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After enjoying a swim in Saltwater Pool, some people wonder if the same type of technology is available for hot tubs. Saltwater systems are indeed available for hot tubs, and have been for many, many years.

What you might be surprised to learn is that as far as water purification systems for hot tubs go, the use of salt is in fact quite old fashioned, out dated technology! 

At The Sundance Spa Store we think you should do more of what matters to you. We want you to spend less time working on and maintaining your spa and more time enjoying it. 

In this blog, we will show you 6 ways in which the ClearRay UV-C Water Purification System, is more efficient and effective than Saltwater Generators, high output ozone's and other such systems.

All acrylic Sundance hot tubs are equipped with our patented ClearRay UV-C water purification system as a standard feature, rather than being an expensive add-on.

In addition to ClearRay, all 780, 880 & 980 Series spas also include the Active Oxygen ozone system as standard, while it is available as an option on the 680 series. Adding this low output ozone to our UV-C system super charges its ability to deal with waterborne pathogens. You can read more about the benefits of Active Oxygen here.

Here are some of the ways ClearRay makes hot tub ownership way easier!

Easier Set Up

After you have purchased a Saltwater System (generally a $1500-$2000 add-on depending on the manufacturer), there is a lot of work involved in preparing it for use once the hot tub is in your backyard.

Getting a Salt generator system going is a long, difficult process. There are numerous steps that have to be followed to the letter if the system is to work properly, and failure to follow the instructions to the letter can often void your warranty.

ClearRay requires no initial set up - it starts cleaning your water as soon as you switch the power on.

Easier Everyday Use

Sundance Spas ClearRay UV-C Water Purification System deals with whatever bacteria the water throws at it, there is no need to "Set" the system for the amount of bathers, amount of use and length of hot tub use as there is with a traditional Salt Generator.

ClearRay is on, and working year 'round to keep your Sundance Spas water clean & safe, and with the "ClearRay On-Demand" options on all 780, 880 & 980 Series spas, you can give your water a purifying boost of UV-C after heavy use with just the touch of a button!

Easier Maintenance

If you can change a light bulb, you can maintain your ClearRay System! Easy annual bulb replacement is far less expensive and time consuming than the upkeep of a Salt Generator. 

The average life of the cell used to convert Salt into Bromine or Chlorine is about 1.5 Years, and the cost to replace them ranges from $800-$1200 depending on the brand you choose, that's a lot of money to shell out just to keep expensive equipment working as it should!

Easier Water Care

ClearRay UV-C reduces the amount of chemicals required to keep your water looking pristine. There is no such thing as a chemical-free hot tub, but ClearRay reduces chemical consumption by more than 50%.

Using smaller amounts of stabilized granular sanitizer reduces the risk of red-eye and dry skin, avoids creating a strong chemical smell and also means the balance of the water is effected less, so you don't have to work on balancing the ph and alkalinity as much as you would with Salt Water.

In addition, your hot tub water will last longer than with a Salt System as the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels will be way lower as you are not pouring in bags of salt all the time. This would result in less frequent water changes and decreased hydro costs.

Easier on Your Skin, Hair & Eyes

This reality is a huge deal for many Sundance Spas owners! ClearRay UV-C Produces silky smooth water, and ensures there is no red-eye or skin irritation, which is more common with hot tubs that require Salt to generate a huge amount of harsh chemicals.

ClearRay produces no harmful by-products in the water you are soaking in, which helps keep your skin feeling great rather than drying it out so that you feel the need to shower all the chemicals off once you leave the hot tub. If you have ever used a public hot tub/pool you know how strong the chemical odors can be. This is not what you will experience in your own personal Sundance Spa.

As well as drying out your skin and irritating your eyes, prolonged exposure to salt can also dehydrate your hair.

Celebrity hairstylist Rene Fris of Salon SCK in New York City says that after being exposed to salt water, “The hair becomes dull, tangled, rough feeling and can be hard to comb or brush out. If you have color in your hair, salt water damage would give it a very hard texture.”

No By-Products, gases or foul odor's means that Sundance Spas Patented ClearRay System is the best option for healthy skin, hair and eyes, especially when used in conjunction with our MicroClean Filtration Systems & Active Oxygen low output ozone generator.

Easier On Your Spa Equipment

Unlike Salt, UV-C is non-corrosive, so it doesn't dry out pump seals and damage other vital equipment on your hot tub. Salt systems take corrosive based salt (sodium chloride or sodium bromide) and makes chlorine or bromine. Chlorine or bromine made this way is un-stabilized. For far less money you could buy stabilized, higher quality chlorine or bromine.

It should also be noted that Salt systems using sodium bromide have been flagged as a health risk by Health Canada. Because of this, manufacturers will no longer be able to offer parts or supplies to support these kinds of salt systems. 

Advantages of UV-C

Salt Systems are expensive to purchase, complicated to operate, difficult and costly to maintain and are way less effective than the newer more advanced technology of the Ultraviolet Germicidal Disinfection offered standard in all Sundance Spas with the ClearRay UV-C Water Purification System & the upgraded Active Oxygen System

UV-C light: is germicidal, it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their ability to multiply. Prevents replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies.

UV-C light: is proven technology, reliable and used in many different industries. Ultraviolet technology is a non-chemical approach to disinfection. With this method of disinfection, nothing is added which makes this process simple, inexpensive and requires very low maintenance.

UV-C light: is used in swimming pools(often replacing old salt systems), hot tubs, aquariums, zoo's, aquaculture, water treatment plants (waste water, municipal and residential, drinking water and water reclamation), ballast water in ships, life sciences, hospitals, clinics, ice making, schools, hotels, bottling & beverage facilities, pharmaceuticals, ambulances, fish farms, agriculture, food processing (processing, warehousing, handling, produce department, salad bars, buffets, bakeries, restaurants, meat cases), printing, healthcare, HVAC systems, cottages, school labs, cosmetics, electronic production, pond and lake reclamation, etc.

UV-C Light:  it works, it's proven, its safe, it's easy, it's reliable, it's cost effective, it's simple, it's low maintenance, it's non corrosive and it's long lasting - What more could you ask for in a water purification system!

Visit The Sundance Spa Store in Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Mississauga, St. Catharines & Vaughan to find out more about ClearRay Active Oxygen, and how it can make your hot tub experience better than ever.