The race for cheap, easy and safe methods of sanitization has pushed brands to come up with various innovative methods. In keeping up with it, Hayward introduced its HydraPure Advanced Oxidation Sanitization System in early 2021. Ever since its launch, HydraPure has been the talk of the town.
While its modern technology is being praised by many, there is a degree of skepticism surrounding this new system as well. Here is a breakdown of all the important information there is to know about HydraPure.
How Does HydraPure Work?
HydraPure is a secondary sanitization and disinfection system. This means that it works in conjugation with the chlorine or salt-chlorine generator (primary disinfection system) to completely free your pool of harmful microorganisms, dirt and algae.
It does so with the help of two of its prime components i.e., the UV lamp and the ozone lamp. The UV and ozone are combined to form hydroxyl free radicals. Hydroxyl, along with the UV and ozone is a strong sanitizer that kills unwanted bacteria, viruses and much more.
Thus, in simple words, HydraPure does its job by creating a powerful cocktail of disinfectants that clear the pool.
Who Needs HydraPure?
The primary aim of HydraPure is to get rid of the bacteria and viruses that have developed resistance to chlorine. Although it is not an alarmingly big problem, there are instances when chlorine resistant organisms take over the pool and need to be dealt with. This is where HydraPure can come to your rescue.
In addition to it, this system has some environmental and health benefits as well. Since the use of HydraPure reduces the amount of chlorine needed, there is an overall decrease in combined chloramines (chlorine by-products) in the pool. This helps in preventing eye and skin irritation caused by these by-products.
Hayward HydraPure is especially helpful for people with compromised immune systems, as they are more prone to all kinds of health problems. An overall decrease in harsh chemical components is also beneficial for the environment.
Over the years, there have been instances of chlorine shortages. Under circumstances like that, HydraPure can be an absolute life-saver.
What Are the Limitations of HydraPure?
While the aim of this innovative system is to provide a perfect method of disinfection of the pool, it is not free of nuisances.
Although it claims to decrease the chlorine requirement by 70%, this is unfortunately not true. One of the major components of HydraPure is ozone. Ozone is known for reacting with and destroying free chlorine, which means that you will actually have to use a greater amount of chlorine to combat that effect. Therefore, the overall chlorine requirement is decreased by only a small fraction.
Another downside of HydraPure is that it only treats a small volume of water at a time. The free radicals are injected into the plumbing through which the water passes. These sanitizing chemicals are also short-lived, which means that there is no residual element in the pool for treating any left-out microorganisms.
It should also be kept in mind that while HydraPure is not very heavy on the pocket, it is built with expensive components and advanced techniques. They not only require proper timely maintenance by a professional, but are also very costly to replace in case of damage.
How Much Chlorine Do You Need With HydraPure?
Decrease in chlorine requirement is a prominent claim of Hayward when marketing for HydraPure. However, as we have discussed above, this claim is not true in its entirety due to the chemical reactions taking place on the side. Nonetheless, there is some reduction in the amount of chlorine needed.
According to an estimate, you will need to keep the pool’s chlorine levels between 0.75 and 1.00 ppm . This is significantly lower than the average requirement of 1-3 ppm for a pool that does not have HydraPure.
To maintain this range, approximately 6 to 8 tablets of chlorine are required. Alternatively, you can use 2 cups of bleach per day to maintain the chlorine at around 0.75 ppm.
How Tricky is the Usage and Maintenance of HydraPure?
In spite of being equipped with the latest and modern components, HydraPure is designed in an easy to use manner. It comes as a single unit that is compact and can be easily placed and installed. The lid of the system is moveable which means that you can position it according to the switches at your home.
The control panel and screen of HydraPure is also fairly uncomplicated to use. In short, HydraPure lives up to its claim of being hassle-free.
Nonetheless, innovative techniques and unique components mean that the maintenance of the unit can be a little tricky. It might not be easy to find expert technicians everywhere. Same goes for looking for replacement parts in case of damage.
How Does HydraPure Impact the Cost of Pool Sanitization?
There is no doubt that installing HydraPure decreases the amount of money spent on buying chlorine for the pool. However, there is a bigger picture here to look at.
Although the unit itself is not very expensive, it drives by electric power. This means that it is going to add up in your electricity bill. Furthermore, its expensive components need frequent repair and maintenance that adds to the cost. In case of damage, the replacement of said components can also be quite costly.
In comparison to this, the cost of using chlorine for disinfection depends on a variety of factors, the biggest one being the form of chlorine used.
Therefore, it can be concluded that HydraPure is not exactly a blessing for your pocket. However, the exact judgment regarding the value proposition needs to be made by the pool owner.
If you liked this product review, you will love my other equally in-depth product reviews: