clean and clear spa water. Operating continuously, even while the spa is in use, UltraPure™ PLUS treats up to 40,000 liters of water daily, significantly reducing the need for chemical sanitizers and providing a more natural and enjoyable spa experience.
Key Traits:
- Dual-Stage Purification: UltraPure™ PLUS utilizes ozone generation and UV light to destroy contaminants, reducing reliance on harsh chemicals.
- 24/7 Continuous Filtration: The system operates even when the spa is in use, ensuring that water stays clean at all times.
- High Water Treatment Capacity: Treating up to eight gallons of water per minute, UltraPure™ PLUS is one of the most efficient water care platforms on the market.
- Improved Water Clarity & Hygiene: UltraPure™ PLUS removes unwanted odors, irritants, and bacteria from water, providing a more natural and refreshing spa experience.
How Does UltraPure™ PLUS Work?
UltraPure™ PLUS first injects ozone into a dedicated purification chamber to break down contaminants, bacteria, and organic matter in the water. Then, the water passes through a high-intensity UV light chamber, where ultraviolet radiation neutralizes bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms to enhance the disinfection process. By effectively neutralizing impurities, the system reduces the need for chlorine or bromine, creating a gentler, more natural spa experience with fewer irritants and odors.
Maintaining your hot tub water doesn’t have to be a chore. By investing in a hot tub with an advanced water care system, you can enjoy crystal-clear water with less hassle, ensuring your spa remains a source of relaxation rather than stress. Finding the right match isn’t always an easy process, but visiting your local dealer can give you further transparency. Certified dealers can offer tailored recommendations, additional insights, and customer feedback that can’t always be found on the internet. We hope this article has helped boost your knowledge of hot tub water care and gotten you one step closer to finding the right solution for your spa.
To learn more about hot tub water care and the Sundance Spas brand, visit us online.
