Just like every other component of your spa or hot tub, hot tub filters require regular maintenance in order to function optimally, and to keep the pump system running smoothly. There are a number of methods for cleaning hot tub filters, but regardless of your hot tub filter cartridge system, these regular cleaning guidelines should always be followed: The cartridges should be rinsed with a water hose approximately every two weeks. This simple maintenance procedure will ensure that any excess debris that is compromising the efficacy of the filter or pump is removed.

Hot tub filters come in all different sizes.

The hot tub spa filter should be more thoroughly cleaned whenever the spa’s water is changed. Typically, this change should occur every three to four months, but could occur more frequently, depending on the heaviness and frequency of use. With this water change, the filter should be pre-rinsed in the same manner as its by-monthly rinse, and then soaked overnight in a special hot tub filter cleaner compound.

In order to get your hot tub up and running immediately, consider using two hot tub filters on a rotating basis. Rotating the filters out at every water change will allow you to put your spa back into use as soon as possible. It will also allow you to ensure that your filter cleaning is as thorough and effective as possible, since allowing the filter to dry completely after a cleaning will kill of any remaining microorganisms that may have been especially resilient. This process will extend the life and efficacy of your filters considerably.

When soaking your filter, you may also have to remove calcium or other mineral scale build-up, depending on the mineral content of your water. There exist special additives for cleaner compounds to specifically deal will this issue. There are a number or manual filter cleaning products also available on the market. For a quicker cleaning process, individuals have the option of purchasing a hot tub filter cleaner that works electronically to spin and scrub the filter. There are also products such as filter flossers that help in the removal of stubborn build-up.

Other simple ways of keeping your hot tub clean and dirt and bacteria-free, and also a means of extending the life of your hot tub filter, include the application of chemical and/or natural water sanitizers, regular pH tests to monitor the acidity and alkalinity of the water level, as well as its chemical content, and the use of additional water supplements. The easiest measure of all is simply ensuring that when the hot tub is not being used, the cover is always replaced and sealed, in order to avoid the possibility of debris and dirt accumulating on the water’s surface. Hot tub filters should be replaced at least once a year.

There are several different makers of hot tub filters, and which make you choose will necessarily depend upon the type of hot tub you own, the filter’s price, and its efficacy at clearing and filtering your spa water. Because filters are made for every type of spa and pool, before buying, you need to ensure that the filter will be compatible with your system. Three reliable brands are pleatco hot tub filters, sundance hot tub filters, and the hot tub filters unicel brand. Each of these three brands sells several lines of filters and filter cartridges intended for compatibility with multiple spas and pools, whose pricings range between $20.00 and $100.00 per unit.

Pricing of filters is dependent upon a number of factors. The larger the area of water that needs to be filtered, the higher the price of the filtration system will necessarily be. Different hot tub filters also perform different tasks. For instance, a harder working filter may also include anti-microbial properties, which will, logically, bring its unit selling price up. In order to locate discount hot tub filters, consider purchasing them in bulk quantities. This method will allow you to rotate the filters out during cleanings, as discussed above, and will also reduce the unit price of the individual cartridges.

Your hot tub spa, when maintained properly, provides a unique means of relaxing after a long day’s work, and offers a special attraction during parties and other social gatherings. In order to enjoy the benefits of your home set up, keep your hot tub and the hot tub water clean and well-maintained. A clean, healthy hot tub is well-worth the minimal time and cost involved with regularly cleaning and replacing your hot tub filters.

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Even though all three pool filter systems (sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth) will do a good job of removing all of the nasty stuff from your pool they each work in different ways and will each have distinct characteristics that you might want to consider before you install one of them. If you’re looking for particular brands for pool pumps and filters you might want to check out a Hayward pool filter or one of the Intex pool filters.

Pool Sand Filter: Can’t Go Wrong with Sand

A swimming pool sand filter pictured above.  

Sand filters use the technology of the earth itself to filter your pool system. Basically what they do is push water through a bed of sand at one end of the pool. As the water is sucked through the layers of sand all of the stuff you don’t want to see floating around your pool will be caught up in the sand and filtered through a series of tubes underneath. Dirty pool water comes in through the top layer of sand and clean water is put back into the pool after the filtration is complete.

Sand filters have their benefits. They are really easy to clean because all you have to do is replace the used up dirty sand with some new sand but they have a pretty low catch rate. Sand is dense but it isn’t the finest comb for filtering water so the backwash hydraulic pool filter pump the filter uses to pump water back into the pool isn’t going to catch everything it should. Sand filters are the least effective filtration type because they will always allow the smaller particles to get back into the pool.

Pool Filter Cartridge: Cost Effective and Easy to Treat

A cartridge swimming pool filter system pictured above. 

Cartridge pool filters are pretty simple really. They use the same mechanic your bathroom and kitchen sinks use to catch debris. That is, they pass water through a filter material that gets all of the little pieces stuck in it. The water passes through and gets clean and as soon as the cartridge fills up to the point that water can’t pass through anymore you simply remove it and empty it out.

The nice thing about cartridge pool filters is their price. Cartridge systems are incredibly cheap and even if they break down (which they probably won’t ever do) you can easily just replace the broken filter with a new one. To properly keep your cartridge filter maintained you just have to manually clean it out once or twice each month. The cartridge filters will catch more or the small particles that sand filters miss but they aren’t necessarily the most accurate filters out there.

Diatomaceous Earth Pool Filters: The BMW of Pool Filters

DE pool filters look like this. 

Diatomaceous Earth pool filters, or DE for short, are made out of fossilized diatoms. What’s a diatom you ask? Well, they are basically tiny little dinosaur insects that have gotten stuck in rocks for millions of years. Why are we using dinosaur bugs to clean our pool’s water? Simply put: there is no finer comb than a comb made of the exoskeletons of these bugs.

The DE swimming pool filter has its grids coated with the bones of these fossils and they serve to create an incredibly accurate filtration system. These water filters are practically splitting the hydrogen molecules in the water to get rid of all the debris and can filter out particles up to 5 microns small. That’s some impressive filtering if you ask me.

DE filters are going to be more expensive and they require a lot more power than your sand or cartridge swimming pool filters so they might not be as energy efficient. However, they are by far the best filtration system out there if you don’t mind spending a little extra money.

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