The new Hot Spring Freshwater IQ 2024 first one we have in our showroom
Hot Spring Grandee
Salt system/IQ sensor
Hot Spring Grandee
Salt system/IQ sensor
Last edited by a moderator:
Hot Spring Freshwater IQ 2024
- Thread starter 98Poolmaster
- Start date
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,987
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
We’ve had it full for five days,we had to get everything balanced to show techs and maintenance personnel. We hit the boost cycle and it jacked up the chlorine to 13.7 ppm in one 24 hr cycle.Then it showed the ph low on sensor screen which knew could t be possible,I did ph test and it was 8.2.It doesn’t test alkalinity but it was 90 when I tested.
The high chlorine level had to have interfered with it.I am a little skeptical this is going to be user friendly,will just have to monitor it for a little longer to see how it reacts.Ill keep it posted for you all to know.
$1300.00 to install sensor it comes with salt system in the cost of the tub
I’m already a little skeptical about it
When I told you guys about it a while back you all kind of warned me it was going to be touchy or non user friendly
I guess time will tell
Not a lot of dealers have them yet
I will play with it until we sell it and then we have other models I think we have 25 of the 2024 Highlife with the IQ so I’ll have one full for the rest of the year,if they sell good we’ll get more they go for 22-23 grand
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,987
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
It says that it tests chlorine, pH and salinity.
Does it use ORP or a true chlorine tester?
Does it use ORP or a true chlorine tester?
FreshWater® IQ - Smart Saltwater Monitor for Hot Tubs - Hot Spring Spas
FreshWater IQ is a, self-monitoring saltwater system that automates water testing and provides tailored recommendations for effortless and easy water care.
www.hotspring.com
Home - Watkins Wellness
Exceptional Brands. Unmatched Support. Proven Success. Wellness is a Winning Sales Strategy People in your community are looking for ways to relax, reconnect, reduce the effects of aging and live healthier, happier lives. Watkins delivers on its promise of wellness unlike any other company. Our...
www.watkins.pro
Watkins’ FreshWater IQ marks a new era in hot tub maintenance.
Watkins Wellness, the parent company to Caldera Spas, Hot Spring Spas and other well-known brands, has been pursuing innovation in the world of hot tubs since its first product in 1977.
Amid its successes, a persistent challenge lingered: simplifying water care for consumers.
“Second to price, fear of water care is the biggest barrier to entry for our category,” says Caitlin Woelfel, director of brand and channel marketing.
The team at Watkins Wellness was determined to find an answer and is now releasing a breakthrough product in the category: FreshWater IQ, a combination of the FreshWater Salt System and the new Smart Monitoring Sensor.
At its core, Freshwater IQ is a meticulous caretaker, continuously monitoring a hot tub’s water every hour and offering precise recommendations on maintaining its balance.
Andy Ordonez, director of product management, explains the system tests pH, chlorine and salt levels and is designed specifically to complement Watkins’ FreshWater Salt System.
“We wanted to focus our innovation efforts on how to make water care — which is the hardest part of spa ownership — easier and less time consuming for the customer,” says Steve Stigers, executive vice president.
“So [FreshWater IQ is] this groundbreaking innovation we’ve come out with.
There’s nothing else in the world like it.”
According to Woelfel, the patented system uses a unique sensor electrode that allows for the combination of many sensors and test parameters in a compact size.
The sensor is integrated into the design of the Hot Spring Highlife and Limelight collections along with the Caldera Utopia and Paradise series.
It offers real-time chemical readings through the top-side digital control panel.
The notification will go away once viewed, but if the condition is not resolved, it will reappear to remind the customer to take action.
“[Customers] frequently get impatient, and then they overdo it one way or another,” says Kirsten Roesch, senior marketing services manager.
“So the fact that it’s smart enough to help guide them through that process is really beneficial.”
App development is underway, so hot tub owners will eventually have notifications sent directly to their phones to help them manage water care.
The sensor has a lifespan of a year, and the salt cartridge, an essential component, is designed to last for four months, packaged in a three-pack bundle to match the lifespan of the sensor.
The sensor is fully in-line, helping to protect it from damage, and unlike some other common pH and ORP sensors that use fragile blast bulb technology, the Freshwater IQ system doesn’t need to be kept wet or require calibration.
“The design will be very pleasant for the consumer,” says Carl Krumrei, vice president of product. “They’re not going to need a service call.
They’re going to be able to change it out themselves.”
The development journey behind FreshWater IQ is a testament to perseverance.
Through collaborations spanning nearly a decade between Watkins, the R&D department of its parent company, Masco, and the University of Michigan, the team developed a chip that could act as a sensor but also solve multiple challenges.
According to Krumrei, the sensor had to be able to function in a hot, humid environment, be durable, be easily installed and replaced and be able to be submerged in water — all while remaining about an inch and a half in length.
In addition, accuracy was crucial, overcoming the unpredictability of traditional test strips.
“The industry’s been waiting for [an accurate water testing sensor] for years,” Ordonez says. “And it’s because it’s not easy.”
Another priority for Watkins when developing the FreshWater IQ system was affordability.
The initial cost of the Freshwater IQ startup kit is between $450-$499 with ongoing costs being roughly $400 a year for new sensors and salt cartridges.
“We’re not out to sell more salt systems,” Woelfel says.
“It’s about creating more hot tubbers.
If we can make the experience easier, then owners can hot tub every day, and that’s when you really start accruing all the mental, emotional and physical benefits of hot water.”
Watkins Wellness is expecting an enthusiastic reception to the FreshWater IQ system, with Stigers calling it a “game-changer” for both consumers and dealers.
“It’s not only [about] the product; it’s also the throughput through the dealer network to educate them,” Krumrei says.
“They’re the ones who have to explain it and set it up for [the customer], so the whole team has to be aligned.”
In providing support, Watkins hopes to enhance business for its dealer network.
“Hopefully, this is one more arrow in their quiver to help them sell more spas and make them more competitive,” Woelfel says.
After a launch to dealers in January, FreshWater IQ is slated for consumer availability by March 2024.
While proud of the product, Stigers says the company isn’t done.
Watkins Wellness Unveils FreshWater IQ for Smart Hot Tub Care
The team at Watkins Wellness is now releasing a breakthrough product in the hot tub category: FreshWater IQ, a combination of the FreshWater Salt System and the new Smart Monitoring Sensor.
sparetailer.com
Last edited:
Watkins Wellness is part of Masco Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.
masco.com
jobs.masco.com
Watkins Wellness®, established in 1977 in Vista, Calif., is dedicated to promoting wellness to consumers who live active lifestyles and are health conscious. The company manufactures the Endless Pools® line of aquatic fitness products, and is also the world's largest manufacturer of hot tubs, including Hot Spring® Spas, Hot Spot® Spas, Caldera® Spas, and the American Hydrotherapy Systems spa brands. The Watkins Wellness dealer network extends into all 50 states and more than 70 countries. Watkins Wellness is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), a Fortune 500 company whose products include Behr® paint; Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures; Kichler® lighting.
Multi-functional water quality sensor.
Patent number: 10900921.
Abstract: A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces.
The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media.
The electrically conductive traces comprise at least electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow of the media and one or more electrodes to sense one or more of conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and acidity (pH) of the media.
Type: Grant
Filed: November 6, 2015
Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
Assignees: Masco Corporation, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Inventors: Klaus Brondum, Mark A. Burns, Wen-Chi Lin, Michael McCague, Stephen Michael Stec, Brian J. Johnson, Garry Marty
patents.justia.com
Home - Masco
masco.com
Careers at Watkins Wellness | Watkins Wellness job opportunities
Watkins Wellness is an equal opportunity employer and we want to have the best available persons in every job. Watkins Wellness makes employment decisions only based on merit. It is the Company’s policy to prohibit discrimination in any employment opportunity
jobs.masco.com
Watkins Wellness®, established in 1977 in Vista, Calif., is dedicated to promoting wellness to consumers who live active lifestyles and are health conscious. The company manufactures the Endless Pools® line of aquatic fitness products, and is also the world's largest manufacturer of hot tubs, including Hot Spring® Spas, Hot Spot® Spas, Caldera® Spas, and the American Hydrotherapy Systems spa brands. The Watkins Wellness dealer network extends into all 50 states and more than 70 countries. Watkins Wellness is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), a Fortune 500 company whose products include Behr® paint; Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures; Kichler® lighting.
Multi-functional water quality sensor.
Patent number: 10900921.
Abstract: A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces.
The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media.
The electrically conductive traces comprise at least electrical circuits to sense temperature and flow of the media and one or more electrodes to sense one or more of conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and acidity (pH) of the media.
Type: Grant
Filed: November 6, 2015
Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
Assignees: Masco Corporation, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Inventors: Klaus Brondum, Mark A. Burns, Wen-Chi Lin, Michael McCague, Stephen Michael Stec, Brian J. Johnson, Garry Marty
US Patent for Multi-functional water quality sensor Patent (Patent # 10,900,921 issued January 26, 2021) - Justia Patents Search
A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces. The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and...
patents.justia.com
That estimated cost is not accurate @JamesW as you can probably guess manufacturers always “misinform” in a new product launch to not make it seem unreasonable.Home - Watkins Wellness
Exceptional Brands. Unmatched Support. Proven Success. Wellness is a Winning Sales Strategy People in your community are looking for ways to relax, reconnect, reduce the effects of aging and live healthier, happier lives. Watkins delivers on its promise of wellness unlike any other company. Our...
Watkins’ FreshWater IQ marks a new era in hot tub maintenance.
Watkins Wellness, the parent company to Caldera Spas, Hot Spring Spas and other well-known brands, has been pursuing innovation in the world of hot tubs since its first product in 1977.
Amid its successes, a persistent challenge lingered: simplifying water care for consumers.
“Second to price, fear of water care is the biggest barrier to entry for our category,” says Caitlin Woelfel, director of brand and channel marketing.
The team at Watkins Wellness was determined to find an answer and is now releasing a breakthrough product in the category: FreshWater IQ, a combination of the FreshWater Salt System and the new Smart Monitoring Sensor.
At its core, Freshwater IQ is a meticulous caretaker, continuously monitoring a hot tub’s water every hour and offering precise recommendations on maintaining its balance.
Andy Ordonez, director of product management, explains the system tests pH, chlorine and salt levels and is designed specifically to complement Watkins’ FreshWater Salt System.
“We wanted to focus our innovation efforts on how to make water care — which is the hardest part of spa ownership — easier and less time consuming for the customer,” says Steve Stigers, executive vice president.
“So [FreshWater IQ is] this groundbreaking innovation we’ve come out with.
There’s nothing else in the world like it.”
According to Woelfel, the patented system uses a unique sensor electrode that allows for the combination of many sensors and test parameters in a compact size.
The sensor is integrated into the design of the Hot Spring Highlife and Limelight collections along with the Caldera Utopia and Paradise series.
It offers real-time chemical readings through the top-side digital control panel.
The notification will go away once viewed, but if the condition is not resolved, it will reappear to remind the customer to take action.
“[Customers] frequently get impatient, and then they overdo it one way or another,” says Kirsten Roesch, senior marketing services manager.
“So the fact that it’s smart enough to help guide them through that process is really beneficial.”
App development is underway, so hot tub owners will eventually have notifications sent directly to their phones to help them manage water care.
The sensor has a lifespan of a year, and the salt cartridge, an essential component, is designed to last for four months, packaged in a three-pack bundle to match the lifespan of the sensor.
The sensor is fully in-line, helping to protect it from damage, and unlike some other common pH and ORP sensors that use fragile blast bulb technology, the Freshwater IQ system doesn’t need to be kept wet or require calibration.
“The design will be very pleasant for the consumer,” says Carl Krumrei, vice president of product. “They’re not going to need a service call.
They’re going to be able to change it out themselves.”
The development journey behind FreshWater IQ is a testament to perseverance.
Through collaborations spanning nearly a decade between Watkins, the R&D department of its parent company, Masco, and the University of Michigan, the team developed a chip that could act as a sensor but also solve multiple challenges.
According to Krumrei, the sensor had to be able to function in a hot, humid environment, be durable, be easily installed and replaced and be able to be submerged in water — all while remaining about an inch and a half in length.
In addition, accuracy was crucial, overcoming the unpredictability of traditional test strips.
“The industry’s been waiting for [an accurate water testing sensor] for years,” Ordonez says. “And it’s because it’s not easy.”
Another priority for Watkins when developing the FreshWater IQ system was affordability.
The initial cost of the Freshwater IQ startup kit is between $450-$499 with ongoing costs being roughly $400 a year for new sensors and salt cartridges.
“We’re not out to sell more salt systems,” Woelfel says.
“It’s about creating more hot tubbers.
If we can make the experience easier, then owners can hot tub every day, and that’s when you really start accruing all the mental, emotional and physical benefits of hot water.”
Watkins Wellness is expecting an enthusiastic reception to the FreshWater IQ system, with Stigers calling it a “game-changer” for both consumers and dealers.
“It’s not only [about] the product; it’s also the throughput through the dealer network to educate them,” Krumrei says.
“They’re the ones who have to explain it and set it up for [the customer], so the whole team has to be aligned.”
In providing support, Watkins hopes to enhance business for its dealer network.
“Hopefully, this is one more arrow in their quiver to help them sell more spas and make them more competitive,” Woelfel says.
After a launch to dealers in January, FreshWater IQ is slated for consumer availability by March 2024.
While proud of the product, Stigers says the company isn’t done.
Watkins Wellness Unveils FreshWater IQ for Smart Hot Tub Care
The team at Watkins Wellness is now releasing a breakthrough product in the hot tub category: FreshWater IQ, a combination of the FreshWater Salt System and the new Smart Monitoring Sensor.
We came up with that amount to cover the first year and half or so with the IQ KIT we came up with as a company.
Watkins is a little vague on the expected life of the sensor stating”up to 10-12 months expectancy “
We charge for the sensor,a year supply of cartridges,and a product called Vanishing Act which lowers the CH below 75.
Hot Spring(Watkins)makes a great hot tub we believe the best in the industry.
I just in my experience don’t like to have a new product to work out and find the variances that come with consumer field testing like a new car in its first year in production.
That being said they have spent a lot of time and effort to come up with this technology.
Hot Spring(Watkins) is a great brand and their track record is good so if any manufacturer can accomplish this it will be them.
Thank you for posting that @JamesW
I may get a headache trying to read it but I’ll give it a shot
You have alot of knowledge and great points of view thank you for your inputs I value your answers and posts greatly
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,987
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
So it is orp?
@98Poolmaster ,
Looking forward to your comparisons to drop testing as you get further along with this new toy.
@98Poolmaster ,
Looking forward to your comparisons to drop testing as you get further along with this new toy.
Im not sure right now i have a email to our rep not getting a straight answer from all I’ve asked so far.I will for sure keep you all informed of the accuracy
It seems to be ORP and not a direct chlorine measurement as they seem to indicate.
ORP will not work with Cyanuric acid.
sbcontrol.com
sbcontrol.com
sensorex.com
ORP will not work with Cyanuric acid.
Solid state sensor features superior precision and control of chlorine level
The most complete line of PPM sensors for direct measurement of CHLORINE in water. | Exceptional Quality, covered by a 2-year warranty | Call 1300 585 820
sbcontrol.com
CHLORINE SALT GENERATORS - CHEMTROL
Chlorine Salt Generators Chlorine Salt Generators or Electrolytic Generators are used to produce chlorine on-site by electrolysis of a Sodium Chloride NaCl solution. It should be noted that electrolytic generators do not replace chlorine. It is just that the chlorine is produced on-site instead...
sbcontrol.com
FCL Amperometric Free Chlorine Sensor | Sensorex
Our dependable free chlorine sensor features amperometric measurement technology. Designed for use in disinfection applications with direct 4-20mA output.
sensorex.com
Chlorine Analyzer - PCA300 Family | Hanna Instruments
Hanna Instruments Chlorine Analyzer continuously monitors, controls, and adjusts chlorine and pH levels to maintain safe and efficient concentrations.
www.hannainst.com
Operational interference.
There are a variety of water conditions that can interfere with the proper operation of the Smart Monitor System.
Many conditions will result in an offset of the chlorine or pH reading, making the system chronically off by 1 ppm or more as
compared to a test strip or reference measurement.
Other variables can cause the system to become erratic and values will change erraticaly test to test:
• Use of FreshWater Mineral Spa Sanitizer or other silver nitrate products can permanently offset readings.
◊ Remove the silver device, drain and refill the spa, and replace the sensor.
• Use of MPS. Smart Monitoring System is not calibrated to this type of chemistry.
◊ Stop use and allow up to one week for the MPS to dissipate.
• Use of ozone unit. System is not calibrated for ozone use.
◊ Remove ozone unit from the spa.
• Excessive use of dichlor and CYA build up will dampen chlorine response.
◊ Drain and refill the spa.
• Very low alkalinity will offset pH readings.
◊ Increase alkalinity to within the recommended range.
• Fill water that has not been shocked following Salt System start-up process can cause an incorrect chlorine reading.
◊ Shock the water at start-up per FreshWater Salt best practices.
There are a variety of water conditions that can interfere with the proper operation of the Smart Monitor System.
Many conditions will result in an offset of the chlorine or pH reading, making the system chronically off by 1 ppm or more as
compared to a test strip or reference measurement.
Other variables can cause the system to become erratic and values will change erraticaly test to test:
• Use of FreshWater Mineral Spa Sanitizer or other silver nitrate products can permanently offset readings.
◊ Remove the silver device, drain and refill the spa, and replace the sensor.
• Use of MPS. Smart Monitoring System is not calibrated to this type of chemistry.
◊ Stop use and allow up to one week for the MPS to dissipate.
• Use of ozone unit. System is not calibrated for ozone use.
◊ Remove ozone unit from the spa.
• Excessive use of dichlor and CYA build up will dampen chlorine response.
◊ Drain and refill the spa.
• Very low alkalinity will offset pH readings.
◊ Increase alkalinity to within the recommended range.
• Fill water that has not been shocked following Salt System start-up process can cause an incorrect chlorine reading.
◊ Shock the water at start-up per FreshWater Salt best practices.
Holy goodness !!!! Somebody recognized it in writing.
ORP is different from a true PPM chlorine sensor.
If the system uses ORP, then it should display ORP and not chlorine PPM.
halogensys.com
www.tpomag.com
pool-technologie.com
chemtrol.com.au
www.processinstruments.net
If the system uses ORP, then it should display ORP and not chlorine PPM.
ORP Sensor: Oxygen Reduction Potential (ORP) vs. Amperometry
Until now, there have been no reliable amperometric sensors in a BWMS application. HSI's online TRO sensor for BWMS is the answer.
halogensys.com
Monitoring Chlorine Residuals for RO Membranes - ORP vs. Chlorine… | Treatment Plant Operator
Monitoring Chlorine Residuals for RO Membranes - ORP vs. Chlorine Analyzers
www.tpomag.com
The amperometric regulation
MEASUREMENT IN REAL TIME! The amperometric control Amperometric control is a sophisticated approach to measuring and controlling chlorine levels in swimming pool water. MEASUREMENT IN REAL TIME! The amperometric control Amperometric control is a sophisticated approach to measuring and...
pool-technologie.com
PPM and ORP – Now you can have both! - CHEMTROL Australia
Even though oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and PPM (parts per million) are independently used to monitor water quality in public facilities, they are not often used in conjunction. This is surprising because the combined readings can give one the ability to control chlorine levels and...
chemtrol.com.au
ppm Chlorine vs. ORP measurement - Process Instruments US
Did you know that some instruments use ORP to control chlorine dosing and others use ppm chlorine sensors but …any ORP over about 3 ppm won’t work?
www.processinstruments.net
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