Enzymes Use in Spas And Hot Tubs
So, what are enzymes?
Enzymes are protein molecules and there are endless numbers of different ones. Our bodies use enzymes, thousands of uniquely different ones, to make chemical reactions happen. In doing so, they act as a catalyst, making specific chemical reactions proceed, with organic molecules, but not actually taking part in the transformation and not being destroyed, in the process. How enzymes, present in saliva, start to convert starches into sugar, is an example of such an organic chemical reaction Tweak the enzyme protein molecule, a bit, and it acts in a different way, with other organic molecules. Fortunately, it is a lot less difficult to maintain a spa, than it is to be part of the driving force, behind a living organism.
When enzymes were first used, they were touted to be a cure-all. Simply add some enzymes and let nature take its course. The same was said of ozone. Just ozonate and nothing else would be needed. In the real world, things are not that simplistic and mother nature is a wary adversary. Enzymes can destroy or decompose organic molecules, but they don’t act that way, when encountering living organisms. Enzymes have to be chosen or developed, so that they do not adversely affect living organisms.
To do otherwise, would expose bathers to irritation and sensitivity reactions. Living organisms are not organic molecules. They are, in fact, the end result of billions of billions of organized organic molecules, following the blueprint of DNA. By comparison, an organic molecule can be miniscule. With this in mind, enzymes are not sanitizers or disinfectants. They don’t kill bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, single celled microorganisms or anything living in your spa water, pipes or filter. If well chosen, they don’t seem to affect or irritate the bathers and help improve the spa experience.
What do enzymes do in a spa?
They act upon non-living organic matter, starting decomposition into small molecules. The smaller molecules are more easily destroyed by chlorine or bromine. Organic wastes include a wide range of things, such as: sweat, body oils, saliva, mucous, dead skin, cosmetic residues, sunscreens, perfumes, hair, feces, urine, leaves and wind-blown debris. Some of these contaminants are readily destroyed, by normal levels of chlorine, while others may be slow to react or actually deplete the chlorine or bromine level.
Enzymes cannot eliminate the need for some chlorine or bromine, but they can contribute towards a reduced chemical presence. A spa is purchased for a reason, typically family fun, relaxation or therapy benefits, and better water quality and maintenance results are a worthy and attainable goal.
Not all wastes lead to the same problems. Urine and other nitrogenous organic wastes, for example, deplete the free chlorine level very rapidly and increase the presence of combined chlorine or chloramines, which are odorous, irritating and ineffective as spa sanitizers. That unpleasant odor, sometimes associated with chlorine, is due to chloramines and not simply chlorine. A typical person can detect chloramines at 0.1 PPM, while not sensing chlorine levels under 30 PPM.
However, occasional shock treatments do help prevent the development of sanitizer-resistant microorganisms. The use of an in-line salt chlorine generator or ultraviolet sterilizer helps destroy chloramines, as water passes through the cells. If you want to reduce the combined chlorine odor, the use of enzymes can be beneficial.
As the body oils are degraded into smaller molecules, chlorine and bromine should be better able to hasten the complete elimination. Some enzymes have special surfactants or wetting agents, added as an ingredient. This tends to make the water wetter and speeds the action of the enzymes, upon the organic wastes. Making water wetter may sound like an alien concept, but this next example illustrates the point. Wax a car to a high shine and sprinkle some water on the hood. The water beads up and is really barely touching the hood, as most of the water is in the drops. Add some detergent (surfactant) to the water and do the same thing. This time the water does not bead up and wets the hood. There is more contact area and this is why a surfactant can make water wetter.
The only true way of assuring proper sanitation, even with ideal sanitizer levels and water chemistry, is to completely defoam the water, on a regular basis. For a typical residential spa, this usually occurs after the air jets are turned off 2/4 and the water becomes less turbulent. If an enzyme product is in use, it follows that the level of foam should be reduced, because some of the available body oils were decomposed or degraded. In addition, by degrading the organics, the enzyme should keep more of the chlorine and bromine available, for daily, routine sanitation.
Foam in a spa is not a good thing and should not be confused with a bubble bath.
A case has been made, for why enzymes, used as part of a maintenance program, can improve spa water quality and the bather experience. Organic waste products will be eliminated more efficiently, more chlorine or bromine will be kept available for actual sanitation work. Less chlorine or bromine will be required to maintain any given level, the odors associated with combined chlorine formation will be reduced and super-chlorination treatments will be required less often.
You can operate a spa without the use of enzymes, but there are benefits that could be lost. Are those benefits worth the cost? That’s something that is hard to quantify. How much value do you place on better water quality, fewer problems and an improved hot water experience? Simply avoiding one problematic incident could offset the cost of the enzymes. The actual product cost varies considerably, as not all enzymes are the same, in terms of formulation, concentration and effectiveness. When you purchase a chlorine product, the law requires that the active ingredients be disclosed, both in terms of concentration and chemical identification.
It’s easy to make a cost comparison, when you have this type of information. Enzymes are not sanitizers and, as such, are not required to list the ingredients or concentration, on the label. This causes trying to make an informed purchase more difficult. Comparing the cost on a bottle-size by bottle-size basis, does not always tell the whole story. You don’t know the concentration and ingredients.
These are proprietary formulations and there have to be brand to brand differences. Some formulations probably contain surfactants and other ingredients, while others might not or could contain very different amounts. Does the product contain one enzyme or a mixture or several? Do you opt for the larger bottle, that is lower priced or choose the smaller bottle, at a higher price?
The recommendations of dealers or fellow spa owners should be considered, in making a product selection. Enzymes are not “silver bullets” and the final outcome is dependent, upon how well the addition of an enzyme treatment is integrated into the overall spa maintenance. Do your share and, hopefully, the enzyme will help take your water to the next water quality level, leaving you to better enjoy the spa experience
Author: Alan Schuster
During this period, I have helped tens of thousands of consumers and dealers solve all weather pool and hot tub water chemistry and water quality problems.