Maintaining the water quality.

To enjoy your whirlpool tub as long as possible and maximise the service life of the components, the quality of the water in it must be kept within specified limits. To do this is quite simple, however, this requires regular care as the chemical composition of the whirlpool tub water is subject to various interconnected factors. There is no patent remedy and there is no way of avoiding it. If not done properly, the water quality is impaired and could thus cause harm to the user. It could also cause damage to the whirlpool tub. For further information on maintaining the water quality, please contact your authorised Villeroy & Boch specialist dealer, who will gladly recommend suitable chemicals for disinfecting and maintaining your whirlpool tub.

Disinfection

Disinfectants kill off bacteria and germs and thus keep the water pure. If the disinfectant level is too low, then bacteria and germs can quickly proliferate in the whirlpool tub water. To increase the level, simply add an approved disinfectant to the water. If the disinfectant level is too high, this could cause irritations to the eyes, lungs and skin. To reduce the level, simply wait - the amount of disinfectant in the water will automatically drop as time goes by. Effective and safe disinfectants are, e.g. granular chlorine (it is essential to use granular dichlorine) and granular bromine.

NOTE: More frequent use of the whirlpool tub or a higher number of users leads to a greater disinfectant requirement in order to maintain the recommended concentration.

NOTE: Ozone cleaning is only recommended to complement the above-mentioned disinfectants. The WellSpring™ ozone purifier from Villeroy & Boch, in conjunction with a standard chemical whirlpool tub cleaning programme, increases the water quality quite substantially.

CAUTION: Ozone may not be used as the only disinfectant for cleaning the water and preventing stains, limescale residues or foaming.

WARNING: Trichlorine tablets must not be used for the whirlpool tub! Their fast dissolution, strength and extremely low pH value can cause heavy damage to the surface and components of the whirlpool tub. Using trichlorine tablets will void the warranty.

WARNING: Bromine and dichlorine tablets are only recommended as a suitable disinfectant for Villeroy & Boch whirlpool tubs if they are used together with a suitable feeding or dosing device. Sporadic or excessive use of bromine or chlorine in the whirlpool tub can cause damage to the surface and component failure. The use of these tablets in an automatic rinser requires more frequent monitoring and checking. Inappropriate use of bromine and dichlorine tablets will void the warranty.

WARNING: Biguanide products are not recommended for use in your whirlpool tub either. These products are known for causing damage to contact lenses, pump seals and other whirlpool tub components. Inappropriate use of biguanide products void the warranty.

Shock treatment

A normal disinfection does not eliminate chloramine (bound chlorine), bromamine (bound bromine) or other non-filterable substances such as, e.g. sweat, grease, hairspray, etc. which collect in water. These substances make the water look and smell unpleasant and can impair the effect of disinfectants. The term shocking or shock treatment of the whirlpool tub water is used when the level of granular chlorine (dichlorine) increases to at least 10.0 ppm or the level of granular bromine (bromine concentrate) increases to at least 22.0 ppm. Such a shock treatment can also be achieved without chlorine, e.g. with potassium peroxymonosulfate or equivalent compounds. If you require additional support, please contact your authorised Villeroy & Boch specialist dealer, who will gladly help you.

After shocking the whirlpool tub water, you should leave the whirlpool tub cover at least half open for a minimum of 20 minutes so that the disinfectant vapours can escape. Do not leave the whirlpool tub unattended when children are around. If the highly concentrated cleaning vapours cannot escape through the open cover, then they can cause discolouration or damage on the underside of the cover. Such damage to the cover is not covered by the warranty on the whirlpool tub.

WARNING: Never leave the uncovered whirlpool tub unattended, especially when children are around.

IMPORTANT: Before using the whirlpool tub, the chlorine level must drop below 5.0 ppm or the bromine level below 11.0 ppm.

pH value setting

A correct pH value setting is extremely important in order to make the water pleasant for the users and to prevent any damage to the whirlpool tub and equipment. The pH value is a measurement for the acidic or alkaline reaction of an aqueous solution. The pH scale covers 0-14. The range between 0 and below 7 is described as acidic, a pH value over 7 indicates that the environment is alkaline. The ideal pH value for the water in a whirlpool tub is 7.4 to 7.6.

An excessively high pH value (over 7.6) can cause limescale residues on the whirlpool tub and its components, cloudy water, prematurely dirty filters and a less effective water treatment. You can correct an excessively high pH value by adding a pH reducer.

An excessively low pH value (below 7.4) can cause irritations and discomfort whilst bathing, a quickly decreasing effect of the disinfectant as well as corrosion on the whirlpool tub components. You can correct an excessively low pH value by adding a pH raiser.

NOTE: Muriatic acid must not be used to adjust the pH value as it can cause damage to the whirlpool tub and its components.

Total alkalinity (TA)

The total alkalinity measures the total content of alkaline components (carbonates and bicarbonates) in the water, which, when adjusted correctly, act as a buffer against quick pH value fluctuations. A correct total alkalinity is important for an optimum chemical composition of the whirlpool tub water. An excessively low TA can lead to an unstable pH value and thus to corrosion or limescale residues on the whirlpool tub and its components. An excessively low total alkalinity can be corrected by adding a TA raiser. An excessively high TA can cause limescale, cloudy water and other pH problems. If the total alkalinity in your whirlpool tub water is too high, then please contact your authorised Villeroy & Boch specialist dealer.

Calcium hardness (CH)

The calcium hardness specifies the amount of calcium present in the water. An excessively low calcium hardness (soft water) can cause stains on the whirlpool tub as well as corrosion on its components. An excessively low calcium hardness can be corrected by adding a CH raiser. An excessively high calcium hardness (hard water) can cause cloudy water as well as limescale on the whirlpool tub and its components. If the calcium hardness of the whirlpool tub water is too high, then the water should be diluted by mixing it with water that has been treated with a water softener or by adding a special water softener (chemical) (for further information, please contact your authorised Villeroy & Boch specialist dealer). IMPORTANT: The whirlpool tub may only be filled with soft water if a suitable mineral additive is immediately added (for further information, please contact your authorised Villeroy & Boch specialist dealer).

Protection against stains and limescale residues.

Staining and limescale residues often occur in hot water environments. In order to prevent these problems and keep them under control, we recommend adding a stain and limescale inhibitor.

Controlling foam formation.

Warm whirlpool tub water in which body oils and lotions collect has the tendency to foam more on the surface. A foam remover can be used as a temporary solution. Shocking the water is the best way to control foam formation. The soap residues which normal amounts of disinfectant can no longer handle are thus destroyed.

Cloudy water: Prevention and control.

Clouding of the whirlpool tub water is mainly due to the following two reasons. The water is contaminated by non-filterable fluids (e.g. sweat). The water has to be shocked in order to remove such substances. Or: The water is contaminated by non-filterable micro particles (e.g. dust). Use a water clearer to remove these substances.