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A7.0 Understanding Ozone
Oxygen is an element, and like other gaseous elements, normally exists as a pair of atoms bonded
together to make a whole molecule. Chemists therefore use the symbol O
2
to speak of “oxygen mol-
ecules” rather than oxygen atoms.
In the presence of an electric discharge like lightning or a strong source of ultraviolet light, three mol-
ecules of O
2
can combine to form two molecules of O
3
known as Ozone. While oxygen has no smell,
ozone has a very pronounced smell in large concentrations. In small quantities, it causes the pleasant
“fresh air” smell that laundry has when dried on an outdoor clothesline. Some clothing dryer manufac-
turers have installed an ultraviolet light inside their machines to give clothes that “fresh-as-all-outdoors”
smell. Jacuzzi Premium offers a type of ozone system, the corona discharge (CD). The corona dis-
charge (CD) uses a highly ef cient low current/high voltage arching chamber to generate ozone. The
CD ozone introduces ozone into the hot tub water through a “Mazzei” venturi tting.
The technician must understand three things about ozone:
• Ozone (O
3
) breaks down quickly into plain oxygen (O
2
).
• Ozone kills germs.
• Ozone is a strong oxidizer.
Because ozone breaks down quickly into oxygen, the hot tub would have to run 24 hours a day with the
ozone generator operating to insure constant disinfecting. Even then, a residual sanitizer must be used.
There are two choices, chlorine or bromine. While chlorine is oxidized by ozone just as quickly as bro-
mine, the resulting bromine compounds are a much better disinfectant than the resulting chlorine com-
pounds. Therefore, ozone and bromine team up better to do the overall job than ozone and chlorine.
A8.0 Understanding pH
Keeping the hot tub water clean and clear involves a very complex set of chemical reactions. Most
importantly, the hot tub must be sanitized. Bacteria, algae and other single-cell life forms that may nd
their way into the hot tub must be killed. Three chemical elements, chlorine, bromine and ozone are all
good sanitizing agents. When any of these elements come into contact with bacteria or algae, these
single-cell organisms die. Therefore, to keep the water germfree, we must simply keep a residual of the
sanitizing agent in the water.
Making germs dead is only half the objective, however. The dead cells of the bacteria and algae we
have killed, and the organic “stuff” (dandruff, persperation, dead skin cells, etc.) that our bodies deposit
in the hot tub, will make the water cloudy and univiting as they decompose. These microscopic contami-
nants must be “burned out” or oxidized. These oxidation reactions occur simultaneously with reactions
known as reduction reactions. The balance of these chemical reactions is quite critical and can occur
properly only if pH levels are maintained from 7.2 to 7.8 pH. If the pH is out of range, the sanitizing
agent itself will be oxidized or reduced and in effect be “used up” before it has a chance to do it’s job.
pH is critical for maximum disinfection, sanitizing and cleaning results with the least amount of chemi-
cal addition. Make sure your customer understands the importance of regular water test intervals and
the proper use of chemicals. Both are necessary to ensure maximum water quality and to maintain a
healthy and fun hot tub environment.