In this article, I’m going to show you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- How to carry out a proper cleaning routine<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The consequences of bathing in a hot tub with a dirty filter<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to maintain your filter and prolong its lifespan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to recognize when it’s time to change the filter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
How often should I clean my hot tub filter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Maintaining a regular cleaning routine is especially important with filter cartridges as they play a key role in keeping your water clean and pure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hot tub filters need to be rinsed with fresh, clean water at least once a week. As well as weekly cleans, you should perform a monthly rinse using a chemical spray. Every 3 months, the filter needs to be left in chemical soak for 24 hours to ensure a deep clean.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regularly rinsing and cleaning helps to prolong the life of the filter and ensures that it continues to work efficiently so that the water is safe for bathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two main factors that influence the frequency with which you need to clean the filter are usage and climate. The more you use your hot tub, the harder the filters have to work, so the more frequently they’re going to need to be cleaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other factor is the climate in which you live. The hotter it is, the more you’ll need to clean the filter. If your hot tub sees heavy use (used 4+ times per week), you may need to carry out cleaning on a more regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weekly rinse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rinsing the filter once a week prevents a build-up of debris that can cause clogging. It also stops the spa chemicals from eating away at the filter fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remove the filter from the filter well and rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Make sure to spread the pleats apart to remove all the dirt and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rinsing can be carried out in the sink, bathtub, or outside using a garden hose fitted with an inline pre-filter<\/strong>
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<\/a>. Never clean your hot tub filter with a pressure washer as it’ll damage the fibers. Once the pleats are clean and free of dirt, you can replace the filter back into the well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMonthly chemical rinse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once a month, it’s necessary to perform a chemical rinse. This involves spraying the filter between the pleats with a specially formulated chemical spray and allowing it to sit for 15 minutes while it gets to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like to use this particular filter cleaner<\/strong>
<\/a> as it comes ready in a handy spray bottle so you don’t need to mess around transferring the liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the 15 minutes are up, rinse off the chemical solution thoroughly and ensure that all the pleats are free of dirt and debris just like you would do during a weekly clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Never use detergents to clean your filter cartridges as they can cause foaming<\/a>. Foaming usually requires having to drain all of the water in your hot tub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it’s possible to use bleach to clean a hot tub<\/a> shell, never use it on filter cartridges as it destroys the fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quarterly chemical soak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once every three months, you’ll need to perform a deep clean by placing the filter cartridges in a powerful chemical soak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s ideal to carry out a deep filter clean at the same time you drain the water from your hot tub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s recommended to drain the water at least every 3 – 4 months, but a more frequent drain may be required if your hot tub sees a lot of use and is used by many bathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing how often you should drain and refill your hot tub with fresh water is important if you want to avoid a build-up of bacteria, so check out my guide to calculating drainage frequency<\/a> for your usage habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the directions on the bottle, dilute the chemical soak with water in a large, clean bucket. The bucket needs to be large enough to fully submerge the filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Place the filter inside the bucket and allow it to soak in the solution for 24 hours. After 24 hours, rinse thoroughly, ensure the pleats are free of dirt, and leave to air dry before placing back into the filter well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you’re carrying out a chemical soak, it’s worth having an extra filter<\/strong> on standby for a couple of reasons. Firstly, so that you can install the backup to enjoy your hot tub while the dirty filter is being cleaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n