Many people think of a pool or hot tub as a luxury, though this may be true there are many real health benefits to owning a pool or hot tub. Many of us already know that simply being in water takes stress off of our joints. It is why many people with joint or arthritis pain find exercising in a pool or relaxing in a hot tub beneficial. When submerged in water your body is 90% lighter than standing on land this can provide an opportunity to heal and strengthen your joints and reduce damage.

Increasing circulation and boosting your digestive system are also known benefits. If you have trouble sleeping, a hot tub can be a welcome relief - getting out of the hot tub your body is in an ideal state for relaxing. The jet action from the hot tub or pool, unknots those muscles and which provides relief from the tension of the day. I think it’s clear that we can see the physical benefits of owning a pool or hot tub but what tops the list is the emotional benefit. In a hurried society where people's agendas are full, it is even more important to take time to enjoy family and friends for your social and emotional well being.

A special place where you can shut down, wind down and reconnect with that special someone is no doubt the one benefit that matters the most as it improves matters of the heart!

Enzymes
Probiotic yogurt, laundry detergent and shampoos use enzymes because of their effectiveness and versatility. The success of enzyme use in consumer products has overflowed into pools and spas. An enzyme is a catalyst and if used properly can eliminate oils and other organic contaminants in pools and spas, which leads to waterline formation, frequent filter media cleaning and cloudy water. Breaking down this matter will improve filtration and reduce sanitizer and oxidizer use. It is specific in nature as when it hits the water it comes in contact with oils and contaminants, then it binds them together - once this process is complete, small pieces are released and the enzyme can perform this action all over again.

Phosphates
Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of the element phosphorous, found in many phosphate minerals. In ecological terms, phosphate is a very important resource as its availability can govern the rate of growth of organisms (especially in fresh water systems). In other words, phosphate is often the determining factor in whether microorganisms like algae and bacteria grow. This important characteristic makes them undesirable in hot tub water as they can ‘fuel’ a microbial infestation (biofilm). In addition, the presence of phosphates can create a significant demand for sanitizers like bromine and chlorine as oxidizers like these will attempt to break phosphates down. Phosphates will also combine with calcium ions in the water as it heats to form a calcium phosphate complex, leading to scale formation and dull water. In salt-water hot tubs, phosphate can coat the electrodes of the device, preventing the efficient production of chlorine or bromine or cause scale to form on the electrode. Phosphates provide no useful benefit but can make successful water management problematic and costly.

Prevention:
Avoid the use of products which contain phosphates or are phosphate-based (i.e. certain stain and scale control products contain Phosphoric Acid, which reverts to orthophosphate after oxidation). Should your fill water contain a phosphate residual, you can treat periodically with Dazzle™ Phos Cleanse following the instructions above, to maintain a level that is not problematic.