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

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.

Pool Maintenance Tips

Maintenance of your pool & spa equipment is important all year round, and especially after a party or weather event like a storm. Here is a quick list of the main things to check, so your pool and equipment keep working at their best.

Cleaning Equipment

Check your leaf rake nets for splits and tears, these can be replaced separately either in-store or at home with just a screwdriver (and a lot of patience). Cracks in the frame of leaf rakes and brushes happen when the residual chlorinated water remains on them as well as damage from the sun’s UV rays.

Pumps

Check for any signs of leakage, most commonly found underneath. There is a mechanical seal that can begin to leak and become noisy with age. If you find a leak this means the seal needs to be replaced.

Also check the pump basket for cracks as this can allow fine debris through, clogging the inside of the pump, and restricting or even stopping the flow of water.

Filters

Media filters should be backwashed, they can also be cleaned and degreased as they benefit greatly from this because not everything is expelled with a backwash.

Cartridge and DE filters require a good hose out and should also be degreased to maintain their efficiency and make them last longer.

Those with glass media are the easiest filters to clean as they don't require any degreasing. Just a good backwash then rinse and you'll be good to go again.

Check the Multiport Valve for any leaks, the most common place to find them is water coming up through the handle area as well as from around the collar where it joins to the tank.

The tank of the filter can fatigue over time from being under constant high pressures, be sure to run your eye and hands over the whole tank for leaks and stress cracks. Check the pressure gauge for correct pressure readings e.g. When the pump is off, it should be at 0 and when on, it is operating in the normal range.

Salt Chlorinator

A good cleaning of the cell is important, even if it is 'self-cleaning'. This will remove the excess Calcium buildup that can attach itself to the plates that prevent proper chlorine production & the sensor which can give you false readings.

Simply mix a very dilute acid:water mix of 1 part acid to 10 parts water in a bucket and put the cell into the mix, ensure that the acid/water solution only touches the plates and not over the cap onto the leads.

*Always add acid to water, never water to acid as this can splash the acid onto you!!

Check the power connections on the cap to ensure there are no exposed wires and they aren't stripped or damaged.

Pool Cleaners

There are a lot of wearing parts on suction cleaners including skirts, soles, swivels, floats, and hoses on suction cleaners to rollers and baskets on robotic cleaners. Usually, a visual inspection of the cleaner will easily show parts in need of repair, though if they just aren’t working like they used to, you can bring the whole unit into us and we’ll give it the professional once over or you can have us come to you and make sure it’s covering the whole pool.

Water Balance

A home test kit will check your chlorine, pH, and alkalinity levels. Ensure they are in the ideal range and balance where required.

Alternatively, by bringing a water sample into our shop, we'll be able to test for all the balances that can affect your water quality and ensure that you have the perfect balance to keep your water clear!

*IMPORTANT - This is only a guide for what we suggest to check. If you are unfamiliar with your equipment and/or its operation, please contact us. We can either help you learn more or come and check your equipment for you. More damage can be done by removing or uninstalling any parts of the filtration system and voiding any warranties you may have.

Weekly Spa Maintenance

While it can seem like a hassle to keep your spa clean and balanced on a weekly basis. You will save money, time and potentially costly issues in the future. Read our easy weekly spa maintenance tips below.

Be Consistent:

Consistency really is the key to having a beautiful spa week in, and week out. We recommend taking the time to sketch up a quick schedule to keep you in a routine of maintaining your beautiful spa schedule and adding reminders to your phone. If you live with others, you could make a spa maintenance roster.

Consistency also helps you to measure and improve how your spa is running. By consistently maintaining your spa you can easily detect when things aren’t working perfectly.

What to Check:

Daily:

Spa Cover - Don’t allow the cover to get damaged or accumulate water and debris on the top.

Water Temp - This will help you maintain a constant temperature, but any drastic change will indicate malfunction.

Every Few Days:

Sanitiser levels - A combination of heavy use and hot water take their toll on the sanitiser used, but whatever the source, the microorganisms present in the spa must be killed in some way or another and as quickly as possible. You should have a chlorine residual of 2-3 ppm or bromine residual of 4-6 ppm.

Alkalinity level and pH balances - By maintaining a perfectly balanced spa, you’re ensuring water safety. The pH level needs to be as close as possible to our eye’s natural pH, which sits around 7.5 on a pH scale of 0-14.

To maintain a stable comfortable pH, soften spa water and protect equipment, we recommend using our BioGuard Perfect Balance.

Keep it Clean:

If you want a sparkling spa, cleaning it once a week will keep it looking brand new.

A product like BioGuard SPA Squeaky Clean removes scale, hard water deposits, and grease and dirt from along the water line so it will keep your spa surfaces looking clean and bright.

Every few days, cleaning above the water line will keep the drier areas of your spa from building up any dirt or water residue.

Filtration of your spa should be ongoing. To maintain water quality and cleanliness, your filter should run a minimum of four hours a day, even when it is not being used. Clean the filter with your garden hose to loosen dirt and debris and spray BioGuard SPA Filter Renew directly onto the filter.

By following our easy tips above, you’ll keep your spa in good condition, your water clean and healthy and everyone that uses your spa happy!