Chlorine Free Spa Sanitiser by Poppits

Poppits brand non-chlorine sanitiser is a healthy alternative to conventional chlorine and bromine options for people concerned about asthma, sensitive skin, and the environment.

Hydrogen peroxide (H202) is a powerful yet versatile oxidant that is both safe and effective for use in residential spas as well as being a stronger oxidiser than chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and potassium permanganate.

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM CHLORINE?

Poppit Spa Sanitiser cleans and conditions the spa in one action. It uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidise the bacteria and organic materials in spa water, while at the same time preventing the buildup of organic slime on spa walls and seats.

The advantage of the Poppit Spa Sanitiser is that it does not contain chlorine or bromine making it ideal for asthmatics and people with sensitive skin. In fact, there is no need to shower or bath after using your spa.

Peroxsil365 Chlorine Free Sanitiser uses the synergy between silver and hydrogen peroxide to achieve the ultimate level of disinfection in spa and pool water. The combination of both components oxidizes any bacteria or organic matter that may be present in the pool or spa water.

USING POPPITS IN YOUR SPA

#1 HEAT AND READ THE POPPITS PEROXSIL TEST STRIP

Preheat the water in your spa to at least 26 degrees then, using the Peroxsil395 test strip (swirl 3 times and line up with colour indicators on test vial) check and record pH and alkalinity. It is important to make the reading within 30 seconds for it to be accurate.

#2 BALANCE WATER ADJUSTING THE PH & TOTAL ALKALINITY WITH POPPITS ONE-STEP PREP

Based on the reading on the test strip, you can determine how much of the Poppits One Step Water Prep to add. See the chart below for how much to add.

When adding Poppits One-Step Water Prep to spa water, pour it slowly into the spa with the jets turned on.

Circulate water for 2 – 3 hours before moving to Step 3.

NOTE: Generally, town water supply has some level of alkalinity whereas rainwater (tank water) has none. Check levels again the next day (please note, the strips read pH slightly lower than actual and so if reading for pH is at the lower end of the scale this is acceptable).

#3 SANITISE YOUR SPA BY ADDING POPPITS PEROXSIL395 POOL & SPA SANITISER

• For Spas up to 3000 litres add 380ml / 1000 litres and circulate for 30 minutes.

• For Swim Spas add 250ml / 1000 litres and circulate for 60minutes.

Make sure your PER (sanitiser) level before bathing is at least 100ppm. Or alternately ask us about auto-dosing.

WATCH POPPITS SPA MAINTENANCE VIDEO BELOW

Easy Spa Maintenance Tips

There aren't many things better after a long day than relaxing in your spa. Keeping your spa clean & healthy with some basic maintenance will ensure your spa is always ready for you!

The key to looking after your spa is knowing the ins and outs of your unit. Having a reasonable understanding of its features will ensure not only that you get the most out of it, but it will also speed up the process if it needs any repairs down the track.

Keep the water moving

The first tip for your spa is making sure you circulate the water every day. This is where knowing your spa’s features can come in handy, as it may have an automatic circulation feature that you can program. Flowing the water through your filter will help keep it free of contaminants. The more you circulate your water through the filter, the cleaner your water will be!

Quick Tip: Have a quick shower before you jump into your spa, the hot water in your spa extracts the oils and lotions from your skin, so a quick shower first will make things easier on your filter!

Weekly scrub

Regularly cleaning your spa is essential. A spa is prone to developing grime around the waterline, so a weekly scrub with a product like BioGuard SPA Squeaky Clean™ will remove any dirt, grease or stains and keep your surfaces bright and beautiful.

Giving your filter a clean using BioGuard SPA Filter Renew™ every month or so will increase the efficiency of your filter which in turn will reduce your overall maintenance cost.

Deep clean

On top of your weekly scrub, give your spa a deep clean every 3-4 months. Dose your spa with BioGuard SPA Swirl Away® and turn on the pump for circulation and then drain the water. This will cut through any scale and grime build up in your pipes and jets, and leave your spa sparkling. (Dosage rates differ for spa baths and outdoor spas/hot tubs so be sure to check with us for the correct dosage rates).

Healthy water

Keeping your water balanced is vital to keeping your spa healthy. This involves tracking the same elements as a pool: pH, alkalinity and sanitiser levels etc.

After a fresh fill, before you start adding any products to your spa, take a sample of your water in for a professional test and balance with us. From then on, we recommend testing your water at least once a week.

Aim for a pH level that sits between 7.2 – 7.6. Adding BioGuard Spa Comfort Up ™ to your water raises the pH and will not only keep you comfortable but also protect your surfaces and equipment. Equally, if you find your water is too alkaline, use BioGuard SPA Aquality™ to prevent cloudy water and prevent scale build-up.

Hot water is also the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so to keep it safe for you and your family, regularly add a sanitiser such as BioGuard SPA Armour™. It’s both a sanitiser and an oxidiser, so this dual-action product will keep your water clean and crystal clear, and best of all you can add it straight into your water. No need to mess around with pre-dissolving!

It’s also a good idea to shock your water after a period of inactivity. A shock treatment with BioGuard SPA Purity™ will ensure the water is completely sanitised before you jump back in.

Let technology do all the work

If the thought of trying to remember a weekly maintenance routine leaves you feeling overwhelmed, why not use an app to take away the mental load? These days, there are a variety of apps available for your smartphone to help you keep on track. Set it up to send you a notification every time you need to attend to a task. Never again will you forget to test your water or add a dose of sanitiser.

And don’t forget that we're always here to help! We're always happy to answer any questions relating to your spa and can design a maintenance program specifically suited to your needs.

Which temperature to set your spa in Winter

How hot should you have your spa? There aren’t many nicer things than slipping into a warm, bubbling spa. But when it comes to setting your water temperature, how hot is too hot?

Before you touch your control panel, there are a few factors to consider: safety, budget and personal preference. Finding the perfect balance can take some fine-tuning, so to save you some time, we have formulated this guide to heating your spa.

As there are a wide range of models on the market and the way you control the heating system varies. Some models even enable you to manage your spa temperature remotely with your smartphone.

New spa models will generally prevent you from increasing the water temperature too high as a safety precaution. Your maximum spa temperature should not exceed 38°C, and bather time in spas at this temperature should be no longer than 15 minutes. Any water temperature above this level is considered unsafe for adults to swim in and can cause harm to bathers.

DOES WATER TEMPERATURE MATTER?

Water temperature is a personal preference, and we recommend you do some experimentation between the safe levels of 36°C to 38°C. You need to be careful, however, about keeping the water within the safe range, so you don’t damage your body.* We also recommend having a spa thermometer on hand to double check the temperature before using your spa.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

One of the main concerns of a spa owner is how to prevent an astronomical energy bill. For this reason, it may be tempting to keep your spa at a significantly lower temperature when you’re not using it. Doing this, however, could cost you more! Constantly turning your spa temperature up and down will use more power and can also wreak havoc on the heating element.

Instead, turn the temperature down only slightly when your spa isn’t in use, and keep your spa cover on. This minimises energy wastage by using unnecessary energy to keep your spa at a higher temperature when it’s not in use and it also keeps the water warm enough so when you’re ready to heat it up again, only a small amount of energy is required to reheat the already warm water, rather than the huge power surge that would be required to heat up cold water.

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT

Finding your perfect spa temperature will require some experimentation, but we suggest starting at 37°C (the average body temperature) and then altering it from there if it’s too chilly or too hot.

* It’s important to know that prolonged periods in hot water can present a risk to any swimmer, especially if they have a pre-existing health condition. So, if you have a health condition, it’s a good idea first to discuss the suitability with your healthcare provider before you jump in.

Original article posted by Bioguard

How to make the most of your spa in autumn

It’s time to pull off the cover and enjoy a revitalising and relaxing spa! However, if you’ve neglected your spa for a few weeks or maybe a few months, there are a few simple things you’ll need to do to get everything ready!

1. Your spa cover

While keeping out dirt, leaves and bugs, the cover also acts as a seal for your spa. So if you’re removing the cover for the first time in a while, it’s a good idea to give your spa a good airing.

At the same time, give the cover a clean, with a simple wipe with warm soapy water.

2. Treat the water

Many spa manufacturers have a specific start-up procedure to make sure everything is working fine. We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions at all times.

If you’re re-filling your spa, ensure the water is circulating before balancing it with products from the BioGuard Spa balancing range.

Use BioGuard Spa Sanitiser, as per label directions and your spa manufacturer’s start-up instructions to sanitise your water and neutralise bugs and germs.

Then add BioGuard Spa Purity to oxidise the water and BioGuard Spa Crystal Clear to really get that water sparkling.

Finally, we recommend adding BioGuard Spa Defence. This will help to protect your spa, pump, and filter and prevent surface staining and build-up.

With the treatment complete, you should have a chlorine level of 2-3 ppm.

We always suggest bringing a sample of your spa water to us and we’ll help you get that balance just right.

3. Run the jets

To maintain water quality in your spa, it’s a good idea to run the jets. This not only helps to regulate the spa temperature but running the jets will pass more water through your filter quickly and help keep your spa clean, just remember to regularly check and clean/change the filter as required.

If you are not going to fully cover the spa between spa sessions, running the jets and circulating the water regularly is important to filter out the dirt, dust and debris that fall in.

4. Set the temperature

Spas are designed to heat water to the perfect temperature for you to enjoy, obviously this takes time, so planning ahead is key. Your maximum spa temperature should not exceed 38°C, and bather time in spas at this temperature should be no longer than 15 minutes.

Finding your perfect spa temperature will require some experimentation, but we suggest starting at 37°C (the average body temperature) and then altering it slightly from there.

Constantly turning your spa temperature up and down will use more power and can also wreak havoc on the heating element. Rather, turn the temperature down only slightly when your spa isn’t in use, and keep your spa cover on. This minimises energy wastage and will keep the water warm enough so when you’re ready to heat it up again, only a small amount of energy is required to reheat the already warm water, rather than the huge power surge that would be required to heat up cold water.

*This one is optional! Cold spas are incredibly refreshing at any time of year. Depending on the make and model, this may simply prevent the heating element from turning on, but in some cases, your spa can actively cool the water.

If you really want to refresh yourself… you can drop the temperature even further by adding ice, this won’t damage your spa or spa surfaces, but we still recommend adding it in small increments, so you can more easily control the chemistry of your spa.