Pool & Spa FAQ
Common Questions for Pools & Spas
Q: Is Copper in the water safe for me?
A: Absolutely. We run our pools at the safe drinking water level according to the EPA. In fact, if you drank 2 gallons of pool water, you would ingest the amount of copper found in a multiple-vitamin.
Q: How does the ECOsmarte System work?
A: Simple. Every time your pump runs, the ECOsmarte oxygen electrodes deliver a non-chemical shock to your water when the water passes through your pressure line. Once per week you test your pH and copper levels. You will switch the button on your Electronic Control Unit and ionize for 4 - 8 hours depending on your pool size and bather load. This will put copper in your pool which is a great algaecide and deadly to viruses.
Q: Is the system easy to install and operate?
A: Yes. As mentioned in the installation and operation sections on our pool and spa products, installation of the Standard and Turbo models can easily be completed in 30 minutes. Operation of the system requires weekly testing of the pH and copper in the pool water and simply flipping a switch, much like a light switch on and off a couple of times.
Q: How long do the copper bars last and how much do they cost to replace?
A: Life of the copper bars will depend on the length of your pool season, the calcium hardness of the water and the size of your pool. Normally, they will last 3-5 years and cost only $175 to replace. They can be replaced by the pool or spa owner with a screw driver.
Q: How does the ECOsmarte compare to salt-to-chlorine generating devices?
A: The ECOsmarte system is superior to salt-to-chlorine generators in many ways. First, pool water treated with the ECOsmarte system is preferred by virtually every person that has had the opportunity to swim in a pool treated with ECOsmarte versus a pool treated with a salt-to-chlorine generator. Secondly, water in an ECOsmarte treated pool is free of all sanitizing chemicals and has the feel and taste of bottled water. Salt-to-chlorine generators produce chlorine and can adversely affect pool equipment, liners, covers and the swimmers. The discharge water from a pool treated with a salt-to-chlorine generator can contaminate soil and ultimately kill vegetation and sterilize the soil. For a complete list of comparisons between ECOsmarte systems and salt-to-chlorine generators click here.
Q: My pool man says this will not work. What should I do?
A: Would you ask him which pool he knows of where the ECOsmarte System did not work? Chances are that he is not familiar with the ECOsmarte system or has confused ECOsmarte with another alternative system. Our automated equipment comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. We would be interested in the name of the unsatisfied customer. We get very few returns and provide technical support for all of our customers through our toll-free support line: 1-800-ION-SWIM.
Q: If I have other questions about the system, who can I call to discuss the system in more detail?
A: You can call us at (612) 866-1200 and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.
Q: How much savings will there be?
A: If you currently use any chemicals for sanitizing, algae control or clarifying your water, you will no longer need them. If you are currently running your pump more than 8-12 hours per day, you will save electricity. If you currently need to backwash more frequently than twice a month, you will likely save water. The actual savings amount will very depending on the size of the pool, the type of sanitation currently being used, the length of the season and other factors too numerous to list here.
While the system will easily pay for itself in a few years, money is only one of the reasons a pool or spa owner should buy an ECOsmarte system. The health and safety issues are equally if not more important than the economics of owning the system.
Q: Will the copper stain my pool?
A: The amount of copper being added to your pool is significantly less than would begin to cause staining.
Q: If the ECOsmarte is such a good system, why haven’t I heard of them before?
A: ECOsmarte has been installing pool and spa water purification systems for over 20 years. They have over 20,000 installations worldwide. Until the last few years, they have marketed their products only over the internet. In the past few years they have begun building a worldwide network of distributors, dealers and resellers. They currently have over seventy dealers in North America and the network is growing every year.