There’s no better way to spend an evening than soaking in the warm, crystal-clear water of your hot tub.
Every time you lift the cover of your spa and discover clean water, your hot tub filters are the ones to thank.
They’re your water’s first line of defense and work around the clock to maintain the cleanliness of your water.
This is why filter care is vital to include in your hot tub maintenance routine, and we’re going to tell you how to care for your filters like a pro.
Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about hot tub filters. From why they’re so important and how to properly clean them to how often they need to be changed and telltale signs they’re clogged.
Let’s get started.
Why Are Hot Tub Filters Important?
Your hot tub filters play a vital role in the health of your water and are the sole reason your water isn’t overcome with dirt and debris.
While your chemicals certainly play a role in keeping your water free from bacteria and safe to soak in, your filters handle everything else that circulates through your system.
They’re also a key factor in your circulation system functioning properly.
Excessively dirty or clogged filters can result in a host of issues forming in your hot tub (we’ll get to that below).
Keeping your filters clean will ensure your hot tub is working both efficiently and effectively, so it’s vital you give them the attention they need throughout the year.
How to Clean Your Hot Tub Filters
Cleaning your filters is a multi-step process that includes three different types of cleaning.
With how important their job is, it’s essential to keep your hot tub filters in prime condition, which is why they require various cleaning methods.
While they do require work, luckily, cleaning them is quick and simple, so it’s an easy step to include in your regular maintenance routine.
Here is everything you need to know to keep your hot tub filters in the best condition throughout the year.
Weekly
Your weekly routine is easily the most simple to perform and should only take you a few minutes.
Once a week, you’ll need to rinse your filters off to remove any dirt that’s gotten on them. To do this, follow these steps.
- Remove the filters from your hot tub
- Rinse them under gently running water
- Inspect them for damage
- Set them aside to dry
- Return them to your hot tub
When rinsing them, you’ll want to use your faucet or garden hose.
Be careful not to use a high-pressure sprayer or hose attachment on them. The pressure can cause rips or tears in the pleats.
If, upon inspection, you notice there are rips or tears in your filters, or the pleats have been pulled out from the plastic caps, you’ll need to replace them.
This damage will result in debris passing through your filters and reentering your water, leading to higher run times as you try to filter out the debris each time it’s missed.
Monthly
Even though you’re rinsing your filters each week, debris will build up and become increasingly difficult to rinse off, especially as it gets caught between the pleats.
This is where your monthly clean comes in.
Each month, you’ll want to spray your filters with a filter cleaner to help remove any stains and build-up thats formed on them.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Remove your filters
- Rinse them off
- Inspect them
- Spray them with filter cleaner
- Let soak for 15 minutes
- Thoroughly rinse them off
- Set aside to dry
- Return them to your hot tub
This will help remove any lingering debris and help clean deeper into the fibers of the pleats to help combat any build-up that’s harder to reach.
Quarterly
Your quarterly routine is the most time-consuming part of caring for your filters because it involves leaving them to soak overnight.
This will give the filter cleaner time to saturate any stubborn buildup and remove debris that’s collected on the core over the course of the last three months.
For this step, you’ll need a bucket and filter cleaner before you begin.
Once you have these items, follow the steps below.
- Remove your filters
- Rinse them off
- Inspect them
- Dilute your filter cleaner with water in the bucket as per the directions on the bottle
- Submerge your filters
- Let them soak for 12-24 hours
- Using gloves, remove the filters from the bucket
- Thoroughly rinse them off
- Set them aside to dry
- Return them to your hot tub
Because this only gets done every three months, and your filters will be out of your hot tub for an extended period of time, it’s best to perform this step alongside your quarterly drain and deep clean.
Ideally, you’ll want to soak them the night before so they’re ready once you’ve drained and cleaned your hot tub the next day.
This will make the process much easier and ensure your filters are completely cleaned before refilling your spa with fresh water.
How Often Should I Change My Hot Tub Filters?
With such an intensive cleaning routine, you may be wondering how long you can expect your hot tub filters to last.
With proper care, you’ll only need to replace them once a year.
If, however, you don’t maintain your cleaning routine or you discover damage when inspecting them, you may need to replace them sooner.
To make sure you always know when it’s time to replace your filters, set a reminder on your phone by adding it to your calendar.
What Happens if My Hot Tub Filters Are Dirty?
If you’ve made the mistake of forgetting about your filters, they’ll inevitably become clogged with the debris they’ve been filtering out of your water.
When hot tub filters become clogged, there are various problems that may occur, warning you there’s an issue that needs your attention.
Some common hot tub issues that can occur from clogged filters include:
- Cloudy water
- Poor circulation
- Cold water
- Weak water flow
- Increase in energy bills
Furthermore, if your filters are too dirty to allow water to circulate properly through your system, your water chemistry can become difficult to maintain.
This can result in longer than normal maintenance times and higher levels of chemicals being added to your water in an attempt to bring it into balance.
Buy Hot Tub Filters in New Jersey
Whether you need to restock your hot tub filters or need the basics to start caring for yours like a pro, the experts at National Pools & Spas are here to help.
With both Sundance®️ Spas and Marquis®️ Spas on our showroom floor, we’ll have everything you need to properly care for your spa and ensure it’s running smoothly for years to come.
For your convenience, we have showrooms in Flemington, Hillsborough, Lawrenceville, and Robbinsville, each with its own team of experts who are happy to help with all your hot tub and pool needs.
Contact your local team, or visit your closest showroom to restock all your hot tub supplies!
