Whirlpool, Jetted and Air Bath Tub System Cleaning
Technicians understand the plumbing mechanics of a Whirlpool, Jetted or Air Bath and where the water resides
Pipes cut to expose what technicians see. This
is what contaminants look like in pipes brown
insides should be white. Click Picture to
enlarge.
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- Have you ever noticed black or white greasy
flakes coming out of the jets or brown scum
appearing at the water line after turning
on the tubs pumps?
- Do you notice dark colored contaminants forming in air bath injectors or wall jets? - Does the tub smell musty or are bugs attracted to the tub? - Have you discontinued usage of your tub for any of the above reasons? Your whirlpool or air bathtub is a haven for bacteria and mold. These uninvited additions to your bath grow in warm or cold water residing in the pipes, pumps and jets and can make you sick or disgusted. A jetted bath tub is different from a spa or hot tub. It is installed in a bathroom and filled every time you want to use it. A spa or hot tub is typically filled once and kept hot till next use. The water in a spa/hot tub has to be treated regularly with chemicals to keep it clean and bacteria free. Because jetted bathtubs don't have chemicals to kill bacteria, they have to be cleaned. It's important to clean the jets, pumps and pipe works regularly to keep your tub enjoyable. Below is an easy, inexpensive way to do it. If your tub is still spewing debris after this method, there is considerable build up, increase the amount of running time(s), the soak time can be left over night or longer. The surface of the tub can be waxed with an automotive type car wax to prevent water spots and mineral build up when completed. NOTE: DO NOT WAX THE BOTTOM IT WILL BE SLIPPERY. |
Sanitize, disinfect, cleanse, deodorize, sterilize, decontaminate, purify, scrub, purge, flush and rinse the jets, air channel and injectors, pipe works and water pumps with this household remedy.
Spa Tec's
instructions for an "average" size tub 40-60 gallons,
larger tubs will require more ingredients.
1. Fill the tub up to the over flow if equipped or about 2-3 inches above the highest wall jets with hot water.
2. Turn off the air induction valves (knobs that add air to the water) if equipped. This reduces suds mess.
3. Ensure all wall jet nozzles are open fully. Refer to manual from tub manufacturer.
4. Add 1/4 cup of granular- automatic dishwasher detergent like Cascade.
5. Add one tablespoon of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate). *See definition at bottom of page.
6. Add 1/2 cup of laundry or household bleach and turn on ventilation fans in bathroom. If the water supply is from a well and the water immediately turns brown do not be alarmed the bleach is reacting with iron contained in the water supplied. Some people substitute vinegar in place of bleach, we found it is not as effective for killing bacteria, viruses and mold.
Notice: If your tub has both water jets and air jets complete both 7A and 7B.
7A. Jetted Baths - Activate the wall Jets on high speed for 20-30 minutes to mix and strip contaminants from pipes, pumps and jets. Turn Jets off and let it sit (soak) for 20-30 minutes minimum, Then activate Jets again for another 20-30 minutes to purge. The flushing action created by activating jets and soaking breaks down contaminants in the pipes, pumps and jets which go down the drain. Repeat process if you feel it's necessary.
7B. Air Baths - Activate air pump on high speed for at least 5-10 minutes to mix, turn off and let combination of water and disinfectants to refill air chamber (which is where the contaminants are located), let soak for several hours to break down contaminants. Then activate air pump to purge for another 5-10 minutes. The flushing action created by soaking and purging breaks down contaminants in the air chamber which go down the drain. Repeat process if you feel it's necessary.
8. Drain the tub, rinse vessel surface with clean water from shower wand or bucket forcing particles down to the drain, Do not allow particles to dry onto vessel surface.
9. Refill with cold water and activate all the Jets and/or Air pump for a few minutes as a rinse cycle for the pipes, pumps, wall jets and air injectors. Do not skip this step, it is important to flush out all remaining chemicals from the system to avoid corrosion.
10. Drain the tub, rinse vessel surface with clean water from shower wand or bucket forcing particles down to the drain, Do not allow particles to dry onto vessel surface.
11. Wipe down tub surface with soft cloth or micro fiber cloth (Best Choice) to shine finish, Squeeze out water frequently.
12. If you love your tub, wax ( Automotive surface type) the vessel surface walls - not the floor, it will be slippery. Wax the chrome type or brass finishes on jets and faucets or fixtures to help prevent water spots and mineral build up - do not wax Jet nozzles.
If your tub is still spewing debris after this method, there is considerable build up, repeat the process and increase the amount of running time(s) and for the best results the soak time can be left over night or longer.
If you consistently have problems with mineral type build up like Iron, Calcium or Lime consider finding a plumber to install water line filters to the faucets hot and cold water supply pipes (Preferably between the shut off valves and the fill spout assembly, so they can be replaced easily in the future if needed). When do they need replacement you ask? After the inline filters are installed notice the amount of time it takes to fill your vessel. At a later date you will notice it takes a lot longer to fill the vessel than it use to, trapped particles slow down the water flow rate. Replace at your discretion from there. Inline filters vary in particle size entrapment called microns, the smaller the micron the finer it filters. They also vary in duties like: sediment only or multiple symptoms type. Have the proper ones installed to suit your application. After initial installation the water flow rate will slow down due to the added restriction caused by the filters, but consider it polished water.
Note: Micro Fiber cloth "Slightly Dampened" with water is also a great way to clean faucets, mirrors and glass. No chemicals needed.
*Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP), is a cleaning agent, stain remover and de greaser, It is a white, granular or crystalline solid commonly used to prepare surfaces for painting. It can also be called tri-sodium orthophosphate and has the chemical formula Na3PO4. It is a highly water-soluble ionic salt. Solutions of it dissolved in water have an alkaline pH. Tsp is no longer an ingredient found in residential automatic dishwasher detergents. Commercial situations in which dishes must be absolutely clean and sanitary demand detergents that work. It's the reason the professional grade detergents used by hotels, restaurants, and hospitals still contain phosphates(TSP).
*TSP (Na3PO4) can be found in the paint section of better hardware stores.
Following these guidelines is a recommendation by our experience with cleaning and sterilizing Whirlpool, Jetted and Air Bath Tubs. Please read this link: Spa Tec's Web Site Information and Directions Disclaimer before proceeding with alterations to these directions.
1. Fill the tub up to the over flow if equipped or about 2-3 inches above the highest wall jets with hot water.
2. Turn off the air induction valves (knobs that add air to the water) if equipped. This reduces suds mess.
3. Ensure all wall jet nozzles are open fully. Refer to manual from tub manufacturer.
4. Add 1/4 cup of granular- automatic dishwasher detergent like Cascade.
5. Add one tablespoon of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate). *See definition at bottom of page.
6. Add 1/2 cup of laundry or household bleach and turn on ventilation fans in bathroom. If the water supply is from a well and the water immediately turns brown do not be alarmed the bleach is reacting with iron contained in the water supplied. Some people substitute vinegar in place of bleach, we found it is not as effective for killing bacteria, viruses and mold.
Notice: If your tub has both water jets and air jets complete both 7A and 7B.
7A. Jetted Baths - Activate the wall Jets on high speed for 20-30 minutes to mix and strip contaminants from pipes, pumps and jets. Turn Jets off and let it sit (soak) for 20-30 minutes minimum, Then activate Jets again for another 20-30 minutes to purge. The flushing action created by activating jets and soaking breaks down contaminants in the pipes, pumps and jets which go down the drain. Repeat process if you feel it's necessary.
7B. Air Baths - Activate air pump on high speed for at least 5-10 minutes to mix, turn off and let combination of water and disinfectants to refill air chamber (which is where the contaminants are located), let soak for several hours to break down contaminants. Then activate air pump to purge for another 5-10 minutes. The flushing action created by soaking and purging breaks down contaminants in the air chamber which go down the drain. Repeat process if you feel it's necessary.
8. Drain the tub, rinse vessel surface with clean water from shower wand or bucket forcing particles down to the drain, Do not allow particles to dry onto vessel surface.
9. Refill with cold water and activate all the Jets and/or Air pump for a few minutes as a rinse cycle for the pipes, pumps, wall jets and air injectors. Do not skip this step, it is important to flush out all remaining chemicals from the system to avoid corrosion.
10. Drain the tub, rinse vessel surface with clean water from shower wand or bucket forcing particles down to the drain, Do not allow particles to dry onto vessel surface.
11. Wipe down tub surface with soft cloth or micro fiber cloth (Best Choice) to shine finish, Squeeze out water frequently.
12. If you love your tub, wax ( Automotive surface type) the vessel surface walls - not the floor, it will be slippery. Wax the chrome type or brass finishes on jets and faucets or fixtures to help prevent water spots and mineral build up - do not wax Jet nozzles.
If your tub is still spewing debris after this method, there is considerable build up, repeat the process and increase the amount of running time(s) and for the best results the soak time can be left over night or longer.
If you consistently have problems with mineral type build up like Iron, Calcium or Lime consider finding a plumber to install water line filters to the faucets hot and cold water supply pipes (Preferably between the shut off valves and the fill spout assembly, so they can be replaced easily in the future if needed). When do they need replacement you ask? After the inline filters are installed notice the amount of time it takes to fill your vessel. At a later date you will notice it takes a lot longer to fill the vessel than it use to, trapped particles slow down the water flow rate. Replace at your discretion from there. Inline filters vary in particle size entrapment called microns, the smaller the micron the finer it filters. They also vary in duties like: sediment only or multiple symptoms type. Have the proper ones installed to suit your application. After initial installation the water flow rate will slow down due to the added restriction caused by the filters, but consider it polished water.
Note: Micro Fiber cloth "Slightly Dampened" with water is also a great way to clean faucets, mirrors and glass. No chemicals needed.
*Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP), is a cleaning agent, stain remover and de greaser, It is a white, granular or crystalline solid commonly used to prepare surfaces for painting. It can also be called tri-sodium orthophosphate and has the chemical formula Na3PO4. It is a highly water-soluble ionic salt. Solutions of it dissolved in water have an alkaline pH. Tsp is no longer an ingredient found in residential automatic dishwasher detergents. Commercial situations in which dishes must be absolutely clean and sanitary demand detergents that work. It's the reason the professional grade detergents used by hotels, restaurants, and hospitals still contain phosphates(TSP).
*TSP (Na3PO4) can be found in the paint section of better hardware stores.
Following these guidelines is a recommendation by our experience with cleaning and sterilizing Whirlpool, Jetted and Air Bath Tubs. Please read this link: Spa Tec's Web Site Information and Directions Disclaimer before proceeding with alterations to these directions.
If you have proven tips and tricks please fill out the Contact Us form so we can share the idea.
All personal information will be kept confidential.
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