Spa filters are one of the most important parts of the spa, although they are generally forgotten about. It is very important to change your filter on a regular basis, because that is what keeps bacteria, dirt, bugs, and all other kinds of nasty things out of your spa. The spa circulates all of the water through the filter to trap these contaminates. How often you change your filter depends on the type of filter you use, but normally you should replace it every year or two. Below are the three types of filters you can buy, however you should check with the manufacturer as to what type of filter they recommend you should use with your particular spa.
The most common type of spa filter is the sand filter. As the name suggests, this type of filter uses a specific type of sand (and gravel) to remove contaminate particles from your water. The only problem with a sand filter is that it will not remove all particles on its own. To help, you have to add something to the water to cause the smallest particles to clump together into bigger particles, thereby allowing the filter to remove them. You should also note that the sand in the filter should be replenished every few years of regular use. These filters must be backwashed to be cleaned.
The second type of spa filter is the cartridge filter. The cartridge filter uses a folded polyester mesh or paper material to trap the particles contained in the water. The more mesh that is used and the more folds used, the more thoroughly this type of filter cleans the water. You can often buy cartridge filters right from the manufacturer of your spa, or you can get filters made by third parties, usually at a discounted price.
The third type of spa filter is the Diatomaceous Earth filter. This type uses fine mesh AND Diatomaceous Earth (DE) particles (which is simply ground up fossils). This filter works the same way as the others, trapping contaminate in the mesh and DE. Some places have laws governing the removal of DE, so you need to take that into consideration. The DE filter has to be backwashed to be cleaned, and then a new coating of DE has to be applied to it.
To make sure the water in your spa is properly filtered, you should run it EVERY day for at least an hour. That way, even if you aren’t using the spa, the water is still being thoroughly cleaned.
Finally, to add to the life of your filter, you should make sure that all individuals using the spa are relatively clean before getting in. The more contaminates you put in, the harder the filter will have to work, thus shortening its lifespan. These contaminates may include hairspray, sweat, deodorant, hair, skin lotions, dirt, and even dead skin cells. In fact, people themselves are the major source of spa contaminates. Insist that those intending to use the spa shower beforehand. This can lead to a large savings on spa filter maintenance and replacement.