Having your own hot tub is a great way to relax. The last thing you want to do while kicking back in your spa is to be thinking about how dirty the water is. Every time someone enters the hot tub, the lotions, makeup, and hair products on their body come with them and run off into the water. Showering before entering the hot tub helps to remove these products. Still, hair, sweat, and other bodily fluids make their way into the water, affecting its cleanliness.
For this reason, the filter is one of the most critical parts of a hot tub. Its job is to remove any contaminants in the water that may affect the water’s quality. Keeping a spa filter clean can have benefits that you may have not assumed including better efficiency, using fewer chemicals, and increasing jet power. If it’s your first time cleaning a hot tub filter and don’t know where to start, you’re on the right page!
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Dirty and greasy filters can cause some issues such as:
- Low Flow. This can be seen by an error message on the screen. This happens when the sensors are not sensing enough flow so the heater is cut off for safety. Low flow can also cause strain on the pump, slower heating, and fewer jets power.
- Dirty water. The filter plays an important role alongside your sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) to keep your hot tub clean. When a filter is clogged, it can disrupt water clarity, cleanliness and also cause inefficient sanitization.
- Strains on parts. If a filter is extremely dirty then debris can make its way into the heater, pumps, sensors, and other key working parts of the hot tub. This can cause parts to become faulty.
HOW TO CLEAN HOT TUB FILTER
There are some tools and supplies that you have to prepare before doing the process. Those are very easy to find from your nearest pool or hardware store:
- Protective gloves and goggles
- Hose
- Clean bucket
- Spa filter cleaner
- Hot tub filter chemical rinse
- Hot tub filter chemical soak
- Clean spray bottle (optional)
- Filter cleaning wand (optional, for quick rinse)
#1 Get the Solution Ready
Prepare the hot tub filter cleaning solution. Have your hot tub filter cleaning solution ready so you can quickly put the filter in after removing it from your spa.
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#2 Turn Off the Power
Well, of course, you have to turn off the power first to be able to take the filer off from the hot tub. The power is usually placed on the bottom side of the hot tub and to make sure, you will have to check the manual guides. Never run your hot tub without a filter, as this can result in clogged pump impellers and water quality problems.
#3 Take the Filter Off
Check your owner’s manual. If this is your first time cleaning your spa’s filter or you need a refresher, refer to your spa’s manual. It will tell you your filter’s location along with directions for safe removal.
- Once you remove the filter, check it to see if there’s a problem.
- If the filter is discolored or has any visible damage, dispose of it and replace it with a new filter.
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#4 Clean the Filter
There are three cleaning methods that you can do based on the filter’s condition.
Quick Rinse (Weekly)
This option is the quickest way to clean your filter and is recommended as a weekly process. This will not remove any grease or oil from your filter so is not recommended for a heavily soiled filter. A weekly rinse will help keep debris from building up, and chemicals from eating away at the filter material. This will help the hot tub filters to work more efficiently and last longer.
- You can thoroughly rinse them with a garden hose or in a large sink.
- Be sure to spread apart from each pleat and rinse well between them to get any dirt, hair, or other debris out.
- Allow the filter to dry before putting it back into the spa.
Chemical Rinse/Spray (Monthly)
A more thorough option than just a quick rinse and recommended as a monthly or fortnightly process depending on hot tub usage.
- Give your filter a quick rinse to remove large debris.
- Spray the hot tub filter solution and wait for 10 – 15 minutes.
If your cleaner doesn’t come with a spray bottle, you can use your own spray bottle to do this step. Please check the manufacturer’s instructions to see the concentrate that must be diluted. - After 10 – 15 minutes, rinse it thoroughly with clean water. If you do not rinse thoroughly, you will experience foaming.
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Deep Clean with Solution Soak (every 3-4 months)
This option is the slowest cleaning process but the most thorough as it allows a degreasing solution to soak into the pleats of the filter. As the process is slower, it ties in nicely with your water drain and refills every 3-4 months. You can do this step when you change your hot tub water that also ideally happens for 3 – 4 months.
- Give a quick rinse to remove large debris.
- By using a large and clean bucket, pour the soak solution and dilute it with water according to the instructions.
- Put the filter inside the bucket and make sure that it’s completely submerged. If the bucket is big enough, you can soak two filters at once.
- Leave the filter to soak for at least 8 hours or it’s better you leave it for 24 hours.
- Once the time is over, rinse the filter thoroughly with clean water.
- Wait until the filter dries before putting it back in the hot tub.
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Keeping your hot tub filter clean is one of the best ways to keep your relaxing time unwind and you get the hydrotherapy function properly. Some pool and hot tub supply stores might offer this service, but it’s really easy to do yourself, and save some money. So, when is the last time you clean your hot tub filter?
