Your spa pool filter plays a vital role in maintaining the health and efficiency of your spa.
Not only does it keep your spa pool water clean and safe to swim in, but it also helps to prolong the life of your spa’s mechanics.
Not bad for a small cartridge, right?
So, let’s talk spa pool filters - what they do, how they work, and how often you need to change them.
Let’s dive in…
Let's Talk Spa Pool Filters: A Vital Part Of Your Spa's Health
What Does A Spa Pool Filter Do?
A spa pool filter serves the essential function of removing debris, contaminants, and particles from the water in your spa pool. The filter helps to maintain clean and clear water by capturing various unwanted materials that can accumulate in the spa over time.
Here's how it works:
Filtration:
The primary function of a spa pool filter is to physically filter out particles and debris from the water. This includes dirt, leaves, hair, oils, sunscreen, and other small particles that can make the water appear cloudy or dirty. The filtration process leaves your spa pool cleaner and more hygienic to use.
Water Clarity:
By removing those unwanted particles, the filter helps to improve the overall clarity of the water. Clear water not only looks more appealing but it also provides a more enjoyable and relaxing spa experience as you know the water is not full of contaminants.
Sanitation:
Effective filtration is crucial for maintaining proper water sanitation. Unfiltered water can become a breeding ground for bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms that could pose health risks to spa users. A clean filter ensures that the water remains safe and hygienic.
Circulation:
The filter is a vital part of the spa's water circulation system. As water is drawn through the filter, it helps to distribute the treated and heated water evenly throughout the spa, ensuring that chemicals are distributed and maintained at appropriate levels.
Prolonging Equipment Life:
Regular use of a spa pool filter can also help to prolong the life of other spa components, such as pumps and heaters. When the water is kept clean, there is less strain on the entire system, reducing the likelihood of mechanical issues occurring.
How Does It Work?
A spa pool filter works by physically trapping debris, contaminants, and particles, removing them from the water and preventing them from entering back into the flow. This means that the water in your spa stays clean, clear and safe to use.
Here’s how a spa pool filter performs its job:
- Cartridge filters are made up of a plastic casing and a pleated fabric inner that acts as the filtering medium.
- As water is drawn into the filter system by the spa's circulation pump, it passes through the cartridge.
- The pleated material of the cartridge traps particles of varying sizes, from large debris to smaller contaminants like oils and lotions.
- Over time, as the cartridge becomes saturated with trapped particles, water flow may decrease, and the filter's effectiveness diminishes.
- To maintain optimal performance, the cartridge needs to be periodically removed and cleaned using a hose or a filter cleaning solution. In some cases, the cartridge may need to be replaced if cleaning no longer restores its efficiency.
Why Should I Change My Spa Pool Filter?
Because of the work your filter does, it will need to be replaced over time. This is due to the amount of contaminants and particles it has captured. While cleaning the filter will prolong its life, there will eventually be a time when you need to replace it. This is why:
Efficiency:
Simple cleaning does not completely rid your filter of all the clinging debris particles. Over time, you’ll find your filter cartridge gets clogged with the contaminants it is removing from your water. As this happens and the filter becomes overwhelmed, it stops being able to capture and filter particles effectively. This lack of efficiency compromises the cleanliness of your water.
Water Clarity:
As your filter becomes less efficient, you may find the water in your spa getting cloudy or hazy. This is caused by the presence of suspended particles in the water that your filter is no longer able to remove. These particles can be any number of things, like contaminants or bacteria. So, it pays to keep your water clear for hygiene purposes.
Circulation:
Proper water circulation is needed to distribute the heat and sanitisers throughout. It also prevents the water from becoming stagnant. Stagnant water is a danger as when the water is not circulating there is a higher chance of bacteria and algae forming. Your filter plays a key part in this water circulation, and when it is clogged, it can prevent the water from circulating effectively.
This can mean that your spa cleaning compounds are unevenly distributed and the pH levels of the water could become unbalanced. In order to fix the imbalance, you’d need to add even more chemicals to the water to correct the problem, which is not ideal.
Contamination:
Apart from the water in the spa, your filter itself can become a contaminant risk. The trapped debris in the filter can become a nutrient source for microorganisms like bacteria, mould and algae. If your filter is full of nasties, the water you swim in is constantly passing through unsanitary conditions before being pushed back into the spa. This can pose a health risk to your spa users.
Wear And Tear:
Over time, the filter itself can degrade due to continued exposure to cleaning chemicals and water, plus the continued stress of filtering particles. When a filter becomes worn, it does not perform its job correctly and puts stress on other spa components like the circulation pump. This can potentially cause mechanical issues and might even reduce the lifespan of your spa pool.
How Often Should I Replace My Filter?
The frequency with which you need to replace your filter will depend on the manufacturer’s recommendations, the water quality, and how often you use the spa. As a general guideline, you can follow these timeframes:
- Rinse your filter out with a hose every week (more frequently if your spa is used often by a large number of people). Do this by removing the filter from the spa and squirting it with high powered water from your garden hose.
- Use a filter cleaning solution and soak your filter cartridge every month (more frequently if you have high spa usage). Do this by following the instructions on the bottle of the cleaning solution and submerging your filter cartridge in a bucket of the solution overnight. Then, thoroughly rinse the filter the following day by using the high pressure of your garden hose.
- As we mentioned before, your filters will start to degrade over time. So, it is recommended that you fully replace the cartridge every 6-12 months (or sooner if you notice signs of inefficiency or wear and tear).
Got a question about your spa filter or need some assistance finding the right spa pool filter for your model? Then, get in touch with our team today. Otherwise, you can browse our full range of spa filters online now.