July 2000 | Sensible Home
Spa Ionizers
by James Dulley
Dear Jim: I am considering using a no-chemical electric ionizer pool/spa purifier. Chlorine irritates my eyes and skin and just smells bad. Will using an ionizer purifier push up my electric bills a lot? — Ann R.
Dear Ann: Using an electric ionizer is an excellent method to improve the feel and smell of pool/spa water. In addition to the concerns you mentioned, chlorine also slowly attacks pool liners, filters, and equipment. Unhealthy new chemicals may form when chlorine reacts with certain impurities.
The electric cost to use an ionizer is negligible — about the equivalent of using a twenty-watt night light. If you really want to save, consider using a tiny solar model that floats in the pool or spa. It produces its own electricity from the sun and takes about five minutes to assemble and drop in the pool.
The concept of using metal ions, copper and silver, has been used for centuries to purify water. NASA perfected this method in the 1960s for space travel. In ancient times, copper bars were placed in water. Drinking water was often stored in silver containers and drunk from silver cups.
Ionization purifiers are very simple water-purification devices. The water passes over one or two electrodes made mainly of copper, a slight amount of silver, and other minerals. A safe low-voltage electric current causes copper and silver ions to be released from the electrodes into the water.
The copper ions do the brunt of the work to kill algae and some bacteria and viruses. The silver ions are also a strong bactericide. The concentration level of the copper and silver ions is very low (less than one-quarter as much as allowed in drinking water), so they are not harmful to people or animals.
You should still shock treat your pool periodically with chlorine to oxidize body oils, suntan lotion, etc. Also maintain a very low residual chemical level (so low that you will not notice it). Some models include an additional platinum alloy electrode for oxidizing and others include an ozone generator.
The better models have electronic controls to maintain proper concentration levels of ions in the water. Some also have a digital readout to indicate how fast ions are being produced and include a pH sensor/readout.
Most of the ionizer kits include the tees, fittings, and hardware to attach the unit into your existing pump filter/pump plumbing. It is simple to do. Other models have an ionizer unit that simply hangs in the pool or spa.
After you first install one, check the copper ion level regularly until it stabilizes at the proper level. It is a simple test similar to the other regular pool water tests. Ion levels remain much more stable than chlorine.
Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 566, a buyer’s guide of twelve electric/solar ionizers showing pool/spa size purifying capacities, unique features, controls, diagrams, prices and tips to keep water crystal clear. Please include $3 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244
© 1999-2003, James Dulley. Visit dulley.com for more.
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