Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why am I losing so much chlorine in my pool?
Excess loss of chlorine can be causing by many things but here are a few common causes:
1. Low stabilizer causing chlorine loss due to evaporation
2.High PH level making the chlorine become less effective, meaning it will take more chlorine to clean the water.
3. Salt system isn’t producing chlorine at the same rate, either increase the generation strength, attempt to clean the cell if there is buildup, or add salt to achieve the ideal level.
4. Large amount of debris getting in the pool and breaking down, causing a higher chlorine demand for the water.
5. Is your pool in direct sun? The more direct sunlight that the pool is in, the more chlorine loss the pool will experience. This can usually be solved by the addition of stabilzer into the water, but sometimes you may require a solar blanket to keep the sun out. As a bonus, a solar blanket also helps keep the pool heated, reducing running costs.
My pool is green, how do I fix it?
A green pool can be frustrating but don’t panic! Usually the turning of the water is due to a couple of easily adjusted factors.
1. Is your PH currently high? The ideal level is 7.2 – 7.4 when dealing with algae removal. If it’s high add the required PH- or Muriatic Acid
2. Is there organic debris in the pool? After a windstorm, rainfall, or the winter season it is common to have excess debris that has gathered in the bottom of the pool. This Debris will break down over time, clouding the pool and will continuously feed the growth of Algae in the water. If you can’t see the bottom of the pool, a clarifier should be used to allow the cleaning of excess organic debris.
3. Is your chlorine level sufficient? Should be 2-5 on a regular basis, and when the pool is green it’s best to double that chlorine level to allow the clarifying of the water.
How often should I get my pool heater serviced?
It’s recommended to get your gas pool heater serviced by a gas technician at least once a year for a cleaning. This assures that your igniter won’t struggle to start the unit in the spring, along with the benefit of a more efficient heating cycle for the unit, meaning you can enjoy your heated pool without worrying about heating efficiency.
Does Splash Pools do water testing, and what is the cost?
Splash Pools Manotick & Arctic Spas Ottawa offer walk-in water testing for pool and hot tubs at no cost! Feel free to bring your sample in any old container, just assure to thoroughly rinse out the container before filling, or if needed stop in and pick up a free sample bottle to bring your water in!
How do I prime my pool pump?
For an aboveground pool, the pump should always remain primed as long as your pump is lower than your skimmer/return connections
For an inground pool, the water will almost always drain down to the pool returns/skimmers. Usually inground pool pumps are designed to self prime, meaning they will void the air from the lines automatically. Sometimes though, based on the length of the pool lines, and the age of a pump, it won’t self prime.
In this case, the best method is to:
Open the pump lid, dump a bucket of water into the basket, close the lid, and start the pump. repeat this as necessary until the water level in the pump basket is full.
For A Visual Reference Please See This Video:
Does Splash Pools service all types of hot tubs?
Splash Pools is a registered dealer, along with being the local service center for the Arctic Spas line of hot tubs. This means that if you ever require repairs, upgraded, or advice regarding your Arctic Spa, we’re here to help! regardless of the age of the spa, we are able to get the original, or equivalent replacement parts.
Due to our dealer/repair center status, Splash Pools does unfortunately only service the Arctic Spa brand of hot tubs.
How do I clean my salt cell?
The first step of cleaning your cell is taking it off of the plumbing. To do this you’ll need a pair of channel locks, or a filter wrench. First, turn off the power to the pump to reduce water pressure, then take your wrench and undo both unions holding the salt cell in place, along with unplugging the power cables to the unit.
Next, you’ll want to grab the appropriate cell cleaning stand or an expansion plug (#11 or #12) to block off one side of the cell, standing it upright. If using a plug, grab a bucket to prop the cell up with.
Once ready, pour a 50/50 mix of water and Muriatic Acid into the cell, making sure to completely cover the metal plates on the inside of the unit. Let sit for 10-15 minutes at a time, or until no bubbling can be seen. Rinse the cell, check for calcium or salt buildup, and repeat the steps if required.
For A Visual Reference Please See This Video:
Does Splash Pools service all types of pools?
We service all types of pool equipment provided by most major brands, with a specialty in Jandy & Hayward brands of equipment! With the help of our suppliers, we are able to order almost any part you may need, with quick turnover times.
We at Splash specialize in the building, repair, and replacement of liner pools, built with the support of steel walls. With 20+ years of experience in the business, we can build any shape, size or depth of pool to fit your backyard oasis!
We also specialize in landscaping & design; doing interlock, sod, retaining walls, pool houses, and everything in between! Whether you need a path built, a backyard transformed, or concrete poured, let Splash Pools be your one stop shop to create a backyard paradise.
Why can't I get a handle of Arctic Spa's Spaboy?
The first and best place to research is the Arctic Spas Manual. The booklet goes over the does and do-nots of the Spaboy, including data related to:
Chlorine & PH levels
Weekly maintenance
Connecting the hot tub to wifi & the Spaboy app
Cleaning of the salt cell
Programming the SpaBoy generation to match your needs
and much more!
If you are still having troubles, feel free to call the office at 613-692-1804 and we can assist you!
How do I drain my Arctic Spa?
1. Locate the drain on the outside of the spa cabinet, typically located at the bottom right corner.
2. If there is a small (1″) plug, remove plug from the drain, attach a garden hose, and spin the outside flange to open the valve.
3. If there is a larger 2″ – 3″ plug, locate the threaded adaptor and attach a garden hose to the smaller, threaded side. Then, thread the adaptor into the drain housing and water should begin coming out.
4. If there is a recessed threaded receptacle you will want to put the garden hose into the drain, thread on the hose, and pull the tube outwards. The water should begin draining as it’s pulled out.
For A Visual Reference Please See This Video:
Should I add chlorine to my saltwater Arctic Spa?
(Onzen & Spaboy)
You should not be adding chlorine into a saltwater Spaboy system built into the Arctic Spas. This will ‘poison’ the probe for 48hrs, meaning the chlorine reading on the spa won’t be accurate, leading to over or under production of chlorine by the salt system.
If the spa has the Onzen system, it is reccommended to find the causes of the chlorine loss/usage in the spa so that it isn’t an ongoing fight to keep the spa clean. While in the process of diagnosing the root of the issue, you may add small amounts of chlorine to keep the system going. This is because the Onzen system doesn’t monitor or adjust for the chlorine level, rather producing the chlorine at a consistent rate based on your settings.
How often should I drain my hot tub water?
If the hot tub is used often by many people (everyday with 3+ people regularly) you should be aiming to drain the hot tub every 3-6 months.
If the hot tub isn’t often used, and is kept consistently clean then you can aim for around 6 months in between water changes. The best time of year to change the water is right before turning off your hose for the winter, and right after turning the hose back on for the spring. This assures you’re not fighting to keep your water flowing in the middle of the winter season.
What level should my Hot Tub water stay at?
The ideal water level in an Arctic Spas Hot Tub should be just below the bottom of the headrests, making sure the main jets are fully submerged. On average this ends up being around 6″ from the bottom of the floating weir. Though, the neck jets will typically be above the water line due to their higher location.
For more info check out this quick video!
How do I change my Spaboy / Onzen cell?
The swapping of the Arctic Salt system’s Cell is a relateively easy process.
1.turn off the breaker to the hotub, assuring their is no power being sent to the tub
2.inside the spa, undo the cell niche (the black or grey housing around the cell). The niche will thread out of the housing, allowing you to pull the cell and niche out of the water.
3. Assure that the connection for the cell doesn’t get wet for this next step. You will want to remove the screw holding the cell into the niche with a phillips head screw. Then you can unthread the cell, removing it completely.
4. Next, thread the new cell into the niche, making sure to reinstall the screw to assure a proper seal. Once the cell is secured, feed the wire back into the housing, rethread the cell/niche into the housing making sure it is secured. Then once, the niche and new cell are securely installed, you can turn the power back onto the spa and enjoy the water!