Using your hot tub without a filter is going to end up costing you more money in the long run. But what about when you need to remove the filter to clean it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Long Can a Hot Tub Run Without a Filter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you need to run your hot tub without a filter for whatever reason, then there are a few precautions you should take. Ensure that the spa jets are turned down low and that the pump is running at a low speed. Avoid running the pump for too long without a filter as it can lead to clogged pump impellers and a rapid decline in water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, as part of your regular filter maintenance routine, you’re going to have to take the filter cartridge out in order to clean it with a chemical spray or soak. A chemical soak takes 24 hours, which means your hot tub is out of action during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of resisting temptation and taking a dip with no filter in place, I recommend always having an extra filter cartridge Note:<\/strong> A damaged or dirty filter can be just as harmful as using no filter at all, so ensure a regular cleaning routine to avoid clogged filters. Signs that your hot tub filter isn’t working properly and needs replacing immediately are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out my complete guide to filter maintenance and replacement<\/a> for more in-depth information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to keep the body healthy, our kidneys filter the blood of toxins so that they can be removed as waste products. In much the same way, a hot tub’s filter rids the water of harmful contaminants to ensure that the spa remains safe for bathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each time you step into your hot tub, you introduce some 100 million new bacteria into the water. These bacteria are made up of natural bodily fluids and the plethora of personal care products we use in our modern lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another source of contaminants for hot tubs is from the elements. The wind and rain carry a whole lot of dust and debris that make their way into the water while we’re bathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And as the water is exposed to UV light from the sun’s rays, it kills off the chlorine. A lack of chlorine sanitizer results in the growth of certain algae that thrive in the warm and humid conditions found in your hot tub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With no filter installed in your spa, it’ll not only lead to an accumulation of scum but a whole host of other problems that can affect both your health and your wallet. Let’s take a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason we add sanitizers such as chlorine or bromine into the water is so that they can work alongside the filter to ensure that the water remains crystal clear and safe for bathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, because the sanitizer isn’t accompanied by a filter cartridge, it has to work extra hard to keep the water sanitary. With the sanitizer working so hard, it doesn’t last long before getting used up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way to deal with this is to add far more than is usually necessary to keep levels within a safe range. This means devoting more time to testing and adjusting the water chemistry, as well as wasting money on extra chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the majority of the contaminants remaining inside the spa, it eventually results in the water developing a foul smell that you’re definitely not going to want to soak in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if the chlorine levels become too low, it leads to chloramines forming in the water. Chloramines are what give off that harsh and obnoxious \u201cchlorine\u201d smell that most wrongly assume are the result of adding too much chlorine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another effect of high levels of contaminants is the spa water turning milky and cloudy. Just think of how your bathwater changes color as you wash with soap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the personal care products you introduce aren’t being removed by filtration, your hot tub is spending months at a time heating them up, resulting in a cloudy soup of bacteria. Yuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another job your spa’s filter cartridge has is to filter out contaminants that can lead to bacterial growth. By trapping them inside the filter, it makes it difficult for the bacteria and other microorganisms to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, with no filter in place, the algae have the perfect breeding ground to grow and flourish. Algae blooms cause your spa water to become discolored, turning the water an unsightly shade of green or yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As all the deodorants, soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, laundry detergents, and bodily fluids circulate around the plumbing, it causes a build-up of nasty gunk inside the plumbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This gunk is known as biofilm and is very harmful to your health. The only way to deal with biofilm is to use this Ahh-Some line flush![\"Opens](\"https:\/\/hottubzone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/acabado-2\/img\/extlink.png\" "\\"Opens")
<\/a><\/strong> on-hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
7 Reasons Why Using a Hot Tub Filter Is Non-Negotiable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Having to use more sanitizing chemicals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Cloudy and smelly water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Bacteria build-up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/strong> product to clean the pipes before then having to drain all of the water and start again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n