Hot tub filters are vital in keeping your hot tub clean and functional. Without them, your hot tub water would turn filthy and full of particulate matter. This small hot tub part is easy to forget, so it’s vital that you set up a schedule to get them changed at the appropriate time.
But how long do hot tub filters last, and when do you need to change them? In this guide, we’re going to have a look at what filters do, how long they last, and how often you should replace them. Without any further ado, let’s get started.
On average, you should expect to change your hot tub filters every three months, but to keep it operating smoothly, you’ll need to clean it thoroughly once per month, depending on usage.
In this section, we’ll have a closer look at what hot tub filters are and what they’re made of and teach you more about what they do.
Filters are made of a wide variety of materials including paper, fabric, ceramic, sand or diatomaceous earth. Water is either pushed through the filter with pressure or pulled through due to suction – as the water flows through the filter, small particles will be trapped in the filter, leaving only clean water behind.
By far the most common type of hot tub filter is the cartridge filter. Usually, the filter material in these parts will be paper, fabric or plastic. These are very effective and easy to replace, making hot tub maintenance a breeze.
Regularly changing your hot tub filter is a very important aspect of keeping your tub in tip-top shape. In partnership with sanitizers like chlorine or bromine, these filters keep the water in your hot tub clean.
Unlike sanitizers, filters don’t kill bacteria or other nasties, but they remove dirt, grime and other particles from the water. For instance, you probably won’t always wash before you get into your hot tub after a stressful day, and you could have dirt on your skin (which will itself shed skin cells over time). The filter will catch these small particles, stopping them from circulating around in your tub.
When discussing how long hot tub filters last, it’s safe to say that they have a limited lifespan. After this point, the filter will be unable to effectively remove debris from your hot tub’s water. The lifespan of a filter will depend on many factors, such as the material used and the overall quality of the filter.
Most filters will need to be replaced every three months.
Cleaning your filter is vital – while hot tub filters can last several months, the filter won’t function correctly if you don’t clean it. Once a week, you should remove the filter and rinse it to remove larger pieces of debris. Every month, you’ll need to use a cleaning spray for a deeper clean.
Always use products that are specifically designed for hot tub filters. Do not try to clean the filter with household cleaners.
Knowing how often to change your hot tub filter is easy – most will come with information telling you how long they’ll last. However, this isn’t the only way to tell that you need to replace it. You should clean your filter regularly, and while cleaning it, it’s important to inspect it for any signs that it needs early replacement.
Keeping an eye on your hot tub filter when you clean it is very important. If you notice that you’re having to clean the filter more often, this is a sign that the filter may be damaged.
Other key signs to watch out for include rips in the filter material, cracks in the seals, or dirty water in your tub.
Another factor that can affect the lifespan of your filter is water hardness. If you live in an area with particularly hard water, limescale can accumulate on your filter, which is very tough to remove and can lead to damage.
You can’t help it if you have hard water in your area, some parts of the world just have harder water than others. However, if you live in a hard water area, don’t despair. You can soften (or harden, if you have soft water) the water with specialist chemicals.
This should be part of your hot tub maintenance schedule and are some of the most important chemicals that you need in your toolkit.
We hope that this information has helped you understand how often you need to replace your hot tub filter and how long they last.
If you keep your filters clean and replace them regularly, you’ll be able to enjoy your hot tub to its fullest.
If you don’t change your hot tub’s filter, particulates will circulate around your hot tub’s system and will make your tub’s water dirty. It could also damage other parts of your hot tub.
You should be able to find a replacement filter quite easily. When you remove the filter, there should be a part number listed, which you can search for and find replacements. Any documentation that you may have received with your hot tub could also contain details about the filter.
For Platinum Spas hot tubs, please refer to our hot tub filter guide.
If you have a suction filter on your hot tub, you will need to run the filter even if you’re not using it. You should run the filter for around eight hours a day. Pressure hot tub filters also need to be run, but only for around two to four hours per day.
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