Hot Springs Spas - Anyone with experience of ACE Salt Water System

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DoctorDigital

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290367 6-Nov-2021 17:40

We installed a a Hot Springs Spa Flair model around a month ago. This has their Salt Water System that uses a small Titanium cartridge to produce Chlorine from salt - or it's meant to. We have worked closely with Hot Springs to balance everything and even changed the Cartriidge but the system does not produce Chlorine. The FCL concentrations sit at around 0.5 ppm (target 3-5) even with the salt ystem turned up to 9 (out of 10) and no one using the Spa.

I'm interested if any has experience with this Salt Water System.

jay63

65 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2808555 6-Nov-2021 18:04

Hi. We have a Hot Springs Spa with the ACE system and have been pleased. For ours, the unit fits inside one of the filters with a cable to the electronics and works well. We did have to replace the ACE unit after just under 3 years which I guess is normal.

A few thoughts (some obvious I know; and assuming you have the guide):

1. Have you checked salt levels and made sure everything else is balanced?

2. Did you give it a chlorine boost when you started it up? - it seems to need this to be effective

3. Are you using the spa frequently with quite a few people? - again, may need a chlorine top up.

4. Does the Display show the system is active and working when you set the level - there is a way to test this?

5. Possibly worth purchasing the specific Hot Springs test strips just to make sure rights measurements - one set for chemicals and one for salt levels

Otherwise, I would guess the Ace unit needs replacing - or somehow connection not working to electronics board. Ask Hot Springs for a deal on a new unit if not still under warranty. I have found the Hot Springs service team quite knowledgeable and efficient when I have needed.

They are great spas and really like the feel of the salt water on skin so hope it is working soon.

DoctorDigital

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2808559 6-Nov-2021 18:14

Hi Jay - thanks for the quick response. Yes to all your questions but appreciate the need to check the basics! We have been very diligent with keeping everything in balance, applied the Chlorine Shock etc. (Hot Springs walked us through the process). We have got through a complete set of test strips we have been monitoring so often.

Its a 6 person SPA and a few times we had 3 people but mostly 2. For the last week or so we did not use at all to see if the Chlorine was produced but no joy.

What level of Chlorine do you get, what level do you run the system at (1-10) and how often do you need to top up? I appreciate variables like frequency of use and number of people will have a big impact, but any data points are helpful right now as we try to figure this out.

jay63

65 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2808560 6-Nov-2021 18:35

We haven't been using our Spa very much recently but even with ACE set at level 3 the chlorine will pop up solidly into the 3-5 range. We have had times when our kids had loads of friends over and had to give a chlorine boost but it otherwise always has recovered in a couple of days. When we used with 2 or 3 people every day or two, I think it was set at level 5 and chlorine levels were consistently good.

We only need to top up chlorine once per month at most. I will add chlorine monthly when I'm cleaning the filters if it needs it but this isn't often.

I do find it strange that the system says it is working on your display read-out. When our first ACE unit slowly wore out it clearly showed a decline from the green area into the yellow and coincided with lower levels of chlorine generation.

It certainly sounds like you are on top of all the details. The only issue we ever had was just a learning one as in the few months I couldn't at first figure out why the blue light on the spa was flashing and eventually figured out this meant we had to re-set the ACE level every month so too much chlorine wasn't generated with minimal use.

The ACE system should just work and be simple. I would get Hot Springs out for warranty work if no joy and waiting days in between use.

A working spa should absolutely be considered an essential activity for you guys during Covid times.