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Hot Tub owners, I thought it would be good to start by describing a task that is often overlooked and costly over time. I'm talking about maintenance of your spa's cartridge filter. If you don't already know, cartridge filters are a cylindrical shaped, pleated polyester that is bound at top and bottom by molded plastic. Filters are usually located in a "bay" or "compartment" on inside or top part of your spa's shell. Sometimes they have a "weir" or "basket" that covers the opening where the water intake is as to trap the largest debris before it even reaches the cartridge filter.

The cartridge filter of your spa acts as the lungs of your hot tub, filtering out all the solid debris that develops or enters your hot tub so keeping it operating correctly is key. Along with the skimmer basket (if your spa has one) the cartridge filter is the only mechanical method your hot tub has to clean the water. In most hot tubs the entire amount of water will pass through the filter many times per hour. So a dirty filter will pass less water and ultimately increase your maintenance needs. With a clogged filter your spa water can be hazy, dull, green and smelly. You will use more chemicals, have to clean your spa more, run a increased risk for disease and irritation, put added stress on your equipment and ultimately enjoy your hot tub less. To correctly clean and maintain your spa's cartridge filter you will need only a small amount of time, a few household tools, a cleaner or two and the knowledge you learn here.

The first thing you should decide is the schedule that your filter will be cleaned. Most manufacturers suggest cleaning the filter three to four times a year. This may be sufficient if your spa is used only a few times a month but if you use your tub more than that, I recommend a partial cleaning twice a month (at least once a month) and a thorough cleaning four to six times per year. Now that sounds like a lot but when you see how easy some of the steps are you will be surprised. The benefit to your hot tub operations and reduced cost for you will pay off greatly for the time spent cleaning. In fact, there is no one thing you can do for your hot tub upkeep that has more value.

To clean your filter you will need a few supplies. Some of these supplies I'm sure you'll already have around your house or even next to the hot tub. You will need a five gallon bucket, garden hose with sprayer nozzle, plastic scrub brush (I like the long handle style) and a bottle of filter cleaner/de-greaser. Remember to turn you hot tub off before you remove the filter for cleaning as the suctions involved with your spa's circulation could be very dangerous without the filter in place.

The partial cleaning that you should do every other week is very easy. All you need to do is pull the filter from the spa and set it on the ground, deck, so on. Then take the hose and nozzle and spray off the filter in a with the stream tilting diagonally down in a top down sweeping motion. You will be spraying the nozzle in the "valley" of each pleat forcing the debris to the bottom and then off the filter as it hits the plastic ring. Once you've gone all the way around the circumference of the cylinder, return the filter to the spa and turn the power on. Verify the tub is working properly and your all done. Simple huh! The more in depth cleanings are a little more time consuming but not much more actual work for you.

To complete a more aggressive cleaning, start by rinsing off the filter like you've been doing every other week. Then put the filter in to the bucket and add some filter cleaning solution following the bottle's label and top off the rest of the bucket with water. Then leave the filter alone to soak for 4-6 hours or more. It's ok if all the filter doesn't fit in the bucket under the water. Just turn the filter over at the half way point of soaking. After soaking the filter, take your scrub brush and scrub the filter pleats up and down to dislodge debris. Sort of like your brushing your teeth. Then rinse off the filter very well before returning it to the spa for use. Make sure you get all the cleaner off the filter before you put it in your spa or you will have a bubble bath of grand proportions. After turn on your spa and making sure it's all working normal, your all done. Simple as that!

So don't put off cleaning your filter because you think it's too much work. Just keep in mind that if you clean it a little more often it will be a lot easier each time and your spa will be easier and less expensive to maintain. That goes a long way to making your hot tub even more comfortable and giving you peace of mind.

Lance Lindsey
Water Wise Spa and Pool Service
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