Brand Specific Forums > Hot Spring Spas

2013 HS Grandee W/ ACE Salt Progress Real Life results

(1/13) > >>

dunecritter:
My new 2013 Grandee ACE Salt system . I'm going to post my real life personal results as we go...The claims to the Ace system are:  Easy water care, Clean and clear water, No chemical smell and no itchy irritated dry skin. Don't have to add sanitizer after every use. and a few other claims as well.

First start up: This tub was new and installed mid October. I added the recommended amount of salt at time of fill up and the Vanishing act water softener pillow. I noticed my on screen display after 24 hours and reaching temp of 102 was showing in the RED. But my test strips for PPM of salt showed ok??...I drained 30% of the tubs water and topped off without adding any salt and the screen display under water care was now showing exactly in the middle of the GREEN. I did not use the tub the first day but I did get in it the second. At this point I can only say that there was no smell and the water did in fact feel like soft silky smooth water kinda like a shower with a soft water system trying to rinse off the soap. The biggest difference that I noticed tho was the water actually kinda "Fizzled" while jet pumps are on. This is something new...The water just kinda pops like the surface of a freshly poured soda in a glass of ice. This was different and actually very kool I think.
Now at just over four and a half months of normal 4-5 times a week, 2-3 people on average use: I have had to add PH down 4 times so far as my PH levels tend to creep up every 4 or so weeks. The sanitizer levels are exactly where they should be according to the test strips. We have hard water here in AZ and the Vanishing act pillow was a good tool. I have never used one before but it did in fact change my water hardness according to the test strips. I have cleaned my filters every month with the hose and not yet cleaned the salt cell.
Now the visuals and the smells: No smells what so ever at this point and the water clarity is as clear as the day I filled it. Usually without the Ace system I would be changing my water around this point of 4 months.

So far so good. I have saved myself from adding chemicals to sanitize on average 60 plus times after each use ( Saved 4 hours so far!!! think about that! That's roughly a savings of my personal time assuming it would take me 4 min to get chemicals out...add them and put things away. I think that's fair enough to claim), I have saved myself from manually adding chlorine to shock the water 16 plus times so far. (That's another hour of my time! assuming it still took me 4 min each time I had to open up the tub, Turn on the clean cycle ,add chemicals, test and close up and put everything away.) But most important to me...I'm getting more life from my water...I'm not sure just how long I will be able to stretch this water before I feel that it needs to be changed out but at this rate I have huge hopes and I think it will be a reality, so This is actually why I'm doing this post/Review  in my real life experience...Follow along and please post if you have found things to be different in your personal experience.
I don't care what one thinks (If you don't own one than you don't have the right to disagree with my results) and what the rumors are or have been. This is my real life in use experience this far. I will post to keep everyone up to date on my results good and bad.
Just so everyone knows...I sell HS products, I'm not paid by anyone at HS/Watkins to write this post and I could care less what other manufactures have to say about the ACE system (No other manufacture has it) This My real life personal results.
Here are a few pics I took the other nite to show the clarity at 4 plus months old.

girlinhotwater:
My water is just as clear at four + months using the ozone, silver ion & chlorine method. However, I do like the idea of the Ace system and not having to add chlorine after every use. I find that if I don't add it, I have cloudy water the next day after use. Even if I'm not using the spa due to extreme cold, I still have to bundle up, open up the cover and add chlorine or it will cloud up on me after a few days. I have been thinking about adding the Ace system to my spa down the road, and enjoyed your post and will follow to see how it works for you going forward. Have you had to supplement with any chlorine? I've heard mixed messages about this.

dunecritter:
Girlinhotwater...I think your in the top 30 percent of hot tub owners that actually follow the rules of treating your water correctly! Good for you....

I personally have not added any supplemental chlorine what so ever since fill up on day one...I keep my usage level at #4. The system allows you to adjust it to your personal use levels ranging from 0 (off) all the way up to 10 for heavier use. The system also has a "Boost" button that you can turn on that will over produce sanitizer kinda like manually adding chlorine to shock the water after a very heavy out of normal use sitting. The system will return to your programmed setting after it finishes a boost cycle.
I did hear of someone using their spa after fill up immediately with the ACE System once the tub came to temperature and claimed that the water got cloudy the next day....But I think this was a result of using the tub before it had a chance to produce any sanitizer...Maybe the boost button would have corrected that? Regardless, I have been told that you can manually add chlorine at time of fill up and let it burn out and let the ACE System take over from there...

dunecritter:
I've been asked the questions about upfront costs and how long will it take to overcome the upfront cost versus the standard Ozone, Silver Ion, Bottled Chlorine setup.
Personally I don't feel that you will ever truly come out on top or spend less over time (out of pocket anyway) on the ACE system. ....Chlorine setup based on 50-60 dollars a year on chemicals, 3 replacement Silver Ion Cartridges, and I'm throwing in a bottle of foam down. Roughly $180 bucks a year...Times five years=$900 Bucks.  So one might think that they are catching up but not really...The cell has a limited life expectancy of 3-6 years depending on maintenance and usage and how many times you boost the system. So altho you may have temporarily caught up to a simple out of pocket wash after 5-6 years as far as cost is concerned....Them bam...Time to buy a new cell! So It's not my opinion that ACE will ever be cheaper....Just better and more convenient....And lets not forget about Going GREEN! My time is worth ALOT to me especially with my young son at home. So spending a lot less time adding chemicals and changing my water less is important to me myself.

Ryan VSO:
How much cost the ACE System If a buyer want to add it to their spa ?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page