Brand Specific Forums > Hot Spring Spas
Freshwater Salt Cartridge Lifespan Experiences
Olivia23:
That's good to hear. I'm getting ready to put a down payment on a Hot Springs Envoy and I've been debating about taking off the Freshwater system because of all the issues people are having. I really want the saltwater system since everyone says it feels so much better on your skin but I wonder if it's worth the headache and the cost.
Spatech_tuo:
--- Quote from: Olivia23 on April 26, 2021, 02:54:22 pm ---That's good to hear. I'm getting ready to put a down payment on a Hot Springs Envoy and I've been debating about taking off the Freshwater system because of all the issues people are having. I really want the saltwater system since everyone says it feels so much better on your skin but I wonder if it's worth the headache and the cost.
--- End quote ---
This is where good dealers come shine. Its interesting how it seems phosphates are key to getting this to work properly but a good dealer should be setting up the customer to win on water care no matter the system being used. Discuss all of this with your dealer in detail and see if it seems like they'll be a good guide, sometimes its not the salesperson but someone else at teh dealer who knows this area best (hopefully its everyone there but not always).
Its great to get info here but the dealer should be directing you from the moment the spa is delivered (or even beforehand really) rather than you learning here after you've been struggling in your back yard. When products are new dealers have to learn as well but its not like this was unveiled last month. We all say how important the dealer is in the customer satisfaction area and this is an example.
jzellers:
Yeah, my spa is about the same age as yours. I have drained once and it didn't affect the cartridge lifespan. I have also tried lower output settings and that didn't seem to work either. If the issue persists I will have to make the dealer test for phosphates.
--- Quote from: Sammi on April 20, 2021, 11:14:56 pm ---
--- Quote from: jzellers on April 19, 2021, 02:54:21 pm ---
--- Quote from: Galaxybrooks on February 05, 2021, 02:37:51 pm ---Got my water tested and phosphates came back at 3000. I was told 125 is where I need to be. Everything else was balanced well. Going to get some phosphate remover from the dealer and update on progress as I go.
--- End quote ---
Hi, I am having similar issues, 5th cartridge in 8 months. I am curious if you are on well water or city/municipal? My technician has mentioned Phosphates before but has never tested. I assumed that municipal water would not have such an issue but i could be wrong.
Also curious if the phosphate remover worked.
Thanks
--- End quote ---
Is your spa fairly new? I received my spa about 7 months ago in September. I went through 5 cartridges by January. I drained my spa around January 9th, and started fresh with new water and a new cartridge. I added about 3 oz of phosphate remover per dealer testing instructions and almost 4 months later I'm still on the same cartridge. In fact my cartridge has outlasted my water as I just changed it again yesterday and am still using my cartridge from January.
My dealer said all their customers were struggling with the cartridges since last fall. But they also acknowledged they weren't treating phosphates much. They tested but didn't necessarily treat it. I think its a combination of bad cartridges and phosphates issues.
It will be telling when my current cartridge goes out. I still have 3 that I purchased from last fall. My current cartridge came from a different cartridge order back in January. When its time to put a new cartridge in if the new cartridge doesn't last very long I'll for sure that the batch was bad.
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mgulya:
So I have a Caldera spa that just hit 1 year in July, and I too have the Freshwater Salt system cartridge.
Here is what I have learned to make my life easier:
1. I ordered Phosphate test strips https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MGKF32C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2. Phosphate remover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PZZFQRM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
3. when ever i get 1 0 reading of chlorine in my tub i test for phosphates and depending on the reading seems like once i hit 300 i lose chlorine, 1st I add 1 cup of liquid shock followed by the phosphate remover. 24 hrs later i retest and see where i am at. this keeps my water good for about 10 months.
cartridge issues i had 1 work for the 4 months and reach when the display said time to change it out.
every other cartridge somewhere in the 2-3 months will say low output levels. once i put a new one in everything works. My dealer says it is a chemical balance issue but i just got all my levels perfect and it still says low output.
has anyone figured out how to get 3-4 months with these cells. mine are all black with a grey little button and gray tabs on the side.
wcmorris:
I've had my new Envoy for a little over a month now and have been struggling to get the salt system to work properly. I initially had an issue with alkalinity and pH being high and it took weeks before I could get it balanced. During that time, the salt system always showed 'okay' with the arrow hovering in the left yellow and sometimes hitting perfect. I had my best stretch with the salt system after I took a water sample to my dealer and they said I needed to lower the phosphates. Once I did this, it seemed to run pretty well for a week or two. However, I have also noticed it's had trouble maintaining chlorine on it's own. I've been adding non-chlorine shock twice a week to help it maintain and I've been boosting the salt cartridge and leaving it between 8 and 10 output just to keep the chlorine levels within range. Yesterday, the green light started blinking and it looks like now my salt cartridge is dead after 1 month.
I'll say that when the system works it is nice. The water feels soft and doesn't dry out my skin like a typical hot tub. But so far is been a headache to maintain and now my cell is dead 3 months premature. I think I'll give it once more shot now that I understand the system a little more maybe I'll have better luck. If it still struggle then I'll probably abandon it and look at the @ease system instead.
Any suggestions on how to have better luck with the salt system is appreciated. For instance, should I be shocking the tub twice a week? When do I boost instead of shock? What would you expect the output level should be set to for two people using the tub for 30 minutes a day?
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