Hot Tub Filter Guide – 3 Steps to Keep Your Water Crystal Clear

When it comes to your hot tub, crystal-clear water is non-negotiable.

Clean water is vital not only to the overall health of your spa but also to the safety of your soak.

Your hot tub filter care is a significant aspect of taking proper care of your hot tub and ensuring your water is clean and clear each time you lift the cover.

While your treatment chemicals are an important part of clean water, your filters play an equally important role and can leave you with unwelcoming water if not properly cared for.

Want to learn how to maintain your hot tub filters like an expert?

Keep reading! In this article, we’re going to share everything you need to know about your hot tub filters.

We’ll explore how your filters work and the common signs they need to be cleaned or replaced, outline a hot tub filter cleaning routine, and include a short list of five tips to keep your water clean day to day.

How Does a Hot Tub Filter Work?

Hot tub filters maintain the clarity and cleanliness of your water by removing debris, contaminants, and impurities.

As water moves through your hot tub’s circulation system, it passes through your filters.

These filters are made of a dense, pleated fabric that allows water to flow through while it catches any minute bits of debris, such as dirt.

This process ensures that any contaminants that enter your hot tub, whether blown in from the wind or washed off your body, are unable to re-enter the water after it’s circulated through your system.

How Often Should You Clean Your Hot Tub Filters?

Keeping your filters in good condition and free from heavy build-up of debris is crucial to both your hot tub’s efficiency and your water’s health.

Following a routine cleaning schedule is the only way to ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to keep them in good condition throughout their 12-month lifespan.

Unlike many other aspects of your hot tub maintenance routine, cleaning your filters is a three-step process, each one happening at different intervals.

This routine includes a:

• Weekly rinse
• Monthly chemical spray
• Quarterly chemical bath

As you can see, each one of these stages provides a deeper clean than the previous one, ensuring you can maximize the life of your filters.

How to Clean Your Hot Tub Filters

Now that you know how often you should clean your hot tub filters, we’re going to give you an easy step-by-step guide for each interval.

To clean your filters throughout the year, you’ll need four basic materials:

• A garden hose
• Gloves
• A large bucket
• Filter cleaner

Weekly Rinse

Easily the quickest routine of all, your weekly rinse should only take a few moments and works to wash off any loose debris from the surface of your filters.

Step 1: Turn off your hot tub

Step 2: Remove each hot tub filter

Step 3: Using a hose, rinse all the debris off each filter

Step 4: Inspect your filters for any damage (replace them if needed)

Step 5: Submerge the filters underwater and wait for air bubbles to stop

Step 6: Reinstall the filters

Step 7. Turn your hot tub back on & enjoy!

Monthly Chemical Rinse

This process should take less than 20 minutes to complete and will help remove the more stubborn debris that may have embedded itself into your filter’s pleats.

Step 1: Turn off your hot tub

Step 2: Remove each hot tub filter

Step 3: Using a hose, rinse all the debris off each filter

Step 4: Spray each filter with filter cleaner and let soak for 15 minutes

Step 5: Thoroughly rinse the filters until all chemicals are washed off

Step 6: Inspect your filters for any damage (replace them if needed)

Step 7: Submerge the filters underwater and wait for air bubbles to stop

Step 8: Reinstall the filters

Step 9. Turn your hot tub back on & soak in peace

Quarterly Chemical Bath

Once a season, you’ll need to perform a much deeper clean than the two listed above.

This process takes significantly more time because it involves soaking your filters for an extended period of time.

Because of this, we recommend beginning this process the day before your quarterly water change.

Step 1: Turn off your hot tub

Step 2: Remove each hot tub filter

Step 3: Using a hose, rinse all the debris off each filter

Step 4: Inspect your filters for any damage (replace them if needed)

Step 5: Following the directions on your filter cleaner, dilute your cleaner in a bucket of water, then submerge your filters

Step 6: Let them soak for 12-24 hours (at the very least, soak them overnight)

Step 7: Remove filters from the chemical bath and thoroughly rinse them off until all chemicals are washed away

Step 8: Submerge the filters underwater and wait for air bubbles to stop

Step 9: Reinstall the filters

Step 10. Turn your hot tub back on, refill it with fresh water, and rebalance it with your water treatment products

4 Common Signs Your Hot Tub Filter Needs Cleaning or Replacement

When your filters become clogged with heavy debris or develop a tear, it can result in unwelcome changes to your water, making it unsafe to use.

While sticking to the regular maintenance routine listed above will help minimize the risk of these issues occurring, it’s important to be aware of them should they arise.

1. Weak Water Flow

Clogged hot tub filters make it harder for the water to circulate properly through your system.

If water is not able to properly flow through your circulation system, you’ll quickly notice your water pressure has plummeted.

Whether it’s through a weak jet flow or a trickling waterfall, this warning sign is one that likely won’t go unnoticed.

2. Cloudy or Murky Water

This is another issue that occurs from poor water circulation.

Stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, giving it time to bind together and expand, taking over your water and making it unusable.

Furthermore, the pool circulation reduces the effectiveness of your chemicals because they’re unable to properly be distributed throughout your hot tub.

Paired together, this quickly results in cloudy water that’s no longer safe (or appealing) to enjoy.

3. Foul Smelling Water

If your water has gone stagnant, you’re likely going to lift your cover and be greeted with an unpleasant smell coming from your water.

This often comes from the increase of bacteria, along with the pockets of untreated water from the lack of your treatment chemicals being mixed into the water.

4. Visible Debris in The Water

Lastly, if you head out to your spa and discover flecks of debris floating in your water even though your cover was on, it’s a surefire sign your filters are either clogged or have a tear in them.

If your hot tub filter becomes damaged, it is unable to properly filter out debris, allowing smaller contaminants to re-enter the water.

Other Tips For Keeping Your Hot Tub Water Crystal Clear

As you can see, your hot tub filters work hard to keep your water clean and ready to enjoy every day of the year.

However, your filters can only do so much. With a few simple steps, you can maintain your clean water, reduce the work your system needs to do, and keep dirty water at bay with ease.

Here are the best ways to support the cleanliness of your water day to day.

Keep Your Water Balanced and Properly Treated

Ideally, you should be testing your water each day and treating it with the right chemicals as determined by your pH test.

With the right level of chemicals, you’ll be able to kill any bacteria in your water and keep it clean and safe to enjoy.

Don’t Forget to Drain and Clean Your Spa

While your chemicals are a necessary part of keeping your water clean, they also slowly build up over time.

This can lead to difficulties balancing your water after a few months due to the high chemical levels.

Every three months, you’ll need to completely drain your spa, clean your shell, and refill it with fresh water.

Not only will this endure you’re always soaking in clean water, but it will reduce the risk of it damaging your system.

Always Use Your Cover

Your cover is an important aspect of your hot tub.

Not only does it ensure you’re taking the necessary safety precautions, but it also keeps debris out while locking in heat to maximize the efficiency of your spa.

Shower Before You Use Your Hot Tub

Each time you step into the soothing water of your spa, anything on your skin or swimsuit will naturally contaminate the water.

This includes things like:

• Lotions
• Hair products
• Deodorants
• Cosmetics
• Detergents

These oils can build up in your water, resulting in it becoming cloudy or foamy!

To avoid this, take a quick shower to rinse any oils off your body before getting into your hot tub.

Better yet, take it one step further by keeping your hair up anytime you head out for a spa session!

Include Weekly Shock Treatments

While your regular chemical treatments will keep bacteria at bay and maintain your water’s cleanliness, adding an oxidizing shock treatment once a week can help break up stubborn debris, such as those oils listed above.

Adding a healthy dose once a week will help further reduce the risk of unwelcoming water appearing between deep cleans.

Buy Hot Tub Filters in Winnipeg

Whether you’re in the market for a new hot tub or simply need to restock all your hot tub supplies, Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Manitoba is the place to go.

With three locations throughout Manitoba, including two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon, our team of experts is right around the corner.

Contact us, visit your local showroom, or explore our online store to find all your hot tub essentials today!