What Does Ozone Do in a Hot Tub? A Complete Guide to Ozone and AOP Systems
While shopping for hot tubs, sooner or later you’re going to hear about “ozone” as an option or even something called AOP (if you haven’t yet, hang on, you’re still in the right place).
If a salesperson has asked you if you’re interested, or if you have just come across the term while researching hot tubs, you’re forgiven if you’re a bit stuck.
Chances are that ozone and AOP will be referred to with great enthusiasm or they will be mentioned in passing like you already know what it is. Either way, you’re left not knowing exactly what to do. Do you want these options? What do they do? Are they worth any extra cost? Should you expect them in any hot tub you buy?
Those are all great questions. Here’s the simple answer to what they are: Ozone and AOP are each water sanitization options that help reduce the amount of chemicals you have to use in your hot tub.
In the rest of this article, we hope to answer the rest of those questions. We get asked about reducing chemicals all the time at our retailers. That’s why engineers began working on a solution to help. Every hot tub company would love to make a chemical-free hot tub and engineers work on this solution regularly. Using ozone and AOP is a step toward that goal.
So in this article, we’ll go through:
- How do I lower the amount of chemicals in my hot tub?
- What does ozone do in your hot tub?
- Do I need an ozonator in my hot tub?
- What is an AOP system?
- What people did before ozone (and still do).
- Salt water vs ozone.
Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a solid idea of whether an ozone or an AOP option is right for you.
How Do I Lower the Chemicals in My Hot Tub?
This is often where the questions start. There is currently no chemical-free way of keeping a hot tub so it is usable and if someone promises you that they do have that, feel free to walk out immediately. Chlorine or bromine are required as sanitization methods, and both work to destroy bacteria present in the water. They are chemical cleaners.
What is Ozone and AOP?
- Ozone is a gas.
- AOP is called an “advanced oxidization process.” It combines UV light and ozone and is the more powerful of the two options when it comes to sanitizing water.
Both are extremely useful in both sanitizing hot tubs and keeping your hot tub lasting longer, as the cleaner it is, the less wear and tear on all of its parts.
At Hydropool, we are big believers in minimizing maintenance issues for our customers.
How Does Ozone Work in Your Hot Tub?
Ozone works by attaching itself to molecules that either are bacteria or could spawn bacteria. The ozone essentially “opens up” the bacteria so it can be treated with any chlorine or bromine, which kills it.
- Bacteria often comes from particles from things like deodorant, soap, shampoo, makeup, hairspray and sunscreen.
- Even bacteria from your body, like sweat, for example, is also attacked by ozone, including any algae and yeasts that may end up in it.
- Ozone also causes any dissolved solids to bond together, so they can be filtered out. As a result, it also helps prevent calcium from building up in your water.
Do I Need an Ozonator in My Hot Tub?
Ozone lives in a device called an ozonator in a hot tub. It produces the ozone gas that’s delivered into your hot tub to help destroy any bacteria in the water. Ozone’s properties lead it to seek out bacteria and latch on to them, almost opening them up so they can be treated.
As a gas, it has no byproducts, unlike chlorine or bromine, so you can’t smell it. However, unlike chlorine or bromine, it doesn’t last very long in the water, which is why you need to keep using ozone in tandem with one of those sanitizers, which do last a long time. Together they form a very powerful method of water sanitization.
How Does AOP Work in Your Hot Tub?
AOP takes things one step further than ozone alone. First, the water goes through the ozone treatment before being hit by a UV-C light, which helps purify it further. It does this by creating hydroxyl radicals, which make quick work of defeating any bacteria before it can begin to multiply. This is the Advanced Oxidization Process in action.
At Hydropool, we often call it a proactive system because it works before the bacteria can spread. But don’t just take our word for it. This is from Pool and Spa News:
“Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are the most powerful oxidation agents available, quickly destroying bacteria, viruses, pathogens and other contaminants that occur in water. Hydroxyl radicals also destroy chlorine resistant microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium Parvum, Giardia and E.Coli.”
AOP is often used to treat drinking water. It was originally designed to treat wastewater. It is a common, accepted and widespread water treatment practice.
What Does Hydropool Do With Ozone and AOP?
Both are available. You can get ozone alone or you can get what Hydropool calls its Pure Water system, which is its version of AOP.
A UV system is generally in the $700-$1000 (Cdn) range. At Hydropool it is standard on all Signature self-cleaning hot tub models, and optional on the Serenity hot tub collection and Aqua Play swim spa collection. It is standard on the rest of the swim spas.
Do You Need an Ozonator or AOP System When You Buy a Hot Tub?
No. It’s an option that has been around since the mid-90s. Many hot tubs are sold without them, especially to customers who have owned hot tubs before and are comfortable with the level of maintenance they require without ozone or AOP systems in place.
How Often Should I Use My Ozone or AOP System in My Hot Tub?
We suggest using it four to six hours a day.
Who Are Ozone and AOP Systems Best for?
The people who should consider ozone or AOP systems include:
- If you’re looking to reduce chemical use, then they are a good option.
- If you don’t like cleaning your hot tub and prefer the least amount of maintenance possible.
- If you travel a lot and will be leaving your hot tub unattended or have a hot tub at the cottage and only use it infrequently throughout the year, they are a good option.
- If you like your water to feel as “silky” as possible, then an AOP system will help.
Ozone versus Saltwater Systems
Saltwater systems often promise that they will reduce your chemical usage, but in actuality, saltwater hot tubs are simply converting salt to either chlorine or bromine, depending on the kind you purchase.
Is an Ozone System Necessary for a Hot Tub?
This is the key question we tried to answer in this article, but ultimately it’s up to you to answer it! Many people out there today use hot tubs without either ozone and AOP, and others come in and insist on it. Over the years, we have increasingly been asked about reducing chemical usage, and that’s why ozone and AOP were developed in the first place for the hot tub and swim spa market.
In this article, we explained how ozone works to keep your hot tub sanitized, its cost, who it’s best for and how it compares to saltwater systems. We tried to answer, as honestly and clearly as we could, the main questions we get asked about these two sanitization systems.
Perhaps you have more questions and want to reach out to someone? Contact your closest dealer here.
