How Often To Clean Hot Tub Filter

Exposed Hot Tub Filters

Your hot tub is the place you go to relax, whether on your own or with family and friends. Cleaning it is often not at the top of your priorities but in order to ensure it can be enjoyed for years to come there are regular maintenance tasks you need to perform. A hot tub filter is one of the most important parts of the cleaning system and should be well maintained if you like a clean and healthy hot tub. Keeping your hot tub filter clean has many benefits and can help prolong the life of your hot tub, the filter, the health of its users and can help you save money

This guide is aimed at explaining how to clean your hot tub filter and the benefits of doing so in more detail.

How Does A Hot Tub Filter Work?

Water is pumped through the filter by the circulation pump or massage pump to remove contaminants such as dirt and debris. The amount of water pumped through the filtration system will vary depending on the make and model of Hot Tub you own.
The hot tub filter works in conjunction with chemicals and sanitisers to keep your hot tub healthy and clean.

How Long Should My Hot Tub Filter Last?

High quality hot tub filters are designed with a moulded plastic core and a pleated polyester material such as Reemay® that catches the dirt. The pleats of the filter increase its surface area allowing for more dirt to be contained. Reemay® is an acid free random-spunbonded polyester material specifically designed for its strength and stability when wet and in various humidity. It is also resistant to acids and other chemicals and can be expected to last up to 18 months. If you are not rotating your filters, then you should expect to replace it every 12 months.
By purchasing genuine hot tub filters your system will run more efficiently thus giving you a more reliable circulation of water and making for easier cleaning and maintenance.

Why Should I Keep My Hot Tub Filter Clean?

If your hot tub filter is not cleaned regularly the particles of dirt remain trapped and eventually start to build up reducing the effectiveness of the filter and the cleanliness of your water. Cleaning your filter regularly will prolong its life.
Before you start cleaning your Hot Tub Filter we recommend ensuring that you have a spare, this will allow you to continue using your hot tub whilst your other filter is out of use.
Here at Outdoor Living Online we've put together a step by step guide for cleaning you hot tub filter:

Step-By-Step Guide To Cleaning Your Hot Tub Filter

Turn off your hot tub at the isolator
Remove the filter from the housing unit
Use a hose pipe with good water pressure to remove the larger debris from the pleat
Place the filter in a large bucket or container and fill with water so the filter is completely submerged
Add one of our recommended filter cleaning solutions and soak for the recommended time on each solution as advised on the packaging
While your filter is soaking you may need to put a lid on the container to weigh the filter down. Ensure that it is not accessible by children or animals during this time
Once it has soaked according to instructions, remove the filter from the container and hose again paying attention to the pleats. A hot tub filter cleaning comb is a handy tool that allows you to clean your filter faster and reduces the need for filter cleaning chemicals
Allow the filter to dry completely before placing back in the hot tub to kill remaining microbes

How often should I Clean My Hot Tub Filter?

The longer your hot tub filter goes uncleaned, the more dirt and debris can build up making its performance less affective. We recommend following our cleaning schedule once a week to ensure that you keep on top of the filter maintenance and making the cleaning process quicker and easier.

Additional Hot Tub Filter Cleaning Tips

There are many other additional tips to follow to ensure your filter is kept in the best condition including:

Do not use household cleaning products

Whilst bleach and other household cleaning products are great at cleaning your kitchen and bathroom they have not been specifically designed for or tested on hot tub filters. Not only could these products reduce the lifespan of your filter by damaging the fibres they could also cause further damage to your hot tub and if they are not removed correctly, they can be harmful to your skin.

Do not use your dishwasher

You may think that the steam and high temperature of your dishwasher would be the perfect environment for the hot tub filter this is certainly not the case, PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR DISHWASHER TO CLEAN YOUR HOT TUB FILTER . Not only could you damage your filter and dishwasher you could also reduce the effectiveness of your filter which in turn could cause damage to your hot tub.

Do not use your washing machine

As with a dishwasher, you could damage your filter by placing it in the washing machine, the banging against the metal drum of your washing machine could cause the plastic to crack. The detergents developed for washing clothes have not been tested on/designed for the filter and could have a detrimental affect. It will also cause unwanted foam in your tub. In conclusion we recommend that you DO NOT PLACE YOUR HOT TUB FILTER IN THE WASHING MACHINE.

Always inspect your filter before replacing

We would always recommend taking a close look at your hot tub filter before replacing it to ensure that all traces of dirt and debris have been removed but more importantly to check for signs of wear and tear, particularly if your filter is nearing the end of its lifespan. Look for cracks around all visible plastic and ensure there are no rips or tears in the main body of the filter.

Allow your filter to dry naturally

Although quality filters are designed to withstand varied temperatures applying direct heat such as a hairdryer or even placing it on a radiator could warp the plastic or effect the performance of your filter, always allow your filter to dry naturally.

Always replace your filter before running your hot tub

The filter is an important part of your hot tub, as we have already mentioned it removes dirt and debris ensuring the water is kept clean. It is also designed to stop the debris from being sucked into the pump and causing damage, the pump is a more expensive hot tub part to replace therefore we do not recommend running your hot tub without a filter.

Hard vs soft water

Depending on the area you live in, the type of water can affect your filter. In very hard water areas there are higher concentrations of certain minerals such as calcium. When heated, calcium deposits can be left in many areas including the filter causing scaling. By cleaning the filter regularly scale can be prevented from forming on the filter, prolonging its life and ensuring it works effectively. As part of your weekly hot tub chemical treatment you should ensure you are using the right chemicals for your tub. Find out more in our full chemical guide.

Clean your filter housing unit

Each time you remove your filter from the housing unit you should give it a wipe with a clean damp cloth. This will help prevent the transference of and dirt particles from the housing unit onto the cleaned filter as you replace it.

Hot Tub Filter Cleaning Benefits

Keeping a regular filter cleaning routine has numerous benefits such as:

Easier chemical maintenance

Having a clean, well maintained filter will ensure that you get more accurate results when testing your water. It will make it easier to treat the water with the right ratio of chemicals to ensure that any potentially harmful bacteria are removed.

Ensure safe bathing for your family & friends

As the filter is designed to catch debris and dirt and help remove bacteria before it enters the tub, keeping it clean is vital to ensure everyone enjoying the hot tub is kept safe and healthy.

Filters will last longer

Maintaining the cleanliness of the filter will help prolong its life.

Saving money

As mentioned, a clean hot tub filter will give you better results when testing the water meaning you could potentially spend less money on chemicals. By having a well-maintained filter you should have to replace it less frequently meaning it is kinder to the purse strings.