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Update: Health Canada bans saltwater hot tubs

On November 30th, 2018 health Canada finished a re-evaluation of hot tub and pool salt generators and the additive Sodium Bromide and determined that these devices were a risk to health.

The US is expected to investigate and would likely follow suit and even if they don’t this hit to the saltwater hot tub industry might thankfully be the nail in the coffin for this outdated water treatment option. At this time they have not performed a reevaluation on Sodium Chloride systems.

Read the Full Article Here

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Should you order a salt system for your new hot tub?

Hot Tub companies continue to extol the virtues of salt systems on hot tubs even though they are outdated and better options exist….

Here are the instructions for using the Arctic salt system as a demo, the other systems on the market are basically the same steps. I’ve given you a summation below or you can read the document yourself.Look over it and tell me if you think salt systems are being sold because they are easy and reliable or to add profit into deals...

THE SUMMATION IF YOU CANT BE ARSED READING THE WHOLE DOCUMENT…

• 2 years warranty on machine typically fails every 3-5 years $829.00
• 30 days on electrode, consumable part, replace 2-3 times a year at cost $200.00 each
• System takes corrosive base salt sodium chloride or sodium bromide and makes chlorine or bromine…
• Chlorine or Bromine made this way is un-stabilised (for $20 you could by a months supply of stabilized better quality chlorine or bromine with a dispenser you only have to fill once a week)
• No warranty on listed parts: heaters, heater barrels, jets, grab rails, pump seals, and pump motors affected by leaking pump seals. subject to salt-water failure with any system where the consumer is not using ArcticPure brand salt.

SET UP AND WEEKLY MAINTENANCE FOR SALT SYSTEMS…

You need to balance hardness and alkalinity and pH as normal of course. At this point with most systems you are done except adding a little chlorine. BUT with the salt systems you have 4 hours of work more that alone is pretty crazy…

• Mix 1/3 of the needed salts in 5 gallon pail in hot water
• Run pumps for 5 mins
• Come back in an HOUR!!!!
• Re-check pH and alkalinity

THEN…

• Mix 1/3 of the needed salts in 5 gallon pail in hot water
• Run pumps for 5 mins
• Come back in an HOUR!!!!
• Re-check pH and alkalinity

THEN AGAIN …

• Mix 1/3 of the needed salts in 5 gallon pail in hot water
• Run pumps for 5 mins
• Come back in an HOUR!!!!
• Re-check pH and alkalinity

Are you sick yet ? hold yer hat it gets better…

So now we are at FOUR HOURS FOR THIS EASY SYSTEM ? and that’s just to get close…

Now the nightmare begins and you live this nightmare every week. You need to test the salt level waiting 5 minutes for the results, and mix salt and add in one cup amounts, then test then mix and add and test and add and mix and test until the salt level is right…. SCREW THIS UP AND IT VOIDS THE WARRANTY ON YOUR HOT TUB !!!

And every time you test for the salt level you need to stand there for 5 minutes until the strip reacts for a proper reading… it takes hours sometimes for this step…

Spa water quality and other damages resulting from water imbalance are specifically not covered by this warranty. Warranty work must be completed by authorized Arctic Spas retailers only. No labour warranty is provided by Arctic Spas for Onzen systems installed on site, only faulty parts are covered.

Some companies are a bit different but the general theme is the same, the technology itself isn’t worth it, go with enzymes like Spa Marvel or Mineral Salts like Aquafinesse